Fiery season opener thrills

The new national racing season flagged off in style at the weekend as Shaikh Hamad bin Isa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa stole the spotlight and captured a dream double in the BIC 2,000cc Challenge.

The races were held as part of the first round of National Race Day organised by Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.

Ahmed Almuyini and Mohammad Al Zaidan also had reason to celebrate. They won a race apiece in the Bahrain Motorcycle Racing (BMR) 600 championship.

All the action was staged on Friday around BIC’s 2.55-km Inner Track and under its state-of-the-art floodlighting system.

In the BIC 2,000cc Challenge, Shaikh Hamad sent out an early warning to his rivals and showed why he is a former champion with his fine victories.

The veteran claimed race one driving his Honda Civic in 15 minutes 59.523 seconds. He completed the 12-lap sprint 11.603s ahead of runner-up Ahmed Bin Khanen, who was driving a Honda Civic EG4. Nasser Al Alawi in a Honda S2000 clinched third place 18.663s back.

Race ace and popular rugby coach Lee Stones in a 3 Series F20C was classified fourth despite a fire drama caused by oil on an exhaust cover flaring up which the driver controlled using an extinguisher close at hand. Defending champion Tim Birkin in a Honda Integra was fifth and Tareq Al Tajer in a Ford Focus finished in sixth place.

Shaikh Hamad completed his double winning race two in 15:52.362. Raed Himmo, also in a Civic, was not far back just 2.151s off the pace, while Birkin completed the podium placers 32.745s back. Stones, Al Alawi and Al Taher were also in the top six.

In the BMR 600, Almuyini won race one riding his Kawasaki ZX6R. He completed the event’s 11 laps in 13:02.627.

Mohammad Al Zaidan in a Yamaha R6 finished as runner-up 11.030s behind and Ali Adiby in a Kawasaki ZX6R was third overall. Nasser Al Khadra and Abdullaj Al Banai, who were both also riding Yamaha R6 bikes, as well as Mohammed Alsadiq on a Triumph Daytona, completed the top six. All six were a part of the BMR 600’s higher Super Stock class. In the lower Hornets category, Pawel Rosciszewski won ahead of Mohammed Al Ateeqi and third-placer Ahmad Abdulsalam.

In race two, Al Zaidan was this time the victor. He completed the 11-lap sprint with a mere 0.181 gap ahead of Almuyini. Al Khadra finished third. Rosciszewski finished ahead of Ateeqi once again in the Hornets category.

At the end of all the action, the winners were awarded their respective trophies in a podium ceremony.

For more information on the new national racing season, visit www.bahraingp.com or call the BIC Hotline 17450000.