SPORT SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2017 21 Al Hajri fastest in QTCC practice at Losail Circuit The Peninsula atari driver Mansoor Al Hajri was the fastest Q driver with a lap time QMMF President, Abdulrahman Al Mannai and LCSC Vice President and General Manager, Khalid of 2:28.694 driving a Toyota Al Remaihi pose for a photograph with riders after the free practice sessions of opening round during the practice session of the Qatar Superstock 600 (QSTK) at Losail International Circuit yesterday. of the opening round of the Qatar Touring Car Champi- onship (QTCC) yesterday. "The track today was a bit dusty and the weather Qatari driver Mansoor was windy and hot . But it Al Hajri in action. Al Naimi grabs pole was nice and as soon as I got into the rhythm, my lap tim- ing started to go down. I need "It was a great practice, Toyota car did the third best to fix something and hope- the weather a little bit affec- lap time, 2:32.103. fully by tomorrow I can tive as it was windy and "Today I had some elec- make it." dusty and I had a lot of prob- trical issues and hopefully by at Superstock 600 "Unfortunately, Abdullah lems with the car. But I tomorrow I’ll be fixing it, had some problems with his managed to get the second usually my timing is better The Peninsula Today is race day between the top three, Mashel, car. If not I think he would place which is very good for than today, and after fixing Nasser and myself so let’s see have been on the top posi- the first race of the season. I my problem I will try tomor- ashel Al Naimi was Mashel Al Naimi fastest what is going to happen tomor- tion," said Mansoor after the think that everybody face the row to recover and get a the fastest rider in in free practice as Qatar row," Al Sulaiti said. practice session. problem with the tempera- better position" Al Khelafi the first free prac- Superstock 600 (QSTK) The third rider in the front row At the second place in the ture, I am sure it will be a said after the session. tice yesterday flags off at Losail will be Nasser Al Malki who was grid will be Palestine driver very exciting race tomor- Today's first race will when the opening International Circuit. very happy with his position after Omran Karama, also driving row," Omran said. start at 12.45pm, followed by Mround of the Qatar Superstock a long time without racing. a Toyota. He clocked a time Abdullah Al Khelaifi , the second race which starts 600 (QSTK) flagged off at Losail "I am very happy at the end as of 2:30.176. who had a problem with his at 3.45pm.. International Circuit. row and have a good rhythm. The in the beginning I had a strange Al Naimi clocked 2:06.607, championship has just start and feeling on the bike, the wind was followed by Saeed Al Sulaiti with let’s see if tomorrow, hope I can opposite today and too much push a lap time of 2:07.523. In the sec- win both race and for sure there from the corner, I lost a lot of ond free practice, Al Sulaiti led the will be a fight tomorrow for the time." timings, stopping the clock at first place and I try to make a lit- "During the FP1 and FP2, I was 2:05.627 and Al Naimi did second tle adjustment in the warm up," riding used tyres, but in the super- best with 2:05.919. said the poleman of the QSTK. pole I changed to new tyre and I Khalid Al Mal and Hassan Al Al Sulaiti, who will start at the had more grip and feel better. I Mansoori managed to get to the second position of the grid today, am happy to be in the third posi- Superpole 2 in which the winner said that he was happy as he is not tion to start tomorrow as it is was Al Naimi. Al Naimi did a great far away from the top times. important to start in the first line time of 2:04.914 and will start "The lap time was not bad, it and also as it is a long time for me today from the first place at the is good to start at the front row I didn’t race and this is very good grid. but I would be happier if I could for me, almost 2 years without "I am very happy with this get the superpole but today it was racing," Al Malki said. result, my bike is really good but not possible, but we are not very Today's first race of QSTK will not really happy with the lap time, far away. We need to work a bit flag off at 11.10am and the second QMMF President, Abdulrahman Al Mannai and LCSC Vice President and General I tried to make a good lap but I on the set up and we’ll be there. race will start at 2.10pm with free don’t know why didn’t improve Regarding tomorrow's race, I entrance for all the spectators at Manager, Khalid Al Remaihi pose for a photograph with riders after the practice but happy to start from the front expect it is going to be a big fight the grandstand and paddock. session of the opening round of the Qatar Touring Car Championship (QTCC) yesterday. Kaymer shows his prowess in Abu Dhabi Rookies lift Bangladesh The Peninsula as Southee takes five Three-time Abu Dhabi HSBC hree-time Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner Martin Christchurch SCOREBOARD Championship winner Kaymer tees off at the Abu Dhabi AFP Martin Kaymer once again Golf Club yesterday. Bangladesh (I innings): T T Iqbal c Watling b Southee .........................5 showed his prowess at Abu ookie opener Soumya S Sarkar c de Grandhomme b Boult ........86 Dhabi Golf Club with a second Sarkar led a makeshift Mahmudullah c Watling b Boult ...............19 round of 66 to lead by a shot RBangladesh to a compet- S Al Hasan c Watling b Southee ................59 heading into moving day. itive 289 but New Zealand Sa Rahman c Southee b Boult ..................... 7 Kaymer’s second 66 of the claimed the honours on day one N Shanto c Raval b Southee ......................18 week included six birdies, an of the second Test in Christch- N Hasan c Watling b Boult .........................47 eagle and a bogey, with a clutch urch yesterday. M Hasan b Wagner ......................................10 birdie putt on the 18th putting "If you can bowl a side out T Ahmed c Williamson b Southee ..............8 K Rabbi lbw b Southee .................................2 him out in front of Rafa Cabrera on day one it's a good effort," R Hossain (batting) ......................................16 Bello, who moved to 11-under New Zealand strike bowler Tim Extras (b-4 lb-2 nb-1 w-5) .......................12 for the tournament after his Southee said after taking his Total (all out, 84.3 overs) ............289 morning round of 66. Ireland’s sixth five-wicket haul. Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-38, 3-165, 4-177, 5-179, Paul Dunne, England’s Tommy But, despite removing two 6-232, 7-248, 8-257, 9-273, 10-289. Fleetwood and Kiradech Aphib- of the more experienced Bang- Bowling: T Boult 24 - 4 - 87 - 4; T Southee arnrat sit in tied-third on ladesh batsmen in the first 11 28.3 - 7 - 94 - 5(w-1); C de Grandhomme 14 - 4 - 58 - 0(nb-1); N Wagner 18 - 1 - 44 - 1. 10-under, with Henrik Stenson overs, it took New Zealand until and 2014 Champion Pablo Lar- the last over to end the innings razabal among the four-man of an injury-hit side with seven Mominul Haque, and a com- group at 9-under. players having three or fewer bined 98 Tests worth of Asked if he expected to start Tests to their name. experience, out of the match. his first event of 2017 so well, After being put into bat on In their place were Sou- Kaymer said: “You never know, a standard New Zealand green mya for his fourth Test and after a long break like that. I surface, Bangladesh were ready debutants Nurul Hasan and didn't play a tournament for to punish anything short or 18-year-old Nazmul Hossain seven weeks. Then you come out wide on a pitch which offered with the fledgling trio all fea- here and shoot 12-under par swing but not extreme pace. turing well in the innings. after two rounds, obviously a Their willingness to search Soumya brought up his 50 brilliant start. for runs resulted in early casu- driving Colin de Grandhomme “For me it's always a nice alties when senior batsmen to the boundary and had a life tournament to start my season Tamin Iqbal (five) and Mah- on 52 when dropped off the with. I've won here a few times mudullah (19) were removed same bowler in the first of four in the past. It's a good feeling Course to set an early clubhouse Champion Rickie Fowler began Curtis Luck, a beneficiary of a inside 11 overs to be 38-2. missed chances by New with the practice that you put in lead. to show signs of their world- Championship invite. The tal- Shakib Al Hasan mounted Zealand. over the last two months pays “Obviously happy again,” class ability on day two, as the ented Australian carded a a sterling fightback producing Trent Boult claimed Sou- off right away.