Saeed Al Sulaiti celebrates after winning a Qatar Superstock 600 race at the Losail International Circuit, in this file photo.
Doha: The wait is finally over for veteran rider Saeed Al Sulaiti. The multiple Qatar national champion, Al Sulaiti has returned to clocking practice rounds at the Qatar Motor Academy course inside Losail International Circuit.
Despite hot and humid conditions two days before Eid Al Adha celebrations, nothing seemed to affect Al Sulaiti’s desire to snap out of the break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe for the last five months.
“It’s amazing to be back. I don’t remember ever training at this time of the year. It’s extremely hot. We have been wanting to ride for a long time,” Al Sulaiti said in his first interview since taking a break in March.
“For us riders it’s just a mental thing, we just wanted to put our suits on and start riding. It’s good to be back and we are looking forward for more. I hope the weather gets better, which I doubt, but we’ll keep riding,” Al Sauliti, despite sweating profusely, said with his trademark smile in place.
Al Sulaiti, 35, said it was a mental battle to keep fit during the lull caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I have been working out regularly. Let me tell you this, whoever wants to be fit, he can do it in the gym or without the gym. It’s all about the mental thing. If you want to do it, you will do it. I have been working out whenever I get a chance,” Al Sulaiti said.
The seasoned Qatari rider said he is hoping to train in Spain - a country he visits often during the regular off-season - provided that it is safe to fly out of the country.
“Personally, I already have a bike in Spain. I am just waiting for them to open the port there and just do a month of training there. I am really looking forward to go there and get ready for the championship here (set to resume in October,” Al Sulaiti said.
“There is no plan to race in Spain at the moment. It’s obviously very difficult but there is a plan in my mind to go and train there. The weather is great there now. To go and just try the bike in a different circuit is even better than racing here in one circuit. So it’s very important to go and train there and I will try and to my best to do it.
“Maybe by October or November. That’s a personal plan. That’s what I am aiming at. I don’t know anything about QMMF’s plan to train abroad for the riders. But for me personally few months ago I decided that I will go to Spain whenever everything opens up there, refresh my mind and just train.” Al Sulaiti said.
Al Sulaiti said he is enjoying chat sessions with Qatar’s young riders, sharing his experience of racing at some of the world’s best circuits.
“Last year as a coach, I was delighted to see Abdullah Al Qubaisi winning QSTK600 and also Hamad Al Sahouti (only 14 years of age) winning 300cc. As a coach, I won both the championship,” Al Sulaiti said.
“There are some upcoming new riders in the academy, but off lately I have been away from the academy. The academy has Spanish coaches to take care of the young riders. I always keep supporting the young guys. Right now, I am only focussing on Abdullah and Hamad,” he added.
Al Sauliti said he realised he can’t stay away from bike action and has no plans to retire.
“Before the coronavirus I was thinking of maybe it’s time to rest and just coach the young riders. But after this break I realised that I can’t stay without the bike,” Al Sulaiti said.
“It has given me the motivation to keep going for some more time. I know it’s a difficult time for everybody. But for me, it has given me an opportunity to clear up lot of things in my head and I see myself racing in the future,” he added.
During the last few months, Al Sulaiti actively took part in the Qatar Online Racing Championship (QORC).
“For me personally I loved racing online. I have been training in simulation for the last five years. When QMMF conducted the online championship, I thought the young guys will be very good at the PlayStation,” Al Sulaiti said.
“Obviously they have been practising more than me. But like I said before, when I was in the world championship in 2016, it was a big help to learn the tracks from the simulators. It was very easy to catch up for me with the fastest riders in the world,” he added.
