US Robby Gordon (Hummer) drives to win the sixth stage of the 29th Dakar between Tan Tan (Morocco) and Zouerat, Mauritania, Thursday.

ZOUERAT, Mauritania, Jan. 12--America’s Robby Gordon, driving a Hummer, won the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally finishing ahead of Jean-Louis Schlesser of France and South Africa’s Giniel De Villiers.
It was the race’s longest stage over 817km from Tan-Tan in Morocco, AFP said.
Spanish KTM rider Jordi Villadoms won the motorcycle section ahead of compatriot and race leader Marc Coma and American Chris Blais.
KTM riders took the top six places with Villadoms covering the 394km of special stages between Tan-Tan and here in 3hr 45min 45sec finishing 57sec ahead of Coma 57sec with Blais a minute behind.
In the overall standings, Marc Coma maintained his lead in the motorbike section while former world rally champion Carlos Sainz stays in charge of the race for the auto title.
Sainz was fourth overall on Thursday.
“I really went flat out today,“ said Gordon.
“A year ago, on the same special stage, we lost 20 minutes, but this year we won. I was a bit worried about the petrol level so I slowed down at the end.“
Villadoms was overjoyed with his stage win.
“Its my first ever stage victory,“ he said.
“I knew I was riding well because I caught up with Cyril Despres. However, I didnt catch up with Marc (Coma) and Isidre (Esteve), so until the finishing line I wasnt aware of it.
“I didnt expect to win a stage that quickly. Of course, its what you aim to do, but for this Dakar, my objective is to help out Marc first and foremost.
“This result shows that we are a capable team and that the effort put in throughout the year is well worth it. I’ve only done one Dakar, last year, and I still have a lot to learn, but its a good start.“
For former NASCAR ace Gordon, who finished 17secs ahead of Schlesser, it was his third career stage win in the event adding to successes in Spain and Morocco in 2005.
Volkswagen still hold the top three places in the overall classification.
De Villiers is 3:11 behind Sainz with Portugal’s Carlos Sousa rounding out the top three, 14:03 off the pace.
Japan’s Hiroshi Masuoka, a former winner, is down in ninth place in his Mitsubishi, after losing an hour on Thursday because of mechanical trouble.
Friday’s stage sees the race progress over 580km to Atar with a 542km special.

MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan. 12--Defending champion Andy Roddick set up a a final against top-ranked Roger Federer at the Kooyong Classic exhibition tournament with a 6-4, 6-4 win Friday over Scotland’s Andy Murray.
Roddick has only one win in 13 ATP Tour matches against Federer, who is on an eight-match streak against the American, AP said.
Although the last match was close, Federer having to save three match points before winning their round-robin match at the season-ending Masters Cup in November.
There’s nothing riding on the Saturday final at Kooyong, an invitation-only warmup for next week’s Australian Open, but Roddick has no intention of wasting the chance.
“I’m going to go out there and try to win a tennis match,“ he said. “It’s always nice to get a shot at Roger.“
The main idea is to fine tune for the season’s first major. The earliest Federer and Roddick could meet at the Australian Open is in the semifinals.
A win “would be great,“ Roddick said. “At the same time, I’m going to reiterate the fact that we’re here for preparation and we’re here to kind of get a feel and play some good tennis in a nice environment before the Aussie Open.
“I mean, let’s say I do come out here and beat Roger tomorrow, I wouldn’t come in here acting like a world beater--I’d probably have to do it on a bigger stage before you read too much into it.“
Federer, bidding for a 10th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, skipped his regular season-opener at Doha this year and came straight to Melbourne.
He had a patchy start, coming within two points of a loss before beating Radek Stepanek on Wednesday, but had an easier time in a straight sets win over 2005 Australian Open champion Marat Safin in his second match to qualify for the final.
In matches in the relegation bracket, Radek Stepanek beat Ivan Ljubicic 6-2, 6-2 and Fernando Gonzalez continued Tommy Haas’ winless run with a 6-4, 7-6 (8) defeat.

ROME, Jan. 12--Ac Milan seem set for a place in the last four of the Italian Cup after they defeated second division Arezzo 2-0 in their quarterfinal, first leg on Thursday.
According to AFP, Alberto Gilardino and Filippo Inzaghi, both members of Italy’s triumphant World Cup squad, scored the goals to give Milan a comfortable victory at the San Siro.
Arezzo barely threatened Milan’s goal and now face a mammoth task to keep their cup dream alive when they host the six-time European champions in Tuscany next week.
Gilardino unlocked the Arezzo defense in the 34th minute, racing onto Clarence Seedorf’s pass before skipping past keeper Nicolas Bremec and slotting home from a tight angle.
Dutch midfielder Seedorf also set up Milan’s second goal five minutes into the second half, his chipped through-ball finding Inzaghi whose right-footed drive gave Bremec no chance.
Roma’s hopes of reaching the semifinals hang in the balance after they conceded a late goal in a 2-1 home win over Parma on Wednesday.
Goals from Mancini and Francesco Totti appeared to have put the hosts firmly in control.
But a lapse in concentration in Roma’s defense allowed Bosnian striker Zlatko Dedic to tuck home a valuable away goal for Parma three minutes from time.
In Wednesday’s other first leg tie defender Luigi Sala netted the only goal as Sampdoria edge Chievo 1-0.
On Tuesday’s holders Inter Milan, going for a third straight win in the competition, scored twice in the last 19 minutes to win 2-0 at Empoli.
Brazilian striker Adriano broke the deadlock with a delicate chip before Colombian defender Ivan Cordoba headed in Inter’s second goal.
Juventus, who are currently residing in Serie B following their relegation for match-fixing, have lifted the Italian Cup the most with nine wins, followed by Roma on seven and Fiorentina on six.

MANCHESTER, UK, Jan. 12--Veteran Swedish star Henrik Larsson is determined to build on his goal-scoring debut for Manchester United when he faces Aston Villa for the second time in a week at Old Trafford.
Larsson was on target in the 2-1 FA Cup win against Villa last week and comes up against Martin O’Neill’s struggling side again in the Premiership where United look to maintain their stranglehold on top of the table, AFP said.
“I was happy with my fitness and sharpness but I can’t get carried away because this was just one game,“ said Larsson who is on a 10-week loan from Swedish side Helsingborgs.
“One swallow doesn’t make a summer and I know I need to keep working hard and improving.
“When I play next is up to the boss (Sir Alex Ferguson), but whether I come on as a substitute or play from the start, I will be doing my best.“
Martin O’Neill believes Gavin McCann is making the same kind of impact for Aston Villa as Neil Lennon did under his command at Leicester and Celtic.
Lennon was part of the midfield triumvirate at Leicester also consisting of Robbie Savage and Muzzy Izzet, which was the bedrock of the Foxes success under O’Neill and he was equally important after moving to Parkhead.
McCann is a similar sort of player and his know-how and experience has been crucial in a young team although O’Neill insists there is more to his game than just breaking up play.
O’Neill said: “Gavin McCann has been absolutely terrific for us.
“He’s like a Neil Lennon type. I think he’s got the ability like Lennon to attract the ball. He doesn’t have to worry about going looking for it, he’s one of those players that will attract it and he can use it.“

KAMPALA, Uganda, Jan. 12--International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge told African countries they must commit some funds in order to develop sports facilities on the continent.
According to AFP, Rogge said it was only when there were adequate facilities that the world’s poorest continent can successfully bid to host the Olympic Games.
“African countries must have developed their economies to a stronger base to be able to convince IOC to select their cites as hosts,“ Rogge told reporters on arrival here on the third and final leg of his three-nation African tour.
“I know South Africa did put up a good bid which they lost for the 2004 Games in Athens and should have another chance if they were not hosting 2010 FIFA World Cup,“ he said.
During his two-day visit, Rogge will hold discussions with Ugandan Olympic officials on future financial and technical assistance and his presence is seen a big boost to a country that struggled in sports for two decades.
A memorandum prepared by the 19 sports federations seeking for a grant of at least five million dollars from the Olympic Solidarity Fund for an indoor stadium will be presented to Rogge, the organizers said.

Luke Donald of England hits a pitch shot to the 18th green during the first round of the Sony Open at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, USA, Thursday.

HONOLULU, USA, Jan. 12--England’s Luke Donald seized the early lead with a 63 and Michelle Wie stumbled to a 78 in the first round of the 5.2 million dollar PGA Sony Open.
According to AP, Donald managed to ignore the sideshow surrounding Wie and focus on his game posting a seven-under-par at the Waialae Country Club.
Donald, whose gallery as much smaller than Wie’s and amounted to “three or four“ people at the start of the day, enjoyed the serene silence to compile nine birdies.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing this course,“ said the 29-year-old Englishman. “I played very nicely today and more importantly, holed the putts for birdie.“
South Korea’s K.J. Choi was next after a 64 that included an eagle from nearly 50 feet at the par-five 18th.
Jim Furyk and Will MacKenzie were two shots off the pace on a day when the 17-year-old Wie shot eight over par that left her second to last.
Donald, a member of last year’s victorious European Ryder Cup team, finished a career high ninth on the PGA Tour money list last year, and he made a decent start to 2007 with a seventh place at the Mercedes-Benz Championship on Maui last week.
“I feel I’m getting better every year,“ he said. “It has not quite yet resulted in a lot of wins, winning majors and that kind of stuff, but I feel I’m getting a lot closer than I was a year or two ago.“
Donald is regarded as a premier iron player, and he was certainly on target with his approach shots, making all but one of his birdies from inside 15 feet on a course that demands shotmaking more than sheer power.
Choi had three good rounds last week, but he hopes to raise that number to four this week.
“This week the ball is going better than last week, so a little more prayer tonight and then hopefully more quiet in the morning,“ he said.
MacKenzie, meanwhile, continued the good form he displayed to tie for fourth last week.
“I had a pretty good feel for the day,“ MacKenzie said. “(I) hit some great shots and got on that nice run that jump-started my round.“

England batsman Paul Collingwood (r) reverse sweeps a ball as Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist looks on during their one-day match at the MCG, in Melbourne, Australia, Friday.

MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan. 12--Kevin Pietersen once again came to the rescue as England posted a competitive 242 for eight in the triangular one-day series against Australia at the MCG here on Friday.
According to AFP, the big right-hander defied the Australian bowlers and a Glenn McGrath ball to the ribs to ensure a solid, if not daunting, total on a good batting wicket.
Pietersen’s 82 from 91 balls was the mainstay of England’s total from 50 overs after they won the toss and elected to bat in the first match of the series, also featuring New Zealand.
England were in early trouble at 3-73 and didn’t pick up what was a pedestrian run rate until Pietersen went after the leg-spin of rookie all-rounder Cameron White in the 34th and 36th overs.
Pietersen, one of few England players to come out of the Ashes debacle with his reputation intact, lofted White over long off for six to bring up his 50, from 63 balls.
He then hit successive sixes in White’s next over to finally give England fans something to get excited about.
Pietersen, who eventually holed out to Andrew Symonds on the mid-on boundary from the bowling of Stuart Clark, had useful support from Paul Collingwood (43) and Andrew Flintoff, who hit out late to make an entertaining 47 not out from 38 balls.
Although he played some glorious shots, particularly straight down the ground, and fell in the chase for quick runs late on, Pietersen also looked uncomfortable after taking a rising McGrath delivery in the ribs in the 40th over. The England batsman had advanced at McGrath, a tactic he used regularly to counter the length of the Australian bowlers, but fell heavily after being struck and appeared restricted afterwards.
Unfortunately, Pietersen’s dismissal sparked yet another England collapse as they lost 3-5 and squandered the chance for a bigger total, while Ricky Ponting took a stunning catch to remove Jon Lewis in the penultimate over.
Left-armer Mitchell Johnson, 12th man for all five Ashes Tests, was impressive with 2-34 from his 10 overs.
Nathan Bracken (3-44) put the home side on top early, claiming the wickets of Andrew Strauss, whose lean run on tour continued when he was brilliantly caught by Matthew Hayden, and England captain Michael Vaughan. Vaughan, in his first one-day international since returning from knee surgery, was looking in good touch.

ROME, Jan. 12--Ferrari’s sporting director Stefano Domenicali said that seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher will still be actively involved for the Italian Formula One team this season.
Schumacher, who retired last season, will stay on as a consultant and give advice to drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa while former team manager Jean Todt, who joined Ferrari in 1993 and was instrumental in turning them into world-beaters, will also have a role to play, AFP said.
“Schumi will be involved with decisions regarding drivers and technical changes, either directly or through technology,“ said Domeniciali.
Ferrari, who finished runner-up to Renault in the drivers’ and constructors’ championships last year, will unveil their new car for the 2007 season this Sunday at their Maranello headquarters.