Qatar: Racing Season
Discussion
So as the temperatures are starting to drop this can only mean that the racing season is about to start.
The off season saw the bike receive a full strip down and refresh and with the majority of last seasons sponsors staying with us and signing a couple of additional sponsors (and with Al Futtaim Honda staying onboard to provide mechanics and dealer support) we have entered both the Qatar and UAE bike championships.
This coming weekend is the 1st race day of the Qatar season. So all of the Qatar based PH members are more than welcome to come down and say hello (we are track after 5pm Friday and Saturday). We are not sure which garage we are in but we are easy to spot as we will have a fully branded up garage.
I am sure you will also catch me looking over a certain Honda EP3 race car.......
Ian
The off season saw the bike receive a full strip down and refresh and with the majority of last seasons sponsors staying with us and signing a couple of additional sponsors (and with Al Futtaim Honda staying onboard to provide mechanics and dealer support) we have entered both the Qatar and UAE bike championships.
This coming weekend is the 1st race day of the Qatar season. So all of the Qatar based PH members are more than welcome to come down and say hello (we are track after 5pm Friday and Saturday). We are not sure which garage we are in but we are easy to spot as we will have a fully branded up garage.
I am sure you will also catch me looking over a certain Honda EP3 race car.......
Ian
Awesome news to have you over...(you can bring bits over the border in your team trucks for me right? 
) when the races switch to day time and we have friday nights free we have to go for a drink. I've just secured a pretty big sponsor for the season that should cover most of my seasons regular expenditures but it is already becoming pretty apparent that in order to keep up with expectations I've to step my game up a notch.
At the moment things are really really hectic because they only released our new rules a couple of weeks ago and it means I have to make big changes to the car, most of which are still outstanding.
As its only me and 1 mechanic (and maybe a helper or 2 from here) at the moment, and I've got the sponsors reps coming and my family visiting all this weekend, things might be a little busy for me to pop down and see you. If you get chance please come by and say hi. I might not have much time to chat unless you're happy to chat while I have my head buried in the fuel tank or engine bay but I'd like to put a face to the name at least!
YEAAAAH BUDDY RACING SEASON IS FINALLY HERE!!!!!!!!
) when the races switch to day time and we have friday nights free we have to go for a drink. I've just secured a pretty big sponsor for the season that should cover most of my seasons regular expenditures but it is already becoming pretty apparent that in order to keep up with expectations I've to step my game up a notch.At the moment things are really really hectic because they only released our new rules a couple of weeks ago and it means I have to make big changes to the car, most of which are still outstanding.
As its only me and 1 mechanic (and maybe a helper or 2 from here) at the moment, and I've got the sponsors reps coming and my family visiting all this weekend, things might be a little busy for me to pop down and see you. If you get chance please come by and say hi. I might not have much time to chat unless you're happy to chat while I have my head buried in the fuel tank or engine bay but I'd like to put a face to the name at least!
YEAAAAH BUDDY RACING SEASON IS FINALLY HERE!!!!!!!!
We have bought an ex UPS delivery truck as a race transporter.....
We are staying at the SwissBell hotel and raging a hire car to and from the circuit for this event. Current plan is to be at the circuit by 11am Friday morning as work prevents us getting there for the Thursday testing.
Best not mention the preparation for the Dubai 24hr event.......
Oh, the OH is not impressed as we should be racing on the same weekend as the world superbikes!
We are staying at the SwissBell hotel and raging a hire car to and from the circuit for this event. Current plan is to be at the circuit by 11am Friday morning as work prevents us getting there for the Thursday testing.
Best not mention the preparation for the Dubai 24hr event.......
Oh, the OH is not impressed as we should be racing on the same weekend as the world superbikes!
Edited by IanUAE on Tuesday 14th October 00:39
IanUAE said:
We have bought an ex UPS delivery truck as a race transporter.....
We are staying at the SwissBell hotel and raging a hire car to and from the circuit for this event. Current plan is to be at the circuit by 11am Friday morning as work prevents us getting there for the Thursday testing.
Best not mention the preparation for the Dubai 24hr event.......
Oh, the OH is not impressed as should be racing on the same weekend as the world superbikes!
Excellent, well see you Friday!We are staying at the SwissBell hotel and raging a hire car to and from the circuit for this event. Current plan is to be at the circuit by 11am Friday morning as work prevents us getting there for the Thursday testing.
Best not mention the preparation for the Dubai 24hr event.......
Oh, the OH is not impressed as should be racing on the same weekend as the world superbikes!
I'll be there Thursday day, got alot of work to do and the pit garages are cooler than my basement parking!
Fee said:
Ah...Ian, you're involved with Zettanet Racing team?
I race with Graham Davidson back in Scotland
I'll hopefully be coming along to the 24hrs to support
I am a man of many baseball caps and team shirts. My main focus is with Tannir Moto Racing but help Zettanet Racing when I can (will be sat on the pit wall / pit perch doing sector time keeping / driver management / pit stop management etc at the 24hr) and Vendetta Racing with their desert bike racing when not help TMR or Zettanet Racing.I race with Graham Davidson back in Scotland
I'll hopefully be coming along to the 24hrs to support
The Dubai 24hr is an epic race and well worth the trip out.
Little clip from my mate, you can see my window blow out too mid lap.
I fought from last place on the grid, then after completing 1 lap and fighting past 4 cars to make it to 3rd they pushed me back to the back of the grid after the race was red flagged due to a dog on the track...as I crossed the line and started the second lap I should have been allowed to keep my position but mistakes happen and I made a few that weekend that the organisers were kind enough to let me participate anyways so I can hardly complain. Great racing all round.
I'm in the ooredoo car, the Integra had about 20bhp more than me which made it so hard to pass without some Banzai braking.
http://youtu.be/1hLD1YfnHEA?t=9m32s
My onboard video to follow.
I fought from last place on the grid, then after completing 1 lap and fighting past 4 cars to make it to 3rd they pushed me back to the back of the grid after the race was red flagged due to a dog on the track...as I crossed the line and started the second lap I should have been allowed to keep my position but mistakes happen and I made a few that weekend that the organisers were kind enough to let me participate anyways so I can hardly complain. Great racing all round.
I'm in the ooredoo car, the Integra had about 20bhp more than me which made it so hard to pass without some Banzai braking.
http://youtu.be/1hLD1YfnHEA?t=9m32s
My onboard video to follow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ialVX5DpRhw
Full race from my view here, shorter highlight video to follow.
Full race from my view here, shorter highlight video to follow.
TobyLaRohne said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ialVX5DpRhw
Full race from my view here, shorter highlight video to follow.
Christ what the fook was the Lotus doing at the end of the main straight - you did well to avoid him!Full race from my view here, shorter highlight video to follow.
Enjoyed watching that.
yorky500 said:
Christ what the fook was the Lotus doing at the end of the main straight - you did well to avoid him!
Enjoyed watching that.
ABS failure, complete lockup. You'll notice the lap before the driver side window blew out, the only reason I heard him lock up was because I had no window and heard him.Enjoyed watching that.
Here is another view of it here... http://youtu.be/j1zrBg-WwSU?t=3m12s
TobyLaRohne said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ialVX5DpRhw
Full race from my view here, shorter highlight video to follow.
Full race from my view here, shorter highlight video to follow.
Brilliant Mark, well done.
I imagine the win felt all the better after getting put back on the restart.
yorky500 said:
That blue and white civic looks familiar, but not 100% its the same one I know - Faisal from evolve used to own one and I believe it went to Qatar. I used to look after it in my parking spaces in Motorcity.
You're right chap, It was one of I think 4 cars imported to race here. The 5th was due to be my Banzai but the guy bringing them in was prevented on the basis he was basically a used (race) car salesman.Glad you guys enjoyed the race, it seems the results are under investigation due to technical infringement so we'll find out the true result on the 27th. I believe this is just because they're wanting to look into how best to administer the data logger data as they've never done it before, that being said they could DQ any of us for any number of irrelevant reasons so keep your fingers crossed that I get to keep my points!
Either way, whatever the result, I earnt that win and it was amazing fun to be part of it.
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