BIC to host a day of thrills

Manama : Some of the most talented racers from across the region and beyond will be at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir today to compete in a one-day action packed National Race Day event from 9am till late at night.

Competitors in three Bahrain-based racing championships will be lining up to battle along BIC’s 2.55-kilometre Inner Track. These include drivers in the BIC 2,000cc Challenge and riders from both the Bahrain Superbikes Championship (BSBK) and the Bahrain Motorcycle Racing 600 (BMR 600). Each will be holding the third rounds of their respective seasons this weekend.

The pit lane will then close and the drag strip open to stage all of the evening’s action in round three of the Bahrain Drag Racing Championship-Arabian Pro Series. Tickets on the day available at the gate.

The BSBK action is underway at 9.50am with Practice. Qualifying from 12.20pm with race one at 1.57pm and race two at 3.38pm. In the BMR 600, practice begins at 10.25am, qualifying at 12.45pm with race one at 2.26pm and race two set for 4.07pm. In the BIC 2,000cc Challenge kick, things kick-off at 10.50am with practice, qualifying at 1.10pm, race one at 2.56pm and race two at 4.37pm.

The 2,000cc Challenge is one of the longest-running championships in the Gulf, professionally organised and featuring some of the top regional racers in two-litre cars, with modifications limited. Tim Birkin and Hussain Karimi are among those to look out for as they shared the honours with a victory apiece in the second round. Shaikh Salman bin Isa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa is another, being the defending champion.  Others expected to race are Tareq Al Tajer, Raed Himmo, Mohammed Faqihi and Mohammed Janahi, to name a few.

The BSBK will also feature a very strong field, each of whom will all be competing on identical Ducati 899 Panigale sports bikes. They include defending champion Mishal Alneaimi. The Qatari’s dominant run stretches back to last season, which he finished undefeated en route to claiming the title.

In the BMR 600, competition is divided into two categories, including the Superstock Series and the Hornet Series.

Top riders in the Superstock category include Ali Al Shammari, Ali Adiby, Adel Najjar, James Webster, and Fahad Al Gharabali and in the Hornets class participants will be in identical 600cc Honda Hornet bikes with David Wynne, Khalifa Ebrahim and Pawel Rosciszewski in the fray.

Meanwhile, the drag racers get into action for race day after three successive nights of testing and qualifying and is scheduled to begin at 6pm and likely continue until after midnight.

The cars classes include the Street 4 and 6, the Outlaw Front-Wheel-Drive (FWD), the Super Street 6-Cylinder, the Outlaw 6-Cylinder, the Street V8, the Super Street V8, the Outlaw 10.5, the Index 8.50, the Index 9.50, the Index 10.50 and the highly competitive Pro Mod. The bikes classes include the Street Bike 9.50, Street Bike, Super Street Bike and Pro Bike.