Category: Media

Home hero Mashel gears up for WorldSBK battle at Losail Circuit

https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/29/10/2017/Home-hero-Mashel-gears-up-for-WorldSBK-battle-at-Losail-Circuit

Home hero Mashel gears up for WorldSBK battle at Losail Circuit
Mashel Al Naimi, Team: Ooredoo Racing Team, Racing number: 95, Sponsor: Ooredoo
By Rizwan Rehmat / The Peninsula

Qatar’s top rider Mashel Al Naimi is pumped up for his maiden run in the final round of this year’s hotly-contested FIM Superbike World Championship.

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The former Moto2 rider with the QMMF Racing Team, Al Naimi has been extended a wildcard entry along with compatriot Saeed Al Sulaiti for the SBK round to be held under lights at Losail International Circuit later this week.

“I am very happy to get a chance to participate in the final round of the Superbike World Championship. I will be riding in the SuperSport category,” Al Naimi said in an exclusive chat with The Peninsula.

“I thank the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and Lusail Circuit Sports Club for their support to back my candidacy. Saeed and I will be riding as Qatari riders at such a high profile event,” the 34-year-old rider added.

“I hope that we will be in good shape for what will be a tough ride. I will try my best to have a solid outing and a memorable footprint in the final round of the World Superbike Championship,” he said.

“We knew about our wildcard in August and since then I have been in training mode,” Al Naimi said.

Qatari rider Mashel Al Naimi poses for a photograph with Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) President Abdulrahman Al Mannai at the Losail Circuit in Doha yesterday.

“Ever since the QMMF told me about my chance to feature in the final round, I have been preparing to get on the starting ramp. I have been preparing for a month at training camp in Spain with a focus on physical fitness.

“I have been cycling a lot to boost my overall physical fitness. I am physically and psychologically ready to go. Ooredoo is my main supporter at all the races I compete in. I am very grateful to them for continuing their support. You know very well that motor sport is an expensive sport and their support is a major help to me,” Al Naimi said.

Al Naimi, a hugely popular rider in the region, said his maiden appearance will be another ‘big achievement’ in his long career.

“This will be the first time that I will feature in a World Superbike Championship round. I have featured in a MotoGP round in 2010 at Losail International Circuit with support from QMMF,” Al Naimi said.

“I will be looking to produce my best lap time. I have tasted the flavour of racing in MotoGP, Moto2 and now I am getting ready for a race in the World Superbike Championship,” he added.

Al Naimi said he was expecting a good set-up ahead of the race on Saturday night.

“I am not overwhelmed while competing against the world’s best rider. My class will be 600cc. Hopefully there won’t be any technical issues and that I can have a smooth ride. I urge the Qatari racing fans to come on and enjoy the races and offer their support,” Al Naimi said.

Al Naimi said winning the Superstock Endurance World Championship a decade ago was the highlight moment of his career.

“When I first started out, it felt great as we were just riders. Then our goal was to gain experience. If we compete with world champions and have a solid footprint, we knew we could challenge the best. With absolute determination, we won the world championship in endurance racing. Listening to the national anthem at the Le Mans was an unbelievable moment of pride for me and my team,” Al Naimi said.

“The support offered to us by (then QMMF President) Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah was paramount in us winning the world title. He kept our morale high and boosted our confidence whenever he could. There was great camaraderie among the riding bunch then. The international and local media were treating us like heroes and telling our stories to the world. It was a such a rich experience,” he added.

“I have to say that I was about to retire in 2011 from the sport because of high costs to run a racing campaign. But Ooredoo came up with their help at the right time. They put a smile on my face. The revived my enthusiasm and encouraged me to participate in local and regional competitions,” Al Naimi said.

“We ran many promos and managed to get robust feedback from the racing fans. I thank Ooredoo for their supper and encouragement. I consider myself a sports ambassador for Ooredoo,” he added.

“I do not want to forget the great support of the Minister of Culture and Sports, H E Salah bin Ghanim Al Ali, who has been following my performances and offering kind words of appreciation. He wants us to give our best. The Ministry’s support to sports professionals like myself is so crucial and encouraging at the same time. We will continue to do our best for Qatar,” the Qatari star said.

https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/29/10/2017/Home-hero-Mashel-gears-up-for-WorldSBK-battle-at-Losail-Circuit

Al Naimi takes the Superpole and win in QSTK

Al Khelaifi continues to dominate in Qatar Touring Car Championship

Qatar’s rider Mishal Al Naimi dominated today’s sessions and he took the Superpole of the fourth round of the Qatar Superstock 600 Championship in the last lap.

With a lap time of 2:04.343 Al Naimi will start in front of the grid tomorrow and will try to extend the gap ahead of Saeed Al Sulaiti. 

Al Sulaiti, who is not fit 100% due to his hand injured, will start from the second place on the grid as he did a laptime of 2:04.600 in the Superpole. 

The young rider Abdullah Al Qubaisi did a great time in the Superpole and he will start in third position in the grid.

Later in the evening, the second race of the QSTK Round 3 that was postponed during MotoGP due to the weather conditions took place. Just in the first corner of the first lap, there was touch between Ali Al Naimi and Soud Al Thani and both riders crashed without major injuries but the race was stopped to clean the track.

As soon as the race was re-started, Saeed Al Sulaiti, who was on pole position for this race, took the lead from the start until the end. Mishal Al Naimi was riding behind him so close during the whole race but in the last corner of the last lap, Al Naimi managed to overtake Al Sulaiti and took the victory.

Mishal was very happy and enjoyed a lot riding today ‘I am very happy today, I have been fast during all the sessions and I feel good physically but the bike still needs a good set up.  I tried to push from the beginning but Saeed was very fast. I didn’t have a good start and I stayed in the back to keep the tyre in good conditions and in the last corner of the last lap I felt I am good in the entry, so I overtake him and won the race.  Congratulations to Saeed and Nasser for their podiums and many thanks to QMMF, Losail Circuit Sports Club and to Ooredoo for their support’  said Al Naimi.

Saed Al Sulaiti was a bit disappointed not to win after leading the whole race until the last corner ‘I had a very good start, able to lead the race from the beginning until the last corner of the last lap. While I was entering the corner, I saw Mishal’s tyre and at that moment I was able to enter but there was a risk that both of us crash so I let him pass and try to pass him from inside again but unfortunately it was not a good idea and finished second by only 0.1. Happy with the rhythm we had today with all the sessions. I was not in the best shape; my hand is hurting me a lot but I managed the pain and pushed to 100%. Congratulations to Mishal and Nasser for the podium’ Al Sulaiti

The third in the podium was Nasser Al Malki and Abdullah Al Qubaisi finished in fourth position.

‘I am very happy today as I feel better but still I need some improvement with the bike as I am stucked with the same lap timing. I have problems with the suspension, I don’t feel comfortable. At the beginning, I started to be close to Saeed and Mishal but they are faster in the second part of the track and they increased the gap.  I hope tomorrow to be again in the fight for the win’ said Al Malki

Tomorrow, QSTK Round 4 races will be at 11:30 and at 14:30.

Regarding the third round of the Qatar Touring Car Championship, the leader in the standings, Abdulla Al Khelaifi continues to dominate the timings and was the fastest driver with a lap time of 2:26.620 in the Free Practice of today.

Al Khelaifi was very happy with his result and to be back to the action ‘Great to be back racing! Qualifying went well for me as I was able to do one clean lap from the beginning. I decided to pit early as I thought pushing the car in this hot weather is a bad idea. Judging from the results today, I think tomorrow’s race will be interesting as four drivers will battle for first’ said Abdulla.

The second fastest driver was Mahmoud Al Khalaf, who did a lap time of 2:26.792 ‘It was a nice surprise to finish second as my car’s setup was not perfect yet. I kept pushing till the end and my lap times kept improving. Hope I can maintain my pace in the race tomorrow to finish first!

Omran Karama did the third best time and Mansour Al Hajri finished in fourth place as he had suspension issues but hopefully he can fix them and tomorrow’s race will be more challenging.

QTCC races are tomorrow Saturday at 13:00 and at 16:00

There is free entrance for all the fans at the grandstand and also at the Paddock.

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