Continue reading with advertising …

… or with a subscription

Visit motorsport.com as usual with advertising and tracking. You can revoke your consent at any time via the data protection page.¹

Use motorsport.com without any advertising banners, personalized tracking and commercials for a small fee.

Accept and continue

More information about advertising and tracking in our Data protection notice, the List of our partners and in Data protection information center.

Already a subscriber?

Log in here

LUKE Humphries is in the final of the World Grand Prix after some incredible performances this week.

The world champion, 29, demonstrated his prowess when he defeated Ryan Joyce 5-0 in a devastating display on Saturday night.

4

4

Advertisement

4

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

Cool Hand Luke averaged 100.30 during the contest, which is only the second time an average of a ton plus has been recorded at the semi-final stage – the other being Phil Taylor.

He is also in his sixth straight TV ranking final, with Michael Van Gerwen in 2016-2017 and Taylor the only people to do that.

Afterwards, former darts star Wayne Mardle compared his numbers to the legendary Taylor and Michael van Gerwen.

But modest Humphries revealed if he is to be compared to Taylor he would have to consistently be in that kind of form.

“I don’t need to compare myself to Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen,” he said.

“Phil would do this game in game out, I have one out of five of them games so you can’t compare me to Phil, never.

“And he’ll always have achieved more than any single player the world has ever seen. No one will ever be able to do what he’s done.”

Taylor boasts an incredible career record, including winning 14 World Championships.

He was also a World Matchplay winner 14 times, won the World Grand Prix on 11 occasions and has six Premier League titles to his name.

The Crafty Potter amassed a £6million fortune from the arrows, securing his status as the best player the game’s ever seen.

Humphries, looking to retain the title he won last year against Gerwyn Price, is looking forward to his match against Mike De Decker.

4

He said: “I think it’s a dream final, it really is.

“We’ve had so many battles and it’s going to be a good game. Mike’s playing well and I know I’m going to have to be at my best again.”

IndyCar’s announcement earlier this week of inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington set for 2026 has brought a high level of widespread anticipation, with the street circuit layout also getting everyone’s attention. 

A collaborative effort between Penske Entertainment, the Dallas Cowboys, and REV Entertainment, the official events partner of the Texas Rangers, the IndyCar Series will return to the Lone Star State following a two-year absence in 2024-25. North America’s premier open-wheel championship previously ran at Texas Motor Speedway, based nearby in Fort Worth, from 1997-2023. 

While the collective group of partners will play a significant part in raising the event to heights the sport is striving for, the main attraction still remains on track with the 14-turn, 2.73-mile street circuit. For reference, the longest street circuit the series raced on this past season was the 1.968-mile layout in Long Beach. 

The full unveiling of the track layout took place on Tuesday at Texas Live!, an entertainment center located between AT&T Stadium, home of the Cowboys, and Globe Life Field, home of the Rangers. 

The circuit, which was designed by IndyCar’s longtime street track architect Tony Cotman, certainly raised plenty of eyebrows with a modern flow that rivals that of Formula 1’s Miami Grand Prix, which wraps around the stadium of the Miami Dolphins. 

Arlington Grand Prix track map

Photo by: Penske Entertainment

The Arlington street course features a straightaway that extends .9-mile, which is likely to see drivers push over 180 mph before being challenged with an enticing braking before a hard-braking point of a right-hander in Turn 10. There are other obvious passing zones in Turn 1, Turn 12 and Turn 14, while also presenting a unique “horseshoe” carousel that makes up Turn 6. A double-sided pit lane, similar to what is currently used for the Detroit street race, will also be highlighted. Additionally, the track will go underneath hospitality and suites in two different areas. 

Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden was among those in attendance at the unveiling in Arlington, along with Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou and AJ Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci. 

Arlington Grand Prix track map

Photo by: Penske Entertainment

Newgarden, the two-time defending winner of the Indianapolis 500 and a two-time IndyCar Series champion, shared his thoughts on the track and what kind of racing could be expected.

“Yeah, it’s kind of got everything,” Newgarden told Motorsport.com. “It’s got the typical low-speed sections that you would find on a street course, but then it has some complex double apex corners that kind of wrap around the stadium seating, so that will be really unique for fans. It’s got one pretty high-speed corner that leads onto the longest straight. And then the straightaways are very long, so I think understanding efficiency with downforce is going to be a topic here that’s not necessarily a topic on other street circuits. So, that could be an interesting element.

“How are you going to stay out front if you’re leading this thing? I think you’re going to be exposed around a track like this. So, it could be very entertaining to watch. It could be a draft fest on that long straightaway. So yeah, that’s what you’re going to be dealing with and we’ll figure it out as we do.”

England’s Dan Bradbury fired three consecutive birdies on the back nine to emerge from a pack of title contenders and win the Open de France at Le Golf National.

Bradbury carded a 66 in the final round to finish on 16 under par and take his second title on the DP World Tour.

The 25-year-old made par at the 18th before watching his closest rivals, including compatriot Sam Bairstow, finish one shot behind.

Germany’s Yannik Paul and the Danish pair of Jeff Winther and Thorbjorn Olesen tied with Bairstow for second place.

Bradbury, who began the day two shots behind overnight leader Jesper Svensson from Sweden, said he was due some good fortune as his tee shot on the 15th stopped short of water.

“Obviously got lucky off the tee, but I feel like I’ve had a few bad breaks this week so quite nice to get a good one there,” Bradbury, who won the Joburg Open in November 2022, told Sky Sports.

“And then I just pushed it [the second shot], straight up pushed it, and luckily it stayed on [the green]. Hit a horrendous putt that went in and sometimes you just need that.

“Once I’d done that, I was like ‘it doesn’t feel like my day, but there’s definitely something going for me’.”

He made birdies at 14, 15 and 16 as he came through to win.

Victory for Bradbury, who earns £420,000 and climbs to 25th in the Race to Dubai, also ensured his qualification for the season-ending play-off events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

“The goal this week was to make the cut so I don’t have to go to Korea and try to keep my card, to be honest with you, so to hear that sounds pretty good,” he said.

“I guess I’ll be looking at flights to Dubai then.”

SIR ALEX FERGUSON rolled back the years by delivering a team talk to help inspire a team to title victory.

The Manchester United legend was back at Old Trafford for the Super League Grand final between Wigan Warriors and Hull KR.

3

3

Advertisement

3

He was a special guest of Wigan as they secured an historic quadruple, beating Hull KR 9-2.

Head coach Matt Peet thought it would be useful to have Fergie‘s input as he picked up on the parallels between his side and the United team of 1999.

Peet said: “We reached out through a mutual friend – we just thought we were on the verge of something similar to when United won the Treble,” said Peet.

“Obviously Sir Alex’s side played at Old Trafford, [plus] the fact he spent his career developing homegrown talent and with his mentality, we thought he was the perfect person.

“It was epic, as you can imagine. We hung on every word, but it was his presence. The lads were so quiet to hear a leader like that and, a humble man as he was, you could hear a pin drop.

“With all the lads, Sir Alex presented their jerseys, external I can never thank him enough for that.”

Ferguson, 82, was renowned for his team talks during his managerial career – sometimes for the wrong reasons.

But he may have helped to make a difference for Wigan who added the Super League title to their trophy haul.

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

They retained the title they won last year and added it to their successes in the League Leaders’ Shield, World Club Challenge and the League Leaders’ Shield.

Ferguson had a knack for inspiring his players although he could tear them apart too – depending on his mood and the situation.

Ahead of the 2008 Champions League final Ferguson told his players he has “already won” because of the bond he had with his team.

Patrice Evra revealed that was enough to inspire them to victory as they beat Chelsea on penalties.