Mahmoud Tannir on his way to victory in Race 2 of the Motorcity UAE Sportbikes Championship
Fri 22nd Feb – Rob Nicholas and reigning champion Mahmoud Tannir shared a win apiece in the Motorcity UAE Sportbikes Championship 600 Class races today while Saudi rider Abdulaziz Binladen continued his winning streak in the 1000 Class at Dubai Autodrome by notching up yet another two wins on the day.
With Binladen shooting off into the distance on his Saudi Falcons BMW in both 1000 Class races which he won comfortably, the focus was on the battle for top honours in the 600 Class which carries UAE national championship status.
This season’s two wheel contest has turned into one of the closest in the history of UAE Sportbikes, with several riders capable of taking victory and the championship wide open.
Rob Nicholas returned to the local scene after a layoff, and last time out made his mark by scoring his first victory of the season on his Triumph.
Proving that winning is contagious he did the same again in the first race of the day with a commanding win over Tannir, also on a Triumph, and Omar Naji in third after another impressive outing on his Kawasaki.
Championship points leader Surya Raja was fourth on a brand new Yamaha, after he blew an engine on his Rookie Cup winning machine, which was not setup to his liking.
The first race was cut short when Joe Oxley crashed three laps from the end. The Ducati rider was not injured. His only consolation would be that he set the fastest lap of the race for the 600 Class before the incident.
UAE Sportbikes 600 Class Race 1 winner Rob Nicholas (second right) and second placed Mahmoud Tannir (left) and Omar Naji (left)
Race two looked to be a repeat of the first, with Nicholas again setting the pace in the 600 Class and seemed on course for a double win, but he ran out of brakes going into Turn 1, on the final lap, which allowed Tannir and Surya through to finish first and second respectively. Nicholas had to settle for third, with Oxley bouncing back from his fall in the first race to take fourth in class.
Tannir said afterwards, “In the first race we discovered a tiny leak which was spraying oil onto my back wheel and costing me grip. But then in race two, with the leak fixed, my laps times were more consistent and I could keep the pressure on Rob. He went deep into Turn 1, on the last lap and that’s what I needed to take the win.”
“It has been a while since I have been on the top step of the podium. Winning is good for the morale of the team, the crew, and everyone. So it’s good to be back,” added the champion at the end of the day.
In the first race Kawasaki rider Colin Hindes took top honours in the Rookie Cup, with Chris Doyle scoring his maiden win, aboard a Triumph, in race two.
Round 9 and Round 10 of the 2012-2013 NGK Racing Series will take place at Dubai Autodrome on 8 March.
