Doha: Altogether 15 bikes, divided into the MX1 and MX2 categories, participated in the opening round of the Losail MX Championship that kicked off at the MX Track at Losail International Circuit here yesterday.
Last year’s runner-up in the MX1 category — Le Roy Botha of South Africa — achieved the fastest time in yesterday’s qualifying session. Botha notched up a lap time of 1.59.792 in his Honda bike while Kuwaiti rider Meshari Shaibah was second with a time of 2.01.724. Mohammed Jaffar, who raced in the MX2 category last season, switched to MX1 this year and came in third in qualifying with a time of 2.02.401.
“I have been riding in MX2 in the previous years and I have achieved a lot of titles; so now it is time to change to MX1 for more challenging goals and new achievements,” Jaffar said after the qualifying session.
In the MX2 category, Kuwait’s Barak Al Jasmi was the fastest with a time of 2.07.595. His team-mate Moaath Al Ansari was second with a time of 2.10.262. Al Ansari, the champion of MX1 last season, had changed to MX2 this season.
In the first race of the day, the Kuwaiti rider Meshari Abou Shaibah took the lead in the first three races but Mohammed Jaffar overtook Meshari and kept the first position until the end.
Jaffar was very excited after his win in the new category. “First of all, I would like to thank QMMF. Honestly, every year it is much easier for us to take part in their events and we enjoy more and hopefully this championship will be stronger and more people from international countries can race with us. Today, the race was really tough, as usual, and I would like to dedicate my first win of the season to my coach Mohammed Al Balooshi as we have been working for this for a long time,” Jaffar said.
“This season my confidence is very high because of the hard training and work during the past four months and I am well prepared for the season. Thanks to Balooshi Racing team, Adidas Kuwait, KTM Kuwait, Sungarde and Red Bull,” Jaffar said after winning the MX 1 race.
Meshari came in second in the MX1 category and Botha was third.
In the MX2 category, Barak Al Jasmi from Kuwait emerged as the winner. The Bahraini rider Hasan Nooraldin finished in second place and Mohammed Al Hattab ended in third place.
All the riders and officials later attended a photo-session.
QMMF President Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah stated that the level of the Losail MX Championship was getting better with every season and the competitors were really enjoying themselves. He hoped that more rides would participate in the coming seasons.
Jaffar also won the second MX1 race of the day. The Kuwaiti rider took the lead in the opening laps and crossed the finish line 40.783 ahead of Meshari Abou Shaibah, who finished again second. Third place again went to Botha.
In the second MX2 category race, the winner was Hasan Nooraldin from Bahrain. Barak Al Jasmi and Abdullah Al Raqum both from Kuwait, ended in second and third place respectively.
The trophies were presented by QMMF Board Member Sultan Zaher Al Morraikhi, FIM Asia Vice-president Essa Al Awadi and QMMF Public Relations Manager Rashid Al Sulaiti.
The next round of Losail MX Championship will be held on November 21.
THE PENINSULA
