Doha: The opening race of the Qatar Superbike Championship took off with Qatar’s Mishal Al Naimi (pictured) clocking the fastest time in the qualifying at Losail International Circuit on Friday night.
Mishal was fastest with a lap time of 2.03.773 in the championship, which was contested by 47 riders.
Defending champion Alex Cudlin clocked the second best lap time of 2.03.916.
This season, the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) had introduced the Superpole for the starting grid order, so the best nine qualifier riders took part in the Superpole.
Again, Al Naimi, was the best rider and will start from the first place in the grid. In second position on the grid will be Cudlin and Nasser Al Malki in the third place.
In the Losail Asian Road Racing Series (LARRS), the best rider was Manca Katrasnik from Serbia.
Along with the Qatar Superbike Championship and the LARRS, the third championship taking place is the Qatar Challenge.
Nine cars are taking part in the first round of the Qatar Challenge season.
Pavel Nedobity of Czech Republic emerged as the fastest in the qualifying session in a Lotus Exige with a lap time of 2.30.912.
Qatari driver Abdullah Al Kharan in a Honda Civic took second place on the grid.
THE PENINSULA
