Qatar's top rider Saeed Al Sulaiti on Thursday night posted his second win of the six-leg Qatar Online Racing Championship (QORC) series with a commanding ride in Round 3.
Al Sulaiti, who won Round 1 on Tuesday, produced another session of exhilarating speed to clinch the honours for Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) team that is battling Leopard Racing in the two-way battle. Round 3 was held on the virtual Mugello track in Italy.
After three of the six races, QMMF has now opened up a comfortable 53-point lead over Leopard Racing. With second-round winner Danny Kent missing in action on Thursday, only three riders from each team took part in the race.
Al Sulaiti, who had finished second on Wednesday, started on pole and never looked like relinquishing his lead as he took the chequered flag in the 15-lap race. Soud Al Thani finished 21 seconds behind his teammate, while Leopard’s Marcos Ramirez was third.
Abdulla Al Qubaisi looked good to finish third and make it a podium sweep for QMMF, but the Qatari rider crashed on the 13th lap and had to settle for fourth place. Leopard Racing’s Xavi Artigas and Jaume Masia were fifth and sixth respectively.
After a day’s rest, the series will resume today at the simulated track of Phillip Island in Australia. The fifth round will be held at Jerez in Spain, while the last one is set at Qatar’s Losail International Circuit. The series winner will be decided on the collective tally of points the two teams muster over the course of the week.
Race Three results
1. Saeed Al Sulaiti, 27:18.948 seconds; 2. Soud Al Thani +21.398; 3. Marcos Ramirez, 4. Abdulla Al Qubaisi; 5. Xavi Artigas; 6. Jaume Masia
Rider Standings
1. Saeed Al Sulaiti 116; 2. Soud Al Thani 103; 3. Xavi Artigas 96; 4. Jaume Masia 86; 5. Marcos Ramirez 63; 6. Hamad Al Sahouti 59; 7. Danny Kent 40; 8. Abdulla Al Qubaisi 31; 9. Jassim Al Thani 29
Team Standings 1. QMMF 338; 2. Leopard Racing 285
