Mahmoud Tannir on the UAE Sportbikes podium

UAE National Race Day 8 , Dubai Autodrome- Dubai Autodrome hosted the eighth UAE national race day of the 2011/2012 season with an action packed bill on Friday (2 March), featuring: Round 6 of the Total UAE Touring Cars, Round 6 of the Motorcity UAE Sportbikes, Round seven of the NGK UAE CT Championship, Round 6 of the Maserati Trofeo Middle East, Round 5 of the FG1000 and Round 5 of the Suzuki Swift Cup.

Mahmoud Tannir did his Motorcity UAE Sportbike championship aspirations the world of good when he took two 600 Class wins on Friday at Dubai Autodrome. The Vendetta Racing rider’s winning streak continued making it eleven wins out of eleven races. In the first race he was chased hard by much improved Erikas Savickas on a Yamaha YZF R1 who finished second by a mere 0.239 seconds.

Birthday Boy Mahmoud Tannir won both UAE Sportbikes races

In race two Tannir made some adjustments to the setup on his Triumph Daytona 675 and took a convincing win and thus taking home maximum points on his birthday.

Tannir said, “Great day, it was also my birthday so I had family and friends out here supporting me. To win both races is special. The championship does play on my mind but I am taking it one race at a time, and today winning both is a step in the right direction.

Abdulaziz Binladin won the 1000 Class in UAE Sportbikes

Abdulaziz Binladin, who earlier this week was announced as the second rider in the Moto Rapido team, which will contest the British Superbike Championship, was in fine form as he powered to two victories in the 1000 Class on his Saudi Falcons backed BMW S1000R. Emirati rider Nasser Al Shaibi was second in both instances on a similar machine.

Binladin summed up his day, “It has been a good day with the two wins. The first race was a tricky as the track conditions, with all the rubber, meant I had to adapt my riding. But in race two it was pretty straightforward. This is good training before I start my campaign in the British Superbike championship.”
In the 600 Rookie Class Surya Raja took top honours in the first race on his Yamaha YZF R1, but a jumped start in race two earned him a penalty which handed Mike Down, riding a Honda CBR600RR, his maiden win in the category.

Down said of his first win, “It feels good to be here on the top step of the podium. I would have preferred to beat Surya [Raja] without him getting the penalty. But winning is still very satisfying, but it makes me realize that I need to work on my fitness.”