MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo was fastest in practice for the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island yesterday despite suffering a heavy fall. The Spaniard lost the front of his Yamaha under braking and, together with rivals Pol Espargaro, Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso, spent some of his afternoon on the asphalt. Lorenzo would, however, remain 0.150secs ahead of double world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) with Iannone (Pramac) retaining third place on the timesheets and Dovizioso (Ducati) setting the fourth best time.

Cricket: Australia coach Darren Lehmann has been rewarded for his integral role in turning around the fortunes of the team with a one-year contract extension until June, 2017. The former test batsman took over from South African Mickey Arthur in the wake of last year’s calamitous tour of India and helped guide the side to a 5-0 Ashes sweep and a series triumph in South Africa.

Rugby Union: Australia is claiming the world’s first “own try” after a refereeing blunder led to North Harbour Rays forward Mitch Lewis touching down for the Sydney Stars in a National Rugby Championship match. The Rays were defending their line at a ruck during the match at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval on Thursday evening when Lewis tore the ball free and placed it back on his own try line. Referee Ian Smith consulted the TV official and prop Lewis was left dumbfounded when a try was awarded to the Stars rather than a scrum.

Horse Racing: Six-times British champion jockey Kieren Fallon is looking to continue his career in the US.The 49-year-old Irishman has won three Epsom derbies and five 2,000 Guineas including this year’s race on Night of Thunder. “I’d like to go back to California, which I intend doing in the next couple of weeks just to try and get the buzz back again,” Fallon said.