Bayliss expects chasing pack to close the gap

MOTOR CYCLING:World Superbike series leader Troy Bayliss admitted that he expects the chasing pack to close in on him as the field prepare for round three at Valencia this weekend.

The 39-year-old Xerox Ducati rider started the season as overwhelming favourite to reclaim the title he last won in 2006 and after winning three of the opening four races is 27 points clear of surprise package Fonsi Nieto in second place.

But the grizzled veteran was forced to miss the recent Valencia test to allow his body to heal after a pre-season collarbone fracture and then an arm injury sustained at his home track of Phillip Island.

And Bayliss believes that could let the rest of the riders close the gap. He said: "Valencia is one of those tracks where I expect everyone to go better.

"I think those teams that have perhaps been a little behind us with getting ready for the championship will now start to show results.

"We've already seen what Max Biaggi can do and he'll be there all year as we expected - we just didn't expect him to do what he did at Phillip Island when he crashed in both races.

"I also think Nori Haga and Troy Corser will be stronger at Valencia, and Carlos Checa will improve as the season goes on.

"I enjoy racing at Valencia but it's quite a physical track and riders don't get much rest. It's a good track for spectators and makes for good racing."

Alonso denies having escape clause

MOTOR SPORT:Fernando Alonso denied yesterday that he had an escape clause in his contract with Renault that might allow him to leave for Ferrari at the end of the Formula One season.

"I don't remember that clause and I signed for two years with Renault," Spain's double world champion said ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix. "But as we saw last year, the contracts are always very flexible."

Pressed again on whether there was any clause allowing him to leave early, he replied: "No."

Reports from Spain last week quoted Alonso, who left McLaren at the end of last year after just one season of a multi-year contract with the Mercedes-powered team, suggesting he had an option to leave. However, the 26-year-old said yesterday he was not giving up on Renault, the team with which he won his titles in 2005 and 2006, despite them being off the pace in the opening races.

Leicester to appeal Rabeni's ban

RUGBY:Leicester have decided to appeal centre Seru Rabeni's 14-week ban imposed by Rugby Football Union disciplinary chiefs.

Rabeni was suspended when he appeared before a three-man RFU panel earlier this week, sidelining him until early July.

He had been cited following a Guinness Premiership game against Saracens at Welford Road last month.

He was found guilty of illegally making contact with the eye of an opponent, although Rabeni claimed contact with Saracens hooker Andy Kyriacou was accidental.

Leicester have now started the appeal process.

"Our legal team are now drafting a notice of appeal which will be filed to the RFU's disciplinary officer later today," said Tigers' head of rugby operations Simon Cohen.

"He will then set a time and date for the appeal to be heard."

Pound fails to get CAS post

THE FORMER anti-doping chief Dick Pound failed to secure sport's highest judicial position yesterday when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) elected Italian lawyer Mino Auletta as its new president.

The conservative 78-year-old Auletta, who has served as acting president since the death of the court's original president Keba Mbaye in January 2007, will now remain in office until the current four-year term finishes at the end of 2010.