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| Winners of the motorcycle races Alexander Cudlin and Mashel al-Naimi pose with other riders after yesterday’s Qatar International Road Racing Championship round at Losail International Circuit |
Australia’s Alexander Cudlin won the first race of Qatar International Road Racing Championship round 4 at Losail yesterday, while Qatari Mashel al-Naimi was the winner in the second.
Cudlin started from pole position and although Qatar’s Mashel al-Naimi passed him on the first lap, the Aussie rider quickly gained the lead and never surrendered it.Al-Naimi finished second 8.416secs behind Cudlin.
Cudlin said the first race couldn’t have been more perfect for him.
“I had a strategy and I pushed very hard in the middle of the race to get some space between me and Mashel and win the race,” Cudlin said.
Saudi Abdul Aziz bin Ladin finished third. He started fourth on the grid but overtook Nina Prinz who was third on the grid in the first few seconds of the race. The German female rider finished in the fourth position. The leader of the championship after round 3, Scott Smart, had mechanical problems during the warm up and had to pull out.
The Indonesian rider, Rafid Topan Sucipto, finished in 7th position and he was the first LARRS rider to be classified. Dimas Ekky, who won one race of the last round, finished in second position in this category. The third step of the podium was for Ali Rusmiputro, also from Indonesia.The trophies in the first podium were given by Mr.Bambang Gunardi, QMMF sport consultant.
In the second race, al-Naimi and Cudlin exchanged leads a few times, with the Qatari finally finishing just 0.319 seconds ahead.In third position was Prinz who became the first ever woman to take a podium finish at Losail.
Prinz said she was thrilled to race in Qatar. “It is a great feeling and a very nice option for me to be on the podium finally. In the first race I had a tight battle with Abdul Aziz but in the second race, I made a perfect start and an excellent two laps, so the race was easier for me.”
Al-Naimi said after the second race that he was suffering from breathing and allergic problems and was doubtful of taking part until the last moment, but was happy to be back as a winner.
Cudlin had to slow down because his bike had heated up due to a delay at the start. “I would like to congratulate Nina for the podium and I am sure that she will be fighting very close with us very soon,” Cudlin said.The podium for the LARRS in the second race was formed by the same riders as in the first but this time Ekky finished first while Sucipto was second. Rusmiputro was in third position.
The trophies were given by Sultan al-Morraiki and Bambang Gunardi.
The next round for QIRRCH and LARRS will be held on April 5 and 6.
Meanwhile, Saadon al-Kuwari of Qatar powered to victory in his Porsche 911 in the Qatar National Road Racing Championship at Losail yesterday.
In the open category, al-Kuwari finished 7.749 seconds ahead of Manfred Ender. Al-Kuwari, who started from pole, maintained his lead until the end.
The leader of the championship, Rob Frijns, finished in third position, but said he hoped to be on top again.
Amro al-Hamad took first place in the production category. After being second in the previous rounds, he beat Jassim al-Maadeed, the current leader of the championship.
“I know it has been very hard to get into the first position and it will be harder to maintain here but I will try,” an exultant Amro said.