#$MESAKNE Jules Bianchi: Formula 1 bids farewell at driver's funeral

GATEL KIKIN The world of motorsport has bid farewell to French Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi at his funeral in his hometown of Nice.

World champion Lewis Hamilton and many of Bianchi's colleagues joined family and friends at a service in the city's cathedral while fans gathered outside.
The 25-year-old died on Friday from head injuries he sustained in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
His car number, 17, is being retired from F1 in his honour.
Bianchi had been in a coma since crashing his Marussia car into a recovery vehicle at a rain-hit race last October.
He is the first F1 driver to die from injuries sustained in a grand prix since Brazilian triple world champion Ayrton Senna was killed at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.

Large posters of Bianchi were draped outside the cathedral entrance

German F1 driver Sebastian Vettel (left) and France's Romain Grosjean helped carry the coffin during the funeral

Tributes are expected to be paid at the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend.
A number of Formula 1 colleagues travelled to Nice to pay their respects on Tuesday. Large posters of Bianchi were draped outside the cathedral entrance.
Sebastian Vettel, the four-time world champion, and F1 Lotus driver and fellow Frenchman Romain Grosjean helped carry Bianchi's coffin after the service.
Other drivers attending included Nico Rosberg, Felipe Massa, and Olivier Panis.

British Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton described Bianchi's death as a 'sad, sad day'

Motorsport's governing body, the FIA, is to remove the number 17 from the list of those available for F1 drivers to choose from

The Eagles' 1970s anthem Hotel California played in the background as the proceedings got under way earlier in Nice, according to AFP news agency.
The cathedral priest, Father Sylvain Brison Mourners, told the congregation that Bianchi was "a champion blessed with a rare talent", and mourners applauded the late driver for several minutes.

'Real fighter'

Announcing his death on Saturday, Bianchi's family said: "Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end."
Former world champion Jenson Button led tributes from the world of motorsport.
"Last night we lost a truly great guy and a real fighter. RIP Jules, my sincerest condolences to his family and friends," the McLaren driver said on Saturday.
The Marussia team, now known as Manor, said Bianchi had left an "indelible mark on all our lives".

$# From Lewis Hamilton: "I will carry Jules Bianchi with me"

Rai Gaplek t Lewis Hamilton says he will carry Jules Bianchi in his thoughts for the rest of his career, following the Frenchman's death last week.

Bianchi succumbed to head injuries suffered in last year's Japanese Grand Prix. Hamilton was one of many current drivers who attended his funeral.
The world champion said: "I will be carrying Jules with me in my prayers for the rest of my driving days.
"I know he'd want us to race as hard as he did, and so I will."
Bianchi's funeral in Nice was also attended by Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, 2009 champion Jenson Button, Williams driver Felipe Massa and a host of others.
Asu Raimu It took place only three days before the drivers take to the track in Friday practice for this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, the final race before Formula 1's four-week summer break.
Hamilton said: "Saying goodbye to Jules was incredibly hard for everyone.
"For myself, I wish I had known him better. But from what I knew of him, he was a kind heart with a great spirit and a bright future.
"Now our sport embarks on a tough road ahead. We have been shown once more the dangers of our sport, that these should be respected and we drivers must commit ourselves to the chance that those dangers are there when we step into the car.
"We have made great progress for safety thus far and I know that governing body the FIA will continue to make steps forward to improve even further."

Joh jan celeh Rosberg added: "It has been a very emotional week. The drivers paid our final respects to Jules and said farewell. He was a very talented driver and a good guy.
"My thoughts in these days are with his family and close friends.
"Everyone will be sharing the same feelings in the paddock this week - but we must race on and race hard for Jules as he would have wanted to be doing himself."

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The Fenchman Jules Bianchi 'would have replaced Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari Now

The Rookie of Jules Bianchi would have replaced Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari, says the team's former president Luca Di Montezemolo.

The Frenchman died on Friday from head injuries sustained in a crash at last October's Japanese Grand Prix.
Di Montezemolo said. "He was the driver we had chosen for the future, once the collaboration with Kimi Raikkonen had finished."
Motorsport governing body the FIA is retiring car number 17, which Bianchi carried last year, in his honour.
The FIA said: "As Formula 1 car numbers are now personally chosen by each driver, the FIA believes it to be an appropriate gesture to retire Jules Bianchi's number 17.
"As a result, this number can no longer be used for a car competing in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship."
Bianchi was driving for the Marussia team, which used Ferrari engines, and had been earmarked at the time of the accident for a promotion to Ferrari's other customer team, Sauber, in 2015.
Di Montezemolo's remarks suggest that, had he lived, Bianchi could have driven for Ferrari as early as next year, as the team are currently considering whether to drop Raikkonen at the end of this season amid concern at the level of his performances.
Di Montezemolo, who was replaced by Sergio Marchionne shortly before Bianchi's accident last year, told Sky Italia: "Jules was one of us; part of the Ferrari family.
"The Suzuka incident took away from us a first-rate person; reserved, quick, very educated, very close to Ferrari, who knew how to interact with the engineers.

"In short we lost a driver with a certain future."
Former Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali, who resigned in April last year, added: "Jules was always at Maranello. Every day he came to the factory to grow and nurture his dream of driving for Ferrari.
"Our idea was that, after Marussia, he should go to another team to grow and be ready for the big leap. That is what we planned some years ago. But unfortunately fate took him away."

#1TY Man Utd striker scores in friendly victory from Memphis Depay

Great player Memphis Depay scored his first Manchester United goal in a 3-1 pre-season win over Major League Soccer side San Jose Earthquakes.

The £31m Dutch forward took advantage of a poor backpass to score United's second, eight minutes before half-time.
Juan Mata had earlier put Louis van Gaal's side in front, before Fatai Alashe pulled one back for the hosts.
Andreas Pereira scored the third for United, who were watched from the stands by ex-boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Red Devils have won both games of their United States tour so far, but they can expect a much tougher test when they face Spanish champions Barcelona in Santa Clara on Saturday (21:00 BST kick-off).

How did Manchester United line-up?

First-half team: Johnstone, Darmian, Jones, Blind, Shaw, Mata, Carrick, Schneiderlin, Young, Depay, Rooney.
Second-half team: Johnstone, McNair, Smalling, Evans, Blackett, Lingard, Schweinsteiger, Herrera, Pereira, Januzaj, Wilson.

Van Gaal on speculation over Angel Di Maria's future

"It is a process. It's what I always say. When we think we have to say something I shall say it. He will come to the tour on 25 July."

Will United buy a striker?

"I don't know if I want to buy a striker. I have read in the media that the striker is a surprise. No. That is not what I said. You are saying that. No. I mean something else."

Schweinsteiger's performance

"Players can play bad. When you only have six days training in your legs and you have to play 45 minutes, everybody thinks it is easy to step in but it is not.
"I think the first match he played very well. Today he played bad."

De Gea's fitness

"I have good hope that he can play against Barcelona on Saturday. He was still injured for this match, Anders Lindegaard was also injured.
"I said to De Gea, go stand in the goal so we had a point of direction for my attackers. But don't do anything to risk your injury more. I think he can play on Saturday."

#!AWESOME Record crowd sees Barcelona beat LA Galaxy as Luis Suarez scores

Incredible season was A record attendance of 93,226 saw Luis Suarez score as Barcelona beat Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 in a pre-season friendly in California.

The Pasadena Rose Bowl crowd was the biggest for a club game involving a side from Major League Soccer.
Galaxy midfielder Steven Gerrard lined up against former Liverpool team-mate Suarez and both played the first half before being replaced and exchanging shirts at the break.
Sergi Roberto scored Barca's second.
The majority of the crowd, also a record for the stadium, wore scarlet and blue shirts in support of Spanish and European champions Barcelona.
They were rewarded when Suarez scored with a left-footed shot from close range in the final minute of the first half.
Midfielder Roberto fired home Barcelona's second goal 11 minutes into the second half before MLS champions Galaxy pulled a goal back through a Tommy Meyer header in injury time.
Barcelona play Manchester United in Santa Clara on Saturday before facing Chelsea in Washington on July 28.