YART, Maco, Bolliger, Folch, QERT - P1 Down, SERT Out...

There was drama from the start of the Qatar 8 Hour race, with front running teams SERT Suzuki, Yamaha Phase One, Yamaha Folch, Yamaha Moto38 and Kawasaki Runner Bike all crashing at the turn 8/9 chicane, apparently due to a simple lap of grip in the hot and dusty conditions.

Phase One faced a long push-in by rider Glenn Richards, losing approximately 25 laps in the process. Moto38 retired and although SERT initially rejoined the race they were also forced to retire due to damage to their oil system sustained during the crash.

This allowed Yamaha Maco Moto and Yamaha Austria to establish a strong lead, with Kawasaki Bolliger and Kawasaki Diablo in third and fourth place. At the end of the first hour Folch were still fighting their way back through the field and Phase One were dead last despite being the fastest team on the track.

By the end of the second hour, Maco Moto and YART were still trading the lead depending on who had pitted most recently, with Bolliger and Diablo a lap down but still in touch. Folch had climbed to fifth place ahead of local heroes QERT Suzuki, but Phase One were still in 23rd place, at the back of the field. Three hours into the race Diablo had lost fourth place after hitting engine problems.

At the halfway point and with the sun setting, the lead was held by Yamaha Austria, with second placed Maco Moto the only team on the same lap. Bolliger were in third place ahead of hard charging Folch, with QERT fifth, RMT21 Honda sixth, the Sapeurs Pompiers Suzuki seventh, LTG57 Yamaha eighth, RT Racing MotoVirus Suzuki ninth and Moto45 Suzuki tenth.

Phase One had climbed to 21st place, while Diablo looked set to retire, along with Moto74 (sister team to Moto38) and Italian Kawasaki squad Team Runner Bike.