Andi Izdihar takes second race win in Qatar

Yet another different race winner: now there have been four in four races with Indonesia’s Andi IzAlong with Somkiat Chantra, the two battling for victory in an exciting one on one fight. After the race it is Gerry Salim who leads the championship with 71 points.

The Race
With much less wind than yesterday’s race, the start was again clean and all the riders on the grid sailed away. The only modification to the starting order was to Rigu Sugawara, who was pushed back a row by Race Direction.

Andi Izdihar was well positioned in the lead with Chantra, Masaki, Salim, Ogura, Yamanaka, Kawasaki and Kunii in the slipstream. Chantra was able to leapfrog Izdihar and upped the pace, running in the 2’11s for several laps. Both Chantra and Izdihar were able to escape from the following group, their pace too much for Masaki, Yamanaka, Salim, Ogura, Kawasaki and Sugawara behind. The gap grew from two seconds to six seconds as Izdihar and Chantra pushed each other. Somkiat Chantra even had time to look behind and verify the pair were alone, preparing for a do or die battle to the finish line.

Once again Losail lived up to its tradition: Both Izdihar and Chantra entered the home straight together but Chantra was slow to change his line and from his shadow emerged Izdihar, passing him from the right.

Izdihar was first (30’57.662) and Chantra second (30’57.696) in a 0.034 gap, but tighter still was the difference between Salim (third) and Masaki in four, just 0.002s apart.

Fastest lap: Andi Izdihar (Lap 4), 2’11.097 147.7 Km/h

Following the two races in Qatar, it is Gerry Salim (71) who leads the championship ahead of Somkiat Chantra (68) and Ai Ogura (67).

Race Conditions: Air 25°, Humidity 46%, Ground 47°, Wind 14km/h

Alberto Puig, Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup Director: “Well, it was faster, even faster than last year’s race. It is good that we had some more people in the front group. It was easier than yesterday and the riders could be faster because it wasn’t windy. At the end of the day we are happy because it wasn’t any crashes So they continue the process to understand and learn to get the end of the year in a great shape"

See results from Race 2 and the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup standings by clicking here.

NEXT RACE: The next round of the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup will be in Sepang from the 13^th to 15^th of May, again two races will be run alongside the WorldSBK Championship.
dihar winning in Qatar