Since their home opener on Oct. 30, they have

Fernando Alonso says Honda has been invigorated by McLarens recent form, something he believes will help it find the bigger step needed to be a race-winner in 2017.McLaren has scored five top-eight finishes in the last six races, having promised after the summer break to finish the season as best of the rest in terms of pace behind Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari. Ahead of Hondas home race in Japan this weekend, Alonso thinks there are plenty of reasons to be encouraged.We are happy with the progress we made this year and definitely we are able to fight with some competitive teams there, like Force India, Williams, he said. Weve finished four times seventh, after the top teams, in the last five races, so its definitely a step forward and we are enjoying this process of starting to be competitive.But looking at next year I dont think we can see anything that is clearly positive or negative. I think everything will change massively. We need to work and be very focussed on next years car in a way now that is only theoretical, simulators, windtunnel numbers and dyno numbers, etc. I dont think the performance of the actual car is a reference for next year. So thats one thing... We want to be more competitive next year.A big step has been done from last year to next year, but we need another bigger step for next year which is going from the last Q3 spots and some points to fighting for podiums and wins. I think its still possible, we have the potential, we have the facilities, we have talented people. This project is, as weve said many times, a question of time when we will be able to win. We are trying to make it as quickly as possible.Alonso says the recent results have given Honda added motivation as it targets a winning car under 2017s radical rule changes.When asked to compare Honda to his experiences with Renault and Ferrari, he replied: I found it very interesting from day one, working with Honda. I think the philosophy and approach they have to racing in general, and in some extent to life, is interesting. Im a big fan of Japanese culture and traditions and I think they translate that into racing philosophy. Theyve been following their programme -- sometimes for us, sportsmen or fans, its frustrating as we want everything now, or tomorrow, but theres not this magic solution in Formula One, everything needs some time.But they are doing their job and doing the maximum. They are following their times...Everything made in Japan, only with Japanese people, and its their mission, so Im very proud to be part of this project since day one. And now the results are coming I think they are more motivated and starting to be more creative in terms of design and progress.Alonso also confirmed he will be running the upgraded Honda power unit he took on Friday in Malaysia, before switching back to the old specification in order to avoid taking a penalty at Suzuka. However, the Spaniard said the upgrade was for reliability and has has exactly the same power as the old specification Jenson Button will run.? Nike Vapormax Kengät . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Nike Vapormax Naiset . LOUIS -- Theres no telling how these wacky World Series games will end. http://www.vapormaxsuomi.com/ . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. Nike Vapormax Tukku . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. Vapormax Flyknit 3 Suomi . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. LOS ANGELES -- Blake Griffin had 26 points and 13 rebounds, Chris Paul added 19 points and the Los Angeles Clippers rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Chicago 102-95 on Saturday night, snapping the Bulls four-game winning streak.Maurice Speights scored 11 of his season-high 16 points in the fourth for the Clippers, whose only two losses have come at home to Oklahoma City and Memphis.Speights biggest assist came with 49 seconds left. Jamal Crawford missed a 3-pointer and Speights got the rebound. He fed Crawford for a driving reverse layup that restored the Clippers lead to five points.Dwyane Wade led Chicago with 28 points, hitting five 3-pointers. Jimmy Butler added 22 points, making 11 of 12 free throws.But the Bulls made just one field goal over the final 6:30, keeping it close on seven consecutive free throws, including five by Butler. Isaiah Canaan hit a 3-pointer to draw them to 97-95 with 44 seconds left.Butler fouled Griffin with 20 seconds to go and he made both for a 99-95 lead. Wade missed a pullup jumper before Taj Gibson and coach Fred Hoiberg were hit with technical fouls in the closing seconds.Wade scored 10 of the Bulls first 12 points to start the second quarter, pushing their lead to 19 points before the Clippers suddenly awakened.They outscored Chicago 21-7 to head into halftime trailing 52-47.Griffin scored eight points, highlighted by his dunk over Robin Lopez off a bounce pass in the lane from Paul. Griffin elevated, with his left hand on Lopezs shoulder, and slammed the ball down, drawing a foul. Wades wife, Gabrielle Union, grimaced from her fourth-row seat while the crowd roared.Lucc Mbah a Moute followed with a 3-pointer, one of three by the Clippers in their spurt.ddddddddddddTIP-INSBulls: They shot 68 percent in the first quarter, their best in a quarter this season. ... They are 0-3 in the first game of a back-to-back and 1-1 in the second game.Clippers: Griffin has scored 20-plus points in seven straight games. ... Since their home opener on Oct. 30, they have played 12 games in 20 days, most in the league in that span. They dont have two days off in between games until Dec. 5-6. ... C Diamond Stone was assigned to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the D-League after appearing in three games for the Clippers. Stone was the 40th overall pick in the June draft after playing one season at Maryland. ... F Wesley Johnson missed his fifth straight game with a left heel contusion.RONDO RETURNSRajon Rondo returned to Chicagos starting lineup after missing two games because of a sprained left ankle and bronchitis. He just missed a triple-double, finishing with nine points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.Hoiberg said the team missed Rondos energy.Hes done a nice job of throwing the ball ahead, getting the ball to our wings where we can attack or getting the ball to the post, Hoiberg said.UP NEXTBulls: They stay in LA to play the Lakers on Sunday in the second game of a back-to-back, their third of the season. They swept the Lakers last season for the second time in three years.Clippers: Host Toronto on Monday before departing on a six-game trip, their longest of the season. ' ' '