The British Superbike Championship rider Scott Smart was on top form in the second round of the Qatar International Road Racing Championship last weekend, finishing with first place in both races.
In the first race, Smart managed to beat some tough competition in the form of Mishal al Naimi and Abdul Aziz Binladen, who had won during the opening round last month. During the second race, Smart found himself in a close battle for victory with al Naimi and ended up winning on his BMW by just 0.060s.
Smart now lies fourth in the overall standings with just seven points separating him and championship leader Binladen.
Smart: “It was a great event for me as the first race was during the day and the second was in the darkness at night. In the first one I got a good start and hit the front on the last corner of the first lap. I got my head down and then I left everyone to just fight it out for themselves. Towards the end of the race thought the front tyre was feeling soft and on the last lap it was almost flat and I had to nurse it home so the first four laps of the race paid dividends.
“The second race was in the darkness and although I have done some endurance races at night before it did take me some time to find the braking markers again as the shadows change compared to during the day. I didn’t get a great start and then I had a few laps working my way back up to the front of the pack. I then was with al Naimi and he is a good rider with Moto2 experience. He led for about half the race and then when he looked over his shoulder he rolled off the gas and I knew that would be my chance. As we came into the penultimate corner with a lap to go he looked over his shoulder and on the last lap he did the same and that was enough for me to get in front and then make him stand the bike up in the corner. He wasn’t too impressed but I was really happy with a double win. Its just a shame that I was only a wildcard in the opening round as I didn’t score points. I would have been leading the championship if that had happened!”
QIRRCH Championship points after round two:
1. Abdul Aziz Binladin: 57
2. Nasser al Malki: 56
3. Youssef al Malki: 53
4. Scott Smart: 50
5. Sultan Mohamed Al Kuwari: 44
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