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Success at double quick time

January 17 - 24, 2018
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Gulf Weekly Success at double quick time

Gulf Weekly Kristian Harrison
By Kristian Harrison

The Bahrain International Circuit hosted a thrilling day of racing action on both two and four wheels last weekend, as the circuit hosted its latest National Race Day in Sakhir.

Shaikh Salman bin Isa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Raed Himmo and Ahmed Al Muyini were all big winners on Saturday at the BIC’s 2.55km Inner Track. Shaikh Salman and Himmo shared the honours with a win apiece in the BIC 2,000cc Challenge, while Almuyini claimed a rare ‘double-double’ after sweeping all the races in both the Bahrain Motorcycle Racing (BMR) 600 and the Bahrain Superbike Championship (BSBK).

In the BIC 2,000cc Challenge, Shaikh Salman in a Honda Civic won the opening 12-lap sprint in a total time of 15 minutes 45.420 seconds. He was engaged in a heated battle with pole-sitter Himmo, who was also driving a Civic. Himmo was made to settle for the runner-up spot 0.319s behind.

Nasser Al Alawi in a Honda S2000 was third 12.535s back.

In race two, it was Himmo’s turn to take the chequered flag, winning in 15:39.555. Shaikh Salman was this time the runner-up 0.197s back, while Al Alawi clinched third place a distant 18.372s off the pace.

In the BMR 600, Al Muyini got his winning ways off to a flying start by claiming an impressive victory in race one in 12:52.590, despite starting from the very last row.

Pole-sitter Mika Perez, a special guest flown in from Spain as reported in last week’s GulfWeekly, was 0.512s behind in second place after suffering gearbox issues whilst three seconds in the lead. Mohammad Adhan Al Zaidan was third, 6.707s behind. All three were part of the BMR’s Super Stock class.

In the Hornet category, Pawel Rosciszewski, Ali Abdulhussain and Ahmed Al Hadad made up the podium.

In race two, Almuyini was again the victor in 12:54.520. Al Zaidan followed in 4.614s, while Fahad Al Gharbali was third 40.647s back.

Rosciszewski led the same trio in the Hornet class.

In the BSBK, Almuyini didn’t miss a beat in claiming his other double of the day. He secured a pole-to-flag victory in race one in 12:51.852. Wesley Pearce came second just 1.661s behind. Dijon Compton came third 13.826s adrift.

In race two, Al Muyini clocked a winning mark of 12:53.350, with Pearce a mere 0.578s back as runner-up and Salman Khalaf 1.507s off the pace in third place.

Meanwhile, there was also action in the Bahrain Supersport Championship (BSSP) 125.

Hussain Al Aswad topped the lone eight-lap race in 13:08.956. He won ahead of Georges Mokbel who was 1.312s behind, while Yusuf Qaed came third 21.052s back.







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