Doha: Kuwaiti rider Mohammed Jaffar won the second round of Qatar International Endurocross.
At the 6km track at the Sealine, the Kuwaiti rider won both races in his category and now leading the E1 category with 97 points.
Jaffar had a great and intensive battle in both races with the Emirati rider Mohammed Al Balooshi and the British rider Benjamin Menzies.
His compatriots, Meshary Abou Shaibah and Barak Al Jasmi ended in second and third place respectively in the E1.
Both races were very difficult for Jaffar as they were very tough so the KTM rider is very glad to finish in first place in the E1 and hope he can keep the points leading for the title. `
“First of all I want to thank QMMF for the great efforts they put every time to do this nice loop in the Sealine area. In the first race there was a big battle between me and my coach Mohammed Al Balooshi, and it is always an honour for me to race with him and to reach the finish line with the Middle East champ and Arab legend,” Jaffar said.
“The second race was even more difficult for me, both races were really thought because my googles, my version was always not clear, I had always sand in my eyes, but I am glad to finish first place in the E1 and hope I can keep the points leading for the title and big battle with the E2 rider, Ben and Balooshi and I am glad to keep it up with these guys ahead,” added Jaffar.
In the E2 category, the first place was for the British rider Benjamin Menzies who finished second and first in both races of the day. The Emirati rider Mohamed Al Balooshi finished second place on the podium and LeRoy Botha from South Africa finished third in the E2.
For Benjamin, the race action was a great day and he really enjoyed the track.
The track today was really good, really technical, I really liked it, it suits my bike. In the first race I was a little bit of the pace, Jaffar and Balooshi were riding very fast and I couldn’t catch them but in the second race I got a very good start and I found the pace when I was following them and from there I pulled a little bit of the gap and try to maintain good lead and continue to the finish line. I am looking forward the next round’,” said Benjamin.
The Emirati rider Balooshi was a bit disappointed with his result in the second moto.
“I am happy with the win in my first moto as it gave me confidence and I rode smart in the first race, I had all the time the rider of the E1 Jaffar behind me but that kept me pushing me even thought he is not in my category and I gave all and I am really proud of him for what he achieved now.
But in the second race, I had a drop of energy as there was not enough break between the two races and I know that if I have had more time I should have done it better. But now, me and Jaffar, both from the same team are leading the standings so this is the best feeling of today and hope we can finish the championship like this,” said Balooshi.
“This year we have a better strategy, we are not racing each other in the same class , because last year it was a disaster, we were in the same class, and this year we plan to take the championship for the team, both, in E1 and E2,” he added.
In the veterans class, the victory was for the Canadian rider Luc Dubois and Tomi Sarivaara from Finland and Tariq Al Hattab from Kuwait came in second and third respectively.
Qatari hero Mohammed Abu Issa won in the Quads, taking the win in both races whereas the French Anthony Benon was second and Mohammed Al Khulaifi finished third in the quads.
“Both races were good, the level is getting higher and higher here so it is getting tougher and tougher for us. It was not an easy race, when you are in a long enduro cross, the more you ride the more the track is broken, so it is very physical. And for me is very important to win this races, as they are in my country. I am leading the championship from now and hope to be in the front as long as I can,” said Abu Issa after both races.
Nasser Khalifa bin Al Attiyah, Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation President was very happy with the great participation in the second round of the Qatar Interantional Endurocross and as well as the strong competition among the participants.
“We are focusing in this international championship where there is a great participation of young Qataris and the Middle East riders as well as other nationalities and we see an improve in their performance as well the winner are changing in every round, so this shows the strength of this championship,” Al Attiyah said.
Al Attiyah praised national hero Mohammed Abu Issa.
“Abu Issa has managed in a short period of time to put his name on the world map in the quads category, so he is enriching this championship and I wish him all the best in his coming participation in the Dakar Rally at the beginning of next year,” he added.
The Peninsula
