Aprilia show biggest gain as Ducati struggle after first three MotoGP rounds

Canelo Alvarez made a surprise Pro-Am appearance at LIV Golf Mexico City on Wednesday, adding star power to the build-up ahead of this week’s tournament. The boxing superstar showcased his golfing skills at Playa del Carmen, joining a star-studded field that included Mexican football legend Jorge Campos, ESPN journalist John Sutcliffe and content creators Karol Priscilla and Hoyzie.

 

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Alvarez, known for his passion for golf outside the ring, drew strong support from local fans, with his appearance adding to the festival atmosphere surrounding LIV Golf’s return to Mexico. The Pro-Am session served as a curtain-raiser for the main tournament, as LIV Golf resumes action following the conclusion of the 2026 Masters Tournament. After five rounds in the 2026 LIV Golf season, Ripper GC currently lead the team standings ahead of 4Aces GC and Crushers GC, while Legion XIII’s Jon Rahm sits atop the individual leaderboard.

 

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Two-time Olympic gold medalist and world champion Viktor Axelsen called time on his badminton career on Wednesday. The 32-year-old made the announcement on his official social media platforms, citing his recurrent back issues as the main reason. “After undergoing endoscopic surgery, multiple injections, new training methods, treatments, and basically trying everything to become pain-free for a long time now, I have been advised to focus on my long-term health,” he wrote. “Accepting this situation has been incredibly difficult. But I have now reached a point where my body won’t allow me to continue.”

 

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Axelsen expressed pride in his achievements and reassured everyone that he will remain involved in the sport moving forward. “Looking back, I feel a deep sense of pride, but even more than that, gratitude,” he added. “I have accomplished everything I once dreamed of, and more. I’ve had the privilege of standing on the biggest stages, playing and winning the matches every player dreams of. “And through it all, badminton has taught me lessons that go far beyond sport, lessons about discipline, sacrifice, resilience, and who I am as a person. “While this is a goodbye to Viktor Axelsen the badminton player, I am not saying goodbye to the sport infinitely. I will always be around one way or the other. “I gave everything to badminton and badminton gave me everything back.” He also thanked everyone who was part of his journey including badminton fans. The Dane’s final BWF World Tour appearance came at the 2025 French Open, where he lost to Shi Yu Qi in the semi-finals. He also featured at the BXL Jakarta 2025, marking his last competitive outing before announcing his retirement. He became the latest high-profile player to step away from the badminton court this year after Carolina Marin.

 

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The Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) heads to the legendary TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands from April 17-19 for the third round of the 2026 season, with several compelling storylines in focus. As the paddock prepares for the high-speed action, which you can watch live on SPOTV NOW, here are some key facts ahead of the Dutch Round.

 

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Three records in sight for Bulega

Nicolò Bulega has opened the season with six consecutive wins, closing in on Álvaro Bautista’s record of 11, set in 2019. Another hat-trick at the Cathedral of Speed would put him within touching distance of breaking that mark at the next round in Budapest. Including his four straight wins at the end of last season, the Italian is currently on a 10-race winning streak. That puts him within reach of Toprak Razgatlıoğlu’s record of 13 consecutive victories, which the Turkish rider achieved twice in 2024 and 2025. Bulega is also riding a streak of 19 consecutive podium finishes. Another strong weekend could see him climb further up the all-time list and move closer to Jonathan Rea (24), Colin Edwards (25) and Razgatlıoğlu (25).

 

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Rea steps in again for Dixon

With Jake Dixon still sidelined through injury, Jonathan Rea will once again step in for Honda HRC to ride alongside Thai rider Somkiat Chantra. Assen has been a happy hunting ground for the six-time world champion, who holds a record 17 victories at the circuit, so he will surely be hoping it helps him improve on his previous outing in Portimão, where he managed just four points.

 

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Home rider to make WorldSBK debut

Despite the absence of Dutch rider Michael van der Mark, local fans will still have someone to cheer for as Twan Smits makes his WorldSBK debut as a wildcard. The 24-year-old, who has had prior experience at Assen through Supersport and Supersport 300 series, will line up for Team Apreco aboard a Yamaha YZF-R1.

 

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Moto4 Northern Cup revs up

The Moto4 Northern Cup kicks off its 2026 season at Assen as part of the support programme for WorldSBK. The junior series has served as a development platform for rising talents, including current Moto2 riders Collin Veijer and Filip Salač.

 

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The 2026 Masters Tournament concluded with Rory McIlroy successfully defending his title. With the first major of the year now in the books, attention shifts back to the wider golf calendar, including the LIV Golf circuit, which resumes this week in Mexico City and is shown live on SPOTV NOW. Below are the 10 LIV Golf players featured at Augusta National, in which only five made the cut. They will be hoping for improved individual results when they return to LIV Golf action.

 

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Tyrrell Hatton (T3, -10)

Hatton was the standout LIV performer, finishing tied for third and staying within touching distance of the leaders throughout the week. His result marked his best showing at Augusta, surpassing his previous best of T9 in 2024.

 

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Dustin Johnson (T33, E)

Johnson made the cut comfortably but never threatened the leaderboard. The 2020 champion remained outside the top 30 for most of the weekend as he settled for a mid-table finish.

Jon Rahm (T38, +1)

Despite arriving as one of the pre-tournament favourites, Rahm was left fighting to make the cut after opening with a six-over 78. He responded with a two-under 70 on Friday to progress, but ultimately finished with his second-worst result at the Masters.

Sergio García (52, +8)

García made headlines for the wrong reasons at Augusta. Early in the final round, the 2017 champion was caught on camera breaking his driver after an errant shot, summing up a frustrating week as he finished 52nd of the 54 players who made the cut.

Sergio Garcia faced up to media after his round and it went exactly as expected. He’s clearly very frustrated with the state of his game.@TheMasters pic.twitter.com/zeG8L2HVhz

— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) April 12, 2026

Charl Schwartzel (54, +12)

Schwartzel also made the cut but finished at the bottom of the standings. The 2011 champion was unable to build momentum across the four rounds.

 

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Bubba Watson (MC, +5)

Watson endured a difficult start, carding a four-over 76 in the opening round. Although he improved on Friday, the two-time champion ultimately missed the cut by one shot.

Bryson DeChambeau (MC, +6)

DeChambeau’s week unravelled late in the second round, where a costly triple bogey on the 18th hole saw him miss the cut. The American had been hovering around the projected cut line before the mistake proved decisive.

Bryson DeChambeau takes the alternative route on No. 16. #themasters pic.twitter.com/nHQqIde7Kj

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2026

Tom McKibbin (MC, +7)

McKibbin, who qualified via his victory at the 2025 Hong Kong Open, showed early promise but was unable to sustain it across two rounds, which ultimately saw him fall short of the cut.

The team gets Tom McKibbin ready for The Masters 😅⛳#TheMasters pic.twitter.com/Wv04ayfba6

— Legion XIII (@LegionXIIIgc) April 8, 2026

Cameron Smith (MC, +7)

Smith made a steady start but struggled in the second round, where five bogeys and a double bogey saw him slip outside the cut line.

Carlos Ortiz (MC, +11)

Ortiz’s challenge effectively ended early, with a costly stretch of seven-over through his opening five holes putting him immediately on the back foot.

 

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