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Marquez’s domination continues with Indy pole

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Marc Marquez’s march to perfection stayed on course at Indianapolis.

The seemingly unbeatable 21-year-old Spaniard put himself in prime position Saturday to make history again after claiming his second straight Indianapolis Grand Prix pole. Marquez completed Indy’s newly reconfigured 2.591-mile, 16-turn road course in 1 minute, 31.619 seconds, more than two-tenths of a second ahead of Italy’s Andrea Dovizioso. Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo qualified third for Sunday’s race.

Marquez has won eight of the 10 poles this season and is the first back-to-back pole winner in this race’s seven-year history. If he wins again Sunday, Marquez would become the youngest rider in series history with 10 straight wins and the first to ever win back-to-back at Indy.

“I feel good, especially for the race because I’ve got a good rhythm going,” the defending world champ said.

If he keeps this up, the young Repos Honda star could clinch another championship in his home country Sept. 28 with four races left — regardless of how anyone else does.

He’s also become rather comfortable in Indianapolis’ famed Victory Lane. Marquez won Moto2 races here in 2011 and 2012, giving him a rare shot to win four straight at one of racing’s most venerable venues.

But this one came with a few flaws. During the morning practice, Marquez made a rare miscue and wobbled on his bike in the 16th turn before regaining control. And qualifying, he drove past the first turn because he said he was going too fast.

Even a couple of small mistakes couldn’t derail Marquez.

Dovizioso, the Ducati Team rider was clocked at a record-breaking 214.5 mph in the track’s speed trap in the morning, found enough speed late in qualifying to challenge Marquez with a 1:31.844. Lorenzo, the 2009 Indy winner who rides for Moister Yamaha, was next at 1:31.869. Nobody else cracked 1:32.

And Marquez would like to keep make things look that easy one more time Sunday.

“Confidence is important tomorrow,” he said. “I hope it’s a normal race, good race and I’ll fight for the victory.”

LATE CRASH: England’s Bradley Smith was the only rider injured Saturday. He fell during qualifying and skidded down the pavement with his bike trailing just before the checkered flag came out. Smith was taken to the infield medical center where he had scans taken on his chest and fingers. Series officials said he was treated for an undisclosed injury to the fifth finger on his left hand and that he was cleared to compete Sunday. Smith will start ninth, the inside of Row 3, for Monster Yamaha Tech 3.

TOUGH DAY: Danni Pedrosa, Marquez’s teammate, has been one of the most consistent riders at Indy. But he’ll have some serious work to do Sunday, after he fell out of the front row and all the way back to the No. 8 starting spot — matching his worst ever in seven Indy races. The Spaniard has four straight top-two finishes here, winning in 2010 and 2012, a streak that could be broken Sunday. He and Marquez are the only two-time pole winners, too.

AMERICAN STRUGGLE: Colin Edwards is the only American racing Sunday, and it looks like he won’t have a chance. The soon-to-be retired Texan will start 15th, the inside of Row 5, in his final race on home soil. It’s been a tough season for the 40-year-old Edwards, whose NGM Forward Yamaha team threw a farewell celebration for him at the track following qualifying.

THE FUTURE: Speedway President Doug Boles and series officials continue to talk about a contract extension. Boles issued a statement Saturday that read in part: “The conversations are ongoing and a high priority and we will make an announcement about the future as soon as possible.”

OTHER SERIES: Finland’s Mika Kallio claimed the Moto2 pole, his second of the season, with a fast lap of 1:36.883. Australia’s Jack Miller, the Moto3 points leader, won his sixth pole of the season with a lap of 1:40.727. And Northern Ireland’s Jeremy McWilliams won the Harley-Davidson race by 0.083 seconds over Wisconsin’s Ben Carlson.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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