Championship battles rage in all classes

Dubai, March 26, 2008: National Race Day 6 at Dubai Autodrome on Friday 7 April 2008 promises to be a humdinger as in just about every class battles for the 2007/2008 championships rage. The Gulf Radical Cup, Superstock/Stockbike and DAMC Open Saloons will feature on the day.

In the Gulf Radical Cup Bahrain’s Fahad Al Musalam/ Sheikh Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa (777 Racing) and Bassam Kronfli (Team EVO Middle East) look set to take the title battle down to the wire. Al Musalam took two well deserved wins and will looking for a repeat while Kronfli had a torrid race day which he will go all out to reverse his fortunes come Friday. Sheikh Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa will pilot the 777 Racing car this weekend. Others to watch are Bob George (Slipstream Racing) and David Moran (DJ Racing).

The Gulf Radical Cup field will have a decidedly international look to it with drivers from six different countries taking to the grid. Notably Cabell Fisher will be driving the Khaleeji Motorsport machine while the UAE will be represented by Humaid Al Masood and Khalid Al Zarooni, the latter driving under the Sport City banner.

In the DAMC Open Saloons Karim Al Azhari (Al Nabooda Porsche) took to wins last time out and it is going to take a big effort from his counterparts to prevent another double by the champion. The Al Nabooda setup oozes professionalism and by their own admission winning is what they are about and anything less is perceived as failure. Impressive last time out was Costas Papantonis (Mouhrista Racing Seat Leon) who showed great pace and could challenge for an overall win. One of the highlights of the Open Saloons are the big battles down the field and it has become a habit to expect fireworks from the likes of Khalid Bin Hadher (Performance Racing Honda), Zlatko Mulabegovic (Performance Racing Honda), Spencer Vanderpal (Anysportphotos.com Mitsubishi) and Sam Zian (Yellow Hat Honda).

Arguably the best show on any race day is the combined Superstock and Stockbike class where racing is simply breathtaking. The Superstock championship has turned into a two horse race between Saudi Arabia’s Abdul Aziz Bakr (Arabian Falcon Kawasaki) and Rod Scott (Al Yousuf Yamaha). Last time out the latter sent out a clear message to his rival by riding in great pain to take second in the final race of the day. This battle is also likely to be resolved on the final lap of the final race. Juzar Motiwala who is virtually assured the Stockbike title looking for an overall win as his pace is such that despite riding a Stockbike he is always in the hunt with the pace setting Superstock riders. Swiss ace Pascal Grosjean will be on the grid again on his Piot Moto Shop Kawasaki thus fans can again expect several riders slugging it out at the front for top honours.

Others to watch include the likes of Gary Walton (Team Globaleye Suzuki), Hussain Al Kooheji (DAMAS Al Yousuf Yamaha), Adrian Mumby (Team Plafond Honda), Jason Burnside (Team GAJ Honda) and Adriano Fusillo (Yamaha).

Race day is expected to be the hottest one of the year which will be a major factor in the outcome of all the races as this has a major effect on tyres and overall performance of cars and motorcycles. Furthermore it tests the reserves of competitors to the limit. Free practice starts at 9.30am for all classes followed by qualifying at 10.45am with the first race starting at 13.30pm.

28 March 2008
UAE National Race Day 6 at Dubai Autodrome
Schedule of races
First race starts at 13:30

Race 1 - Gulf Radical Cup	18 Laps
Race 2 - Open Saloon Series	16 Laps
Race 3 - UAE Stock & Superstock	16 Laps
Race 4 - Gulf Radical Cup	18 Laps
Race 5 - Open Saloon Series	16 Laps
Race 6 - UAE Stock & Superstock	16 Laps