USAIN BOLT said that he intends to call Manager LOUIS VAN GAAL if ManU loses again this weekend against Sunderland.
The 28-year-old said that he "will be straight on the phone to the Dutchman if United fail to recover from a disappointing opening day defeat against Swansea." Bolt: "I haven't talked to him yet. He lost the first game so I'm giving him some time and I'll wait to see if he does any better on Sunday. But if he doesn't I'll probably need to give him a call" (London DAILY MAIL, 8/21). ... Journalist PEDRO LUIS SALAZAR died of cancer at the age of 55 on Wednesday. Salazar worked for various European media outlets for more than 20 years, including as a Netherlands correspondent for Spanish newspaper Marca (LA TERCERA, 8/20). ... ALAN MULHOLLAND "has cited work and family commitments as the reason for not seeking another term" as manager of Irish second-tier football club Galway (IRISH TIMES, 8/21).
FROM THE CIRCUIT: Former F1 and NASCAR driver NELSON PIQUET JUNIOR "has signed up to race for a Chinese team in the new Formula E electric series starting in Beijing next month."
The 29-year-old Brazilian, whose father and namesake was a triple F1 champion, joins a list of ex-F1 drivers on the starting grid including Germany's NICK HEIDFELD and Italian JARNO TRULLI (REUTERS, 8/21). ... Mexican F1 driver SERGIO PEREZ said that "he expects to stay at the Force India Formula One team next season with an extension likely to be agreed in a matter of weeks." Perez:
"Nothing is confirmed yet but we should be, in the next couple of weeks, sorted for next year." Mexico "is returning to the grand prix calendar next season after a 23-year absence and Perez is the country's leading driver" (REUTERS, 8/21). ... Three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner ANDRE LOTTERER will replace Japan's KAMUI KOBAYASHI at Caterham for this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.
Lotterer, 32, "has never raced in Formula 1 but the German did have a spell as Jaguar's test driver in 2002."
A Caterham team statement "did not indicate how many races Lotterer would contest but did say Kobayashi 'still remains part of the team'" (BBC, 8/20).
