Defending champion and Kawasaki Racing Team rider Tom Sykes leads the World Superbike Championship standings by 12 points over Sylvain Guintoli of Aprilia Racing Team. Both the riders have a chance to clinch the title.
The final round of 2014 eni FIM Superbike World Championship takes place this weekend at the Losail International Circuit (LIC) in Doha, Qatar. For the first time in WSBK history, the event will be held under floodlights thanks to the impressive lighting system that powers the entire venue, allowing riders to race under conditions that are similar to daylight.
The Qatari circuit makes its return to the WSBK calendar after a four-year absence to host the series for the sixth time as Losail International Circuit hosted this championship from 2005 to 2009.
“I am very happy to have the World Superbike Championship back at Losail. We already enjoyed this championship in the past and I am pretty sure that with the new format to have it under the floodlights of Losail, it will give more value to this championship,” Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) president and LIC general manager Nasser Khalifa al-Attiyah said.
In the Qatar round, there will only be two categories — Superbike and Supersport.
As the title in the Supersport category has already been secured by Dutch rider Michael Van Der Mark (Pata Honda team) at Jerez, all eyes will be on the Superbike category.
This years’ championship is the closest in the Superbike history. The two frontrunners, Tom Sykes and Sylvain Guintoli, head into the final weekend separated by only 12 points, giving both of them a chance to clinch the title.
While Kawasaki Racing Team rider Sykes is the defending champion, Aprilia’s French rider Guintoli finished third last year.
Both the riders have previously raced at Losail with Guintoli being the more experienced of the two at this track, having raced there five times before, including one race at night in 2008 in the MotoGP class where he was 15th at the flag.
Apart from the World Superbike Championship this weekend, Qatar Superbike Championship will run as a support race.
Qatar Superbike defending champion Alex Cudlin is in for a busy weekend as the Australian will be riding in QSBK as well as in WSBK for the Pedercini Kawasaki team.
“I’m extremely happy to be making my World Superbike. It really is a dream come true to race in World Superbike Championship. I have to sincerely thank not only Pedercini Racing Team but also my QMMF team, because without their permission, it would just still be a dream. I will also be racing under number 95, in respect for my current QMMF Racing Team. 95 is the national number of the Qatar Federation, so I will use it proudly,” Cudlin said.
For the spectators, the grandstand ticket is 100QR for the 3 days and the VIP ticket for 2 days is 300 QR. Tickets are available till Thursday, October 30, at QMMF offices on Salwa Road and after that at Losail International Circuit during the event.
BELOW: QMMF Racing Team’s Australian rider and Qatar Superbike defending champion is set for a busy weekend with rides in QSBK and WSBK championships. Right: QMMF president Nasser Khalifa al-Attiyah and Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta.