Bikers battle it out on track

Shaikh Hamad bin Isa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifaeked out a dramatic double on an exciting edition of National Race Day onFriday at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) winning both sprints in roundthree of the 2016/2017 BIC 2,000cc Challenge.

Mishal Alneaimi and Ali Alshammari,meanwhile, were well on their way to joining Shaikh Hamad for doublecelebrations in their respective race series. But a penalty for each preventedthem from doing so, and Alneaimi eventually had to share honours with MikeEdwards in the Bahrain Superbike Championship (BSBK), while Alshammari andMohammed Adhan Al Zaidan came away with a win apiece in the Bahrain MotorcycleRacing 600 (BMR 600).

Both the BSBK and BMR 600 were also holdingthe third round of their respective 2016/2017 seasons.

Together with the BIC 2,000cc Challenge,they made up National Race Day at BIC, with all the action taking place alongthe Sakhir facility’s 2.55km Inner Track.

In the BIC 2,000cc Challenge, Shaikh Hamadmade a rousing debut to the current season and showed the rest of the field whyhe is a former champion. Driving a white Honda CIVIC hatchback, Shaikh Hamademerged on the winning end of an intense battle with rival competitor RaedHimmo in both 2,000cc races.

Himmo, who was also driving a CIVIC, wasthe pole-sitter for race one and he enjoyed a strong start, keeping hisposition heading into the first turn despite significant pressure from ShaikhHamad and defending champion Shaikh Salman bin Isa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, whowas starting alongside Himmo on the front row and also driving a CIVIC.

After numerous unsuccessful attemptsearlier in the race, Shaikh Hamad finally got the better of Himmo on lap seven.He never looked back from there, and gradually built a comfortable lead enroute to taking the chequered flag in a total time of 15 minutes 54.575seconds. He finished 6.994 seconds ahead of Shaikh Salman who managed to clinchthe runner-up spot. Himmo had to settle for third 9.654s behind the winner.

Tim Birkin (+18.251s) was classified fourthin a Honda Integra and Abdulla Ali (+26.326s) in a GT86 was fifth, whilerounding out the top six was Mohamed Faqihi (+27.366s), also in a CIVIC,amongst a healthy field of 14 drivers. Faqihi was given a 10-second penalty followingan incident with Birkin.

In the second race, Himmo charged to thefront from his starting position on row six and did well to hold the lead formuch of the race. He and Shaikh Hamad were neck-and-neck with onlytwo-tenths-of-a-second separating the pair, with Shaikh Salman right behindthem.

It was an intense and entertaining battlebetween Himmo and Shaikh Hamad for much of the 12 laps. Shaikh Hamad finallysecured the advantage with only two laps to go, and in the end, only 0.331seconds separated the top two. Despite starting from last place, Shaikh Hamadwon in 15:57.300. Shaikh Salman was a close third, finishing 2.486s behind hisvictorious younger brother.

Birkin (+12.015s), Ali (+30.722s) andMansoor Al Hajri (+33.589s) in a GT86 were all in the top six.

In the BSBK, where competitors were ridingon identical Ducati 899 Panigale sports bikes, it should have been business asusual for Qatar-based defending champion Mishal Alneaimi, but a 10-secondpenalty in the first race cost him a fine double and finally ended his unbeatenstreak in the series.

Alneaimi originally crossed the finish linein 12:35.802, but after exiting the pit lane under the red light, he was givena penalty demoting him to second place and handing the win over to Mike ‘Spike’Edwards. The Briton was ranked first overall in 12:42.094, now classified3.708s ahead of Alneaimi. Fahad Al Suwaidi was third 10.259s back. AhmedAlmuyin (+18.657s), Ali Alshammari (+22.985s) and Wesley Pearce (+26.943s) werefourth through sixth.

In the second 11-lap sprint, Alneaimirestored order and won in a total time 12:33.641. He was comfortably ahead ofEdwards, who trailed by 9.200s in second place. Al Suwaidi was third 11.954sfrom first position. Almuyin (+24.752s), Alshammari (+25.990s) and Pearce(+43.198s) followed yet again.

Alshammari took race one in the BMR 600 in13:26.545. Competing in the Superstock class and riding a Kawasaki ZX6R, theQatari completed the event’s 11 laps in 13:26.545.

He was 4.178s ahead of Nawaf Al Shuaibi ona Yamaha R6 in second, and 4.430s in front of Mohammed Adhan Al Zaidan, who wasalso on an R6 in third place. Mohammed Al Ateeqi (+19.338s) on an MV AugustaF3, Ali Ahmed Adiby (+19.665s) on a ZX6R and Mohammed Al Eidi (+20.164s) on anAugusta F3 were ranked in the top six amongst 16 participants.

In the Hornets class, where riders competedon identical 600cc Honda Hornet bikes, Adel Najjar was the winner. MartijnHeemskerk was second and Khalifa Khalil Ebrahim third.

In race two, Al Zaidan was awarded the victoryafter Alshammari was given a 10-second penalty due to a jump start. Al Shuaibimade it into second 1.360s behind Al Zaidan, while Alshammari had to settle forthird with a 1.639s gap from the top on the final classification. Adiby(+10.734s), Al Eidi (+21.747s) and Nasser Al Khadra (+32.061s) were in the topsix amongst the Superstock riders.

In the Hornets class, Najjar, Ebrahim andHeemskerk returned to the podium in that finishing order.

Steve Jackson set a new Pro Mod Fight WorldRecord en-route to claiming victory in the highly-competitive category duringround three of the 2016/2017 Bahrain Drag Racing Championship-Arabian ProSeries.

Driving for Bahrain1Racing Team in his 1969Chevy Camaro, Jackson registered a time of 3.640 seconds with a speed of324.75kph down Bahrain International Circuit’s (BIC) quarter-mile drag strip onFriday.

The American won his semi-finalhead-to-head with Mahana Naemi and in the process shattered the old worldrecord of 3.663s, set by compatriot Lizzy Musi at 326.21kph. Interestingly,Musi had set the previous record just the night before during qualifying.

By setting the new best mark, Jackson livedup to his nickname of ‘Stevie Fast’ and he provided the highlight of theweekend’s action.

Jackson then moved on to defeat E KanooRacing Team star Khaled Mohammed by just two-hundredths-of-a-second in the ProMod final to cap a brilliant night out in Sakhir.

The racing never stops at BahrainInternational Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir … and this weekend is no exception.

On Thursday and Friday, BIC will be openingits doors for back-to-back editions of Open Track Night. It will then befollowed up on Saturday with an Ultimate Track Experience.

Open Track on Thursday will be held alongthe 2.55km Inner Track and on Friday on the 5.412km Grand Prix circuit.

Participants will be able to enjoy theunique spectacle of driving their cars or riding their bikes under floodlights.Action will be held from 4pm to 11pm on both nights.

Those taking part will be able to choosebetween driving for a whole night at BD105 or just for a half-night at BD75. Asingle 30-minute session can also be enjoyed for BD40.

Registration can be done at BIC on bothdays, however, those who book in advance can get a discount.

Friends or family members who would like toaccompany a participant as a passenger pay an extra BD12.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, on offer during theUltimate Track Experience are the Clio Cup Drive, SR1 Drive and SR3 PassengerRide on BIC’s Inner Track.

The Clio Cup drive will give clients anexciting look into the racing capabilities of one of the world’s most popularsports cars. The Renault-manufactured Clio Cup features a 1.6-litreTurbocharged engine. It can generate up to 220bhp and 6,000rpm, and it has apaddle shift racing gearbox and an FIA-specification roll cage and seats.

The Clio Cup drive can be purchased forBD120. It includes a pair of six-lap sessions and the entire experience lastsroughly two-and-a-half hours.

The Radical SR1 drive promises a pureadrenaline rush. It launches from zero to 100kmh in 3.6 seconds and includestwo five-lap sessions that could also last up to around two-and-a-half hours atthe cost of BD140. Completing the Clio Cup drive is required before taking partin the SR1 experience.

The Radical SR3 passenger ride will beconducted alongside one of BIC’s expert driving instructors A Radical SR3boasts an RPE-Suzuki Generation 1,340 DOHC engine. It can go from zero to100kmh in 3.4 seconds, and also has a six-speed sequential gearbox and paddlegearshift system. The SR3 passenger ride costs BD35 for a three-lap session ofaround 40 minutes.

For more information, visitwww.bahraingp.com or call 17450000.