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■ Moto GP
Gibernau breaks record
Sete Gibernau broke the qualifying lap record at the Mugello circuit in Scarperia, Italy by nearly two seconds Friday, taking the provisional pole ahead of Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi for the MotoGP's Italian Grand Prix. The 31-year-old Spaniard, who is seeking his third straight victory this season, completed his best lap on the 5.245km, 15-turn circuit in of 1 minute, 49.553 seconds on his Honda, 1.7 seconds better than the previous record set by Rossi two years ago. Rossi, the defending world champion who moved from Honda to Yamaha in the offseason, trailed Gibernau by four-tenths of a second was 1.22 ahead of Italian archrival Biaggi and his Honda.

■ Auto Racing
Ferrari ponders contract
Ferrari is open to the possibility of renewing six-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher's contract, which expires next year, the team's boss said yesterday. "Nothing says he can't stay on after 2006," Jean Todt said at a news conference in Shanghai, where Ferrari was opening its first China showroom. "There is still plenty of time." Todt, also Ferrari's general manager, hired Schumacher at the end of 1995 after the German driver won titles for the Benetton team in 1994 and 1995.

■ Rugby
Fisher heads up Brumbies
The ACT Brumbies have elevated Laurie Fisher to replace David Nucifora as head coach of the Super 12 rugby union franchise. Fisher was an assistant this season to Nucifora, who was fired after guiding the Canberra-based outfit to the 2004 Super 12 title. Fisher will start a two-year contract in July when he finishes his stint as Australia's Under-21s coach. "The board is delighted to have a first homegrown coach from ACT now going to be heading up the Brumbies," ACT Rugby Union chief executive Rob Clarke was quoted saying yesterday. Nucifora, a former Queensland and Australian hooker, was told in April that his contract wouldn't be renewed next season.

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