(MENAFN - The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Qatar's Saeed Al Sulaiti yesterday had a brilliant run at Losail International Circuit, winning both the races at the opening round of the Qatar Superstock 600.
In the first race, Saeed, who got the Superpole on Friday, managed to take the lead during the first two laps when Mishal Al Naimi passed him. Al Naimi only led the race during one lap, as Al Sulaiti overtook him and continue leading until the checkered flag.
Al Naimi was suffering from fever during the whole weekend and he managed to keep the second place only for two laps, before Nasser Al Malki passed him. Al Malki finished second while Al Naimi had to content with third position.
'I led the first two laps but then Mishal overtake me at the straight line. I tried to follow him aggressively until I almost crashed so I took it easy and keep my rhythm. I want to say I hope Mishal can feel better in the second race because it was sad to see him weak, Saeed said after the first race.
Al Naimi, however, was happy to finish on the podium despite health problems.
'The bike is very good but I don't feel good since yesterday and had to visit hospital. Today I have no fever but felt weak and faced difficulty in breathing. I managed to overtake Saeed in the third lap but after 5 laps I felt very bad, with no energy and it was difficult to continue. My heart rate was very high and I had to keep calm and finish the race. Hope I can feel better for the second race, said Al Naimi.
In the QSTK Trophy, it was an intense battle between Essa Al Mutawa, Soud Al Thani and the Kuwaiti rider Mohammad Al Zaidan for the first position. It was Soud who sealed victory in the end after Al Mutawa crashed with just two laps to go.
'It was a very good race. I struggled a bit in the beginning but then I managed to overtake some slow riders and I found out that Essa Al Mutawa was leading our category and he made 3-4 seconds gaps but after 4 laps I managed to catch him and overtook him, stay ahead for 3 laps and in the penultimate lap. We made contact and exit to the gravel but fortunately I didn't fell down and I was able to come inside and continue. I am very happy to finish first, said Soud.
The Kuwait rider Mohammad Al Zaidan finished second in the podium and French rider Michel Delarace came third on the podium of QSTK Trophy.
'It was a good race which witnessed awesome battle between the leaders of the QSTK Trophy category. In the first part of the race I was leading in my category but Essa Al Mutawa and Soud Al Thani passed me and they fought for the first place but Essa crashed and I stayed in second place, Al Zaidan stated after the race.
‘Honestly, I didn't expect to be on the podium because my start was normal, I tried to catch the people in front of me but it was not possible, they were so fast, so I said to myself just continue, never looked back and gave the best in every lap and happy to be on the podium.
In the second race, Saeed pushed from the beginning of the race and crossed again the checkered flag in first position.
'I am really happy to make the double win, the target for this weekend. The start was perfect. I tried in the first laps to keep the rhythm and tried to make the gap, he said.
Abdullah Al Qubaisi finished in third position on the podium.
For the QSTK Trophy, Soud excelled again to win in his category.
'I am very happy with another win . I was unlucky in the start, I had to exit from the pit lane as my tyre pressure was wrong, but I managed to get a good result because of my lap time and good rhythm, Soud said.
Al Mutawa finished second and Mohammad Al Zaidan ended in third place in QSTK Trophy.
Trophies were presented by QMMF President Abdulrahmam Al Mannai, QMMF General Secretary Abdulrazak Al Kuwari and QMMF Executive Director Sultan Al Murraiki. The second round of Qatar Superstock Championship will be held on February 2 and 3, 2018.
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