Qatar’s Saeed Sulaiti (second left) and Anthony West, the QMMF Racing Team rider in Moto2, are seen in Motorland Aragon, a motorsport race track located near Alcaniz, Spain, yesterday. BELOW: Qatari rider Nasser Al Malki with team manager Luis Solano at the same circuit.
Alcaniz, Spain: Qatari rider Nasser Al Malki savoured his improved times at Aragon Motorland where bright sunshine and cheery weather greeted the participants for round two of the Spanish Championship.
The good weather conditions allowed the QMMF riders to get good results in the two Moto2 races.
Al Malki finished in 12th spot and then later finished in 18th place in race two.
Al Malki’s compatriot Saeed Al Sulaiti (22 and 26) also improved his times in the two races compared to his outings the previous day.
Al Malki said he was feeling confident ahead of the third round to be held next month.
“Today we started the day with good weather conditions, nice temperature and everything was perfect for us,” Al Malki said.
“I have improved my lap time today as I ever do in races. I feel better now, with this condition I can understand the bike very well,” the Qatari rider added.
“In the first race my start was not too good but I didn’t want to lose the points position today so I was a little calm in the first laps and then I started to push more and more so I could pass many riders,” Al Malki said.
“I finished twelve and I am happy with this position,” he added.
“In the second race, I tried to be more aggressive in the first lap but I was in a group with other seven riders and it made me be slower.
“During the race I had some problems with the bike which had no power at all; I couldn’t fight with other riders in the straights so I had to be so good on the brakes to keep my position. I need to thank the team, the QMMF and also to Anthony West for his help,” Al Malki said.
Al Sulaiti echoed Al Malki’s sentiments.
“I am very happy with both races but the main problem for us here was the qualifying sessions,” Al Sulaiti said.
“Today I have been 1.5 seconds faster than yesterday and I am pretty sure that if I could have done this yesterday I had been in the points positions today,” Al Sulaiti added.
“In the first race I’ve finished ten positions ahead from my starting position so I am very happy for my race performance but not for the result because I haven’t managed to get any point.
“In the second race I have been even faster so I have improved a lot my riding style this weekend. The most important is that I have learned a lot in these races, I know now that every session is very important.
“I want to thank all my team, they have worked a lot all this weekend and also thanks to QMMF and also to Anthony West who is always teaching me new things and this is very important to me.”
West said The conditions were a lot better with no wind, which made the two Qatari riders more happy and confident to start the race. THE PENINSULA
