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UAE National Race Day At Dubai Autodrome On Friday
NGK Racing Series report from Round 9 and Round 10 at Dubai Autodrome
• Double wins for Costas Papantonis and Alex Annivas
• Clio Cup delivers closest racing of the season
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Costas Papantonis was untouchable in the NGK Racing Series at Dubai Autodrome on Friday (22 February) as he powered to two victories unchallenged, but the action was behind him as the Clio Cup drivers slugged it out for top honours and delivered a feast of close racing in the process.
Papantonis in the Gulf Petrochem SEAT lamented the lack of challengers as he romped to overall and class wins in both races, but was nevertheless satisfied with his day, "We had some problems with the car last time we raced. So it was good to sort these out and prove the car can win again. But it is a shame there is no one to compete against in my class at the moment. Hopefully more drivers will return in the future."
"For us it was a good opportunity to work on developing the car. To test some different engine and setup options. So in the end it was a productive day," said the multiple UAE touring car champion.
With Rupesh Channake sidelined in the Lap57 Honda it was up to Jonathan Mullan, in the sole remaining Honda, to fend off a gang of Renault Clio's all intent on Class 2 and, the 'race within a race', Clio Cup honours.
Action started early as newcomer Guillaume Simonnet crashed in Turn 3, of the Dubai Autodrome International Circuit, during qualifying, and was unable to make it on to the grid due to damage sustained by his Clio. A shame for the impressive rookie who would have started third had he not had the mishap.
An indication of how close things are at the front in the Clio Cup, was apparent as the top five drivers were separated by less than a second in qualifying, thus setting the stage for some very close racing on the day
Reigning Clio Cup champion Alex Annivas qualified fastest of the Renault brigade and set the pace from the moment the lights went out at the start of race one. He was pursued relentlessly by the Moutran brothers Sami and Ramzi, with Will Morrison also in the mix.
Annivas was forced to use all his race craft and more to keep Ramzi Moutran in check. This allowed Morrison to close in on the leaders, and when it mattered he pounced to take second place, trailing winner Annivas by a mere 0.179 seconds as they crossed the finish line side by side, with Ramzi Moutran having to settle for third and Sami Moutran fourth. Mullan was fifth in the sole Honda.
Race two was a similar story with Papantonis racing off into the distance unchallenged, and behind him a hardcore battle between the Clio Cup pace setters ensued again, with Annivas fending off the attentions of the Morrison and the Moutran brothers.
It was nail biting stuff, side by side racing, bumper to bumper, door handle to door handle - all the cliches rolled into one race. In the end Annivas made it two out of two in what will go down as the closest race so far this season in the NGK Racing Series.
Ramzi Moutran bounced back to take second and Morrison third - the pace setting trio separated by 0.663 seconds as they crossed the line three abreast.
Next up was Sami Moutran who was challenging Annivas for the class lead early in the race, when he ran out of grip and had to go wide off track, this cost him time which he tried gamely to make up but had to settle for fourth in the end. Mullan was again fifth in class.
Annivas summed up his day, "This was one of the toughest races we have had in a long time. It was hard work to get both wins with such a good group of drivers. I was defending, attacking, holding station - doing whatever it took to hang on to the lead. In the end it was enough, but it was very close. It feels like I did half a season of racing in one day!"
Ramzi Moutran said, "It was hard day’s work in the cockpit. Really close racing, bumper to bumper stuff. But today Alex was on the boil and hard to beat. Well done to him."
Round 11 and Round 12 of the 2012-2013 NGK Racing Series will take place at Dubai Autodrome on 8 March.
Motorcity UAE Sportbikes report from Round 7 and Round 8 at Dubai Autodrome
• Abdulaziz Binalden unstoppable in 1000 Class
• Rob Nicholas and Mahmoud Tannir take a win each in 600 Class
• Chris Doyle scores maiden win in Rookie Cup
Rob Nicholas and reigning champion Mahmoud Tannir shared a win apiece in the Motorcity UAE Sportbikes Championship 600 Class races on (Friday, 22 February) while 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.
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 Suya 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.
PaddockTalk Perspective
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