SEBRING, Fla. — Ernie Francis Jr. kept the action in his rear-view mirror Sunday at Sebring Int’l Raceway, beginning his quest for a seventh-consecutive Trans-Am Series Presented by Pirelli title with a flag-to-flag victory in Sunday’s season-opening race.

Driving the No. 98 One South Florida Wealth Advisor Ford Mustang, Francis was joined on the podium by Tomy Drissi in the No. 8 Lucas Oil Chevrolet Camaro, followed by Amy Ruman in the No. 23 McNichols Co. Chevrolet Corvette.

Erich Joiner became the first winner in the new Trans-Am XGT class, taking sixth overall in the No. 10 Championship Coffees and Tool Porsche 911 GT3 R. SGT went to Lee Saunders in the No. 84 Landsearch LLC Dodge, while Steve Davison led GT in the No. 22 Davinci Plastic Surgery Aston Martin Vantage.

“My team gave me a great car, and it was fast right off the trailer,” said the 22-year-old Francis, who took his 20th overall (and 44th career) Trans-Am victory. “We had the pace all the way to win this race. It was awesome for the first race weekend of 2020, and I can’t wait for the rest of the season. My new sponsor – One South Florida Wealth Advisors – was here supporting me all weekend. This was a great event, and now I can’t wait to get to Road Atlanta.”

Francis led from the pole and managed to pull away on two restarts, with the race ending under the checkered flag due to a late incident. Humaid Al Masaood and Simon Gregg rounded out the top five.

The race featured a pair of charges from the back of the TA grid by Drissi and Chris Dyson. Drissi experienced transmission troubles in qualifying on Saturday and gridded 11th for the season opener.

“I tried to use some wise aggression to move up from the start,” said Drissi. “We had gremlins in qualifying, so I had to baby the car a little bit. I had a good battle with Adam Andretti and Chris Dyson, I’m sorry they weren’t able to finish the race. I want to say that the SGT and GT class drivers did an awesome job in the traffic, and it is great to be up here with two champions, Amy (Ruman) and Ernie (Francis Jr.).”

Dyson joined Drissi on the back row due to a hard impact hit in Saturday morning practice. After the CD Racing squad labored through the night to be ready to race, Dyson was ready to repay that work with a big result. Passing seven cars on the opening lap, Dyson was quickly up to third. On lap seven, Dyson made a bid for the lead on a restart following a brief caution, going three wide in an attempt to get by Francis and Andretti. Dyson came up short but continued to run in podium position until his day came to an end when he pulled off just past the midway point.

“After that restart, the engine note was not the same and it was just off a bit,” Dyson said. “So I was just trying to get it home to get points. I’m really happy for Humaid Al Masaood to get fourth. Great consistency from him and we got a top-five out of it. This was a monumental effort (from his team to have the car ready to go), it was a tough weekend, but we will focus on the positives from the weekend.”

The caution waved for a second time on lap 20, when several cars went off in turn six, with the No. 41 PF Racing Ford Mustang of James Pesek coming to a stop. Under the caution, Andretti retired the second-place No. 43 ECC Anchor Bolt & Screw Dodge Challenger due to mechanical issues. Daniel Urrutia Jr. also went out with a clutch issue on top-five running No. 3 Ferrea Racing/SAENZ/Mustang Vac Chevrolet Corvette.

The second caution set up a potential five-lap shootout to the checkered flag, with Ruman challenging Drissi for second. However, a race-ending caution arrived moments later when Tim Kezman crashed in the final turn in the No. 44 Lemons of Love Porsche 991 Porsche GT3 Cup while battling for the SGT lead.

LUSAIL, Qatar – FIM, IRTA and Dorna have agreed to cancel the MotoGP portion of the Grand Prix of Qatar, which is scheduled for March 6-8 at the Losail Int’l Circuit.

The ongoing coronavirus outbreak has resulted in travel restrictions from many countries. As of Sunday, all passengers arriving at Doha, Qatar, on direct flights from Italy, or having been in Italy in the past 2 weeks, will be taken straight to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.

Italy plays a vital role in the Championship and in the MotoGP class – both on track and off – and therefore the decision was made to cancel the MotoGP portion of the event.

As the teams and riders from the Moto2 and Moto3 classes were already in Qatar for the three-day official test at Losail Int’l Circuit earlier this week, the races from both of those categories will be possible.

The lightweight and intermediate classes will therefore compete in their season opener from March 6-8. The same will apply to the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup, which will have two races during the Grand Prix of Qatar as originally planned.

Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury, with coach Peter DeBoer saying Sunday that he hopes Stone returns by the end of the regular season.

DeBoer told reporters that Stone will not need surgery.

Stone, who has 21 goals and a team-high 42 assists this season, already missed Thursday's win over the Buffalo Sabres.

Vegas (36-22-8) leads the Pacific Division by four points over second-place Edmonton entering Sunday's action. The Golden Knights' regular season ends April 4.

Barely months into her international career, New Zealand teen allrounder Amelia Kerr was billed as "a star of the future" by Australia captain Meg Lanning. On the eve of New Zealand's virtual quarter-final clash against hosts Australia at the T20 World Cup, former New Zealand men's allrounder Jacob Oram, who has been working with the women's national team as bowling coach since 2018, described her as a "future captain". The prediction from Oram came only days after Katey Martin, a senior team-mate, identified Kerr, who now has 60-plus international appearances, as a "once-in-a-generation type player for New Zealand".

So swift has Kerr's growth been as a legspin-bowling allrounder that, at just 19, and only into the fourth year of her career with New Zealand, Kerr is often mentioned in the same breath as the world's best or the most experienced. And there's evidence enough why she's rated so highly by colleagues and opponents alike.

Kerr's unbeaten 232, a record for the highest individual score in women's ODIs, and a five-for in the same match against Ireland two years ago became testament to her appetite for all-round excellence - if against an error-prone side wanting in experience. Last week, in the penultimate over of New Zealand's bungled chase against India at the T20 World Cup, her jaw-dropping onslaught against the highly regarded India wristspinner Poonam Yadav was further proof of her ability to soak up pressure.

"It was nice to prove I could play like that at the international level," Kerr told ESPNcricinfo on the sidelines of a training session at the Albert Cricket Ground in Victoria, Melbourne. "It was nice to give us that chance to getting close to winning it, but it was obviously very disappointing to not be able to get the last ball away for a four and turn it into a Super Over.

"I looked at the field, and made sure I made my decision as early as I saw the ball leaving her hand as to whether I go backward or I come out of my crease. For me, it was about keeping it simple and not overthinking too much, and just having a couple of options, so I could make those decisions."

Kerr, though, has been no stranger to pressure or handling with maturity the expectations that come with thriving in challenging situations. Much of it is down to her pedigree and the conditioning she's had in the years preceding her New Zealand career. A native of Wellington's northernmost suburb Tawa, Kerr, born to former Wellington cricketers Robbie and Jo, inherited her cricketing genes from maternal grandfather Bruce Murray, the former New Zealand Test cricketer.

Having grown up looking up to Kane Williamson and fellow Tawa native Sophie Devine, her precocity found early expression under coach Ivan Tissera as she ditched her dreams of becoming a "scary fast bowler" to realise her natural gift for being able to spin the bowl.

Barely a month past her 16th birthday, she would graduate from playing boys' grade cricket in school to making her international debut, in a home ODI against Pakistan. By the time she turned 17, she had already played in an ODI World Cup and had become the youngest female cricketer to bag a central contract with New Zealand Cricket.

"She debuted later [in 2016], so she wasn't in the side when I was with them," Oram recalled of his previous coaching role with New Zealand women in 2015-16. "But I remember hearing about this Amelia Kerr and I knew her dad, Robbie [a former Wellington cricketer], and also played against him. So, I would hear about Amelia Kerr, you know, she's this little guru.

"But since her debut, she hasn't turned back ... I see Amelia captaining within the next few years, maybe even before she is 25. Because she's been playing since she was a teenager, she has a wealth of knowledge and experience to call upon, and because of the skill she has, she's already earned the respect of her team-mates.

Oram, who's been working closely on Kerr along with spin-bowling coach Rob Nicol, believes the teenager's "batting at the moment is probably a level lower than her bowling, but she's got the skills to be a genuine allrounder".

"I know she got a double-hundred against Ireland in a one-dayer, but [she still has a long way to go] in terms of getting more consistent with those performances, especially against the top sides in the world," Oram said. "It will come with age because batting seems to be more of an experience-gathering thing.

ALSO READ: 'Spin bowling is one of the strongest skills I've seen in the women's game' - Jacob Oram

"But she's an amazing talent and we've got to manage her well with everything she's doing overseas - WBBL, and even with the IPL [Women's T20 Challenge] thing. You let her do those things but you need to make sure she's fit and firing for New Zealand as well because that's the No. 1 priority."

A sought-after name in domestic franchise leagues, Kerr, who plays for Wellington Blaze alongside her older sister and New Zealand quick Jess in the home domestic T20 Super Smash competition, has plied her trade across several countries. Her first taste of an overseas league came in the UK, where she represented the Southern Vipers at the 2018 Kia Super League, followed by a runners-up finish with the Mithali Raj-led Velocity in the Women's T20 Challenge in May last year. Most recently, she enjoyed a memorable title-winning campaign with Brisbane Heat at the 2019-2020 WBBL in Australia.

"Playing overseas for Brisbane Heat and winning the title - that was pretty special," Kerr said. "These leagues are awesome and it's great development for the women's game. It helps us learn to adapt to different conditions.

"The 13,000-odd crowd we had there [at the Women's T20 Challenge final in Jaipur] as amazing as well. I love being put in such situations and put under pressure. That's what you train and work hard for - to be put into those situations. Kind of every game I have played in overseas leagues has gone down to the wire, and these games are like international cricket: you share the dressing room with the world's best, the training is top quality and you keep improving your skills so much."

Among the other "most fulfilling learning experiences" in her career, Kerr counts the 2017 ODI World Cup, a confluence for many firsts for the then 16-year-old. "At that age, you're definitely not in your full potential, so you end up learning a lot that can shape your perspective towards cricket and life," said Kerr of the first of her three world tournaments across formats so far, one in which she became the youngest New Zealander to represent the country in a World Cup.

"That tournament did something similar to me," she added. "For me, getting fitter was a big thing, watching how the consistency of my bowling, batting and athleticism in the field could be better, that was important. A part of it was already there, but I have worked on it and also on the power and just getting older and stronger has really helped me with my game. Also, learning to have access to different areas of the ground with different field-sets has been another important thing."

"For me, getting fitter was a big thing, watching how the consistency of my bowling, batting and athleticism in the field could be better, that was important"

Aside from her growing understanding of street-smart batting, Oram said a stand-out feature in Kerr's repertoire of all-round skills remains her potent wrong'un. "It is a huge, huge weapon," said Oram, explaining how her pace through the air gives extra bite to her googly, compared to India's Poonam Yadav, another hugely acclaimed exponent. "Amelia is a lot quicker", he added, "which creates a lack of time for batters to respond to it."

"The googly is something I've had since a young age," Kerr said. "I naturally started bowling it by accident and then my coach Ivan Tissera kind of taught me how to get it consistent. It took a few years of practice to start bowling it in games consistently and Poonam Yadav is one of the best bowlers in the world. It's cool getting to watch her play as I developed. She is a quality bowler, but with her height and her pace she is a completely different bowler, and much slower through the air than I am."

Many of New Zealand's most experienced players, including veteran allrounder Suzie Bates, captain Sophie Devine, and Martin believe that it is this versatility in Kerr's batting and bowling as well as her temperament that have so far defined the might in her fight against the most formidable opponents. Add to that her precocity and enterprise, it's a combination that only augurs well for New Zealand and the women's game at large.

"Melie [Kerr] is probably once-in-a-generation type player for New Zealand," Martin said after the India game where Kerr carted Poonam for 18 in the penultimate over but failed to avert a three-run loss. "She works really hard at her game. She has a lot of support outside of cricket.

"And she's someone that takes her responsibility - she feels pressure like we all do but she really takes it with a mature outlook. And you don't expect someone 18, 19 to have the cricket knowledge that she does...She's an exceptional young talent and someone that I think will have a long successful career."

Real Madrid claimed the top spot in La Liga with a 2-0 win over Barcelona in the second Clasico of the season on Saturday.

The win saw Los Blancos take a one-point advantage in the table with 56 points, leapfrogging their Spanish rivals, who entered the day two in front.

In the 71st minute, Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior -- starting for an injured Eden Hazard -- turned around what had been a disappointing day to that point when he found space down the left, coasted in and fired his shot off a sliding Gerard Pique, beating Marc-Andre ter Stegen at the near post.

The goal was Vinicius' first against Barcelona in four Clasico matches and his first in league play since September.

Second-half substitute Mariano then completed the scoring in stoppage time with a scuffed shot from the right that rolled just over Ter Stegen's arm and into the net.

Real will next face Real Betis in league play on Sunday, while Barcelona will host Real Sociedad on Saturday.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Ohio State's Jeff Okudah, who is considered the best cornerback available in this year's NFL draft, didn't complete his on-field workout at the scouting combine Sunday after he landed hard leaping for a ball during position drills.

Okudah, who had already run an official 4.48 40-yard dash in the workout, jumped for a pass during position drills, hitting his head on the Lucas Oil Stadium turf when he landed. He told the coaches running the drills he had some neck soreness and did not complete the rest of the drills.

The All-American stayed on the field with the rest of the defensive backs as they completed the drills.

Okudah, Auburn's Derrick Brown and Clemson's Isaiah Simmons -- all defensive players -- were among the highest-rated players to work out in Indy. Quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa did not work out at the combine.

Okudah had said last week that he believed it was important for him to do the on-field work.

"Coming to the combine has always been a dream,'' Okudah said. "Just being here is a dream come true. You go back and watch some of these combine videos, I watch Jalen Ramsey's combine video, I watched Patrick Peterson's combine video. I want somebody down the road to say, 'Let's turn on Jeff Okudah's combine video.''

When he was asked whether there was some risk involved with working out, Okudah said: "It's kind of like there's risk-reward for everything. For me, it's no different than going out against [Clemson wide receiver] Tee Higgins all game. It's always going to be risk-reward. You chose if you're going to get the reward or if you're going to get the risk.''

Alabama's Xavier McKinney, the top-rated safety on the board for many teams, told those running the drills Sunday that he experienced muscle cramps after his first 40-yard dash attempt. He ran an unofficial 4.64 and pulled up slightly at the end of the run.

He was not going to run a second 40 and was not expected to take part in the position drills.

The Cincinnati Bengals currently plan to use the franchise tag on wide receiver A.J. Green, sources told ESPN's Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler.

The Bengals want Green in Cincinnati in 2020 no matter what, either through the tag or a longer deal, the sources said.

The tag is estimated to be worth around $18.5 million, according to overthecap.com. The two sides have until July 15 to reach a long-term deal.

Green, who turns 32 in July, has been one of the NFL's most productive receivers since the Bengals drafted him in 2011. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Green's 8,907 receiving yards rank fourth since he entered the league. He is second in Cincinnati history in total receptions (602), receiving yards (8,907) and receiving touchdowns (63).

However, he didn't play in the 2019 season after he tore multiple ligaments in his left ankle during the first practice of the preseason. Since 2016, he has missed 29 games because of injuries and has been out for 23 of Cincinnati's past 24 games.

Negotiations between the sides regarding a long-term deal eventually stalled toward the end of his four-year, $60 million contract. At the NFL scouting combine last week, Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said the team still viewed Green in its future for 2020.

"He's an important guy, and he's done it the right way," Tobin said on Tuesday. "We view him as a Bengal and want him around and want him to be part of the future."

Green could be an asset for a Cincinnati offense that could feature former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. ESPN's Mel Kiper currently projects that the Bengals will select the 2019 Heisman winner with the top overall pick in April's draft. At the scouting combine, Burrow said he wants Green as a passing option if Cincinnati drafts him.

"I think with any rookie quarterback, the more help you can get, the better, and A.J.'s been one of the best players at his position for a very long time," Burrow said.

If Burrow is drafted by the Bengals, he may still have to wait before he gets to work with Green. In December, Green said he "definitely" would not participate in organized team activities if he was given the franchise tag. Green also said his participation in training camp will be in question because he has to get into football shape.

Green said he understands the business aspect of the situation but can't jeopardize his long-term future without a multiyear deal.

"The tag is $18 million, so I'm not running away from that," Green said. "But that also shows that they're not committed, and in that circumstance, I have to protect myself."

Guard Jordan McRae has agreed to a contract buyout with the Denver Nuggets, clearing the way for him to join the Phoenix Suns, league sources told ESPN.

Phoenix could claim him in the waivers process, allowing it to use his Bird rights to re-sign him to a new deal this summer. If he clears waivers, the Suns have a roster spot to sign him for the rest of the season.

McRae, 28, joined the Nuggets as part of a February trade deadline deal with Washington, but he hadn't been part of Denver's regular playing rotation and hoped to find a team that might have a bigger role for him. The Suns are still hopeful they can make a run to the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoff chase, although they enter Sunday 5.5 games out of the eighth seed.

McRae averaged 12.8 points in 29 games with the Wizards, but he only played four games -- averaging eight minutes -- after coming to the Nuggets.

LOS ANGELES -- Already playing without Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, the Philadelphia 76ers ruled Josh Richardson out with a nose contusion for the second half of Sunday's game against the LA Clippers.

Richardson suffered the injury after teammate Alec Burks backed into Richardson and the back of his head collided with Richardson's face. With 11:17 remaining in the second quarter, Richardson remained seated on the floor as his teammates stood around him to check to see if he was OK.

Richardson left the game with nine points and was ruled out for the remainder of the game at halftime. The Sixers are already missing Embiid to a left shoulder sprain and Simmons to a back injury.

Dallas Mavericks All-Star Luka Doncic will not play Sunday against the Minnesota Timberwolves because of a left thumb sprain, according to the team.

Doncic played through the injury during Friday's loss to the Miami Heat but said afterward that he had trouble catching the ball.

"I didn't know how important the thumb was to hold the ball," said Doncic, who turned 21 on Friday. "It was tough. ... I wasn't myself today. Just have to learn from that and move on."

Coach Rick Carlisle said he was unsure about Doncic's status for Monday's game against the Chicago Bulls.

"It was pretty clear in the Miami game that it's really a problem," Carlisle said of Doncic's injury. "He'll be out today, and tomorrow we'll see where we are."

Doncic is averaging 28.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game, leading Dallas in all three categories.

The Mavericks are also without Jalen Brunson (right shoulder sprain), Willie Cauley-Stein (personal reasons) and Dwight Powell (right Achilles surgery) against the Timberwolves. Carlisle said Cauley-Stein will rejoin the team in Chicago.