Dubai, UAE, 19 November 2020: Swedish Super Sport star Christoffer Bergman (#71) made an immediate impact in the inaugural round of the Waleed Alshemais National Sportsbike Championship at Dubai Autodrome on Friday (13 November), enjoying a perfect afternoon at the expense of regional veteran riders.
Bergman arrived in Dubai with World Super Sport pedigree and a 2019 European Superstock 1000 title (Alpe Adria Road Race Championship) under his belt, but he would be up against no less than three UAE champions from the previous season: Mahmoud Tannir (#10) in Supersport, Ahmed Al Muyini (#47) in Superstock and Saska Totaro (#5) in Ducati Pro-Twins.
Undaunted by the challenge Bergman took charge straight away, flying around the 3.56-kilometre National Circuit on a Yamaha R6 (Waleed Alshemais Racing, Furiosa Racing, Orlen & Ohlins) and hitting a blistering fast lap time of 1:29.795. Also riding a Yamaha R6, Al Muyini was next in line to claim P2, but an incredible 2.607 seconds off the leader’s pace.
Christoffer took that momentum into the next two races, leaving the rest of the 600cc Superstock field to fight over second and third-place table scraps. He won both races in decisive fashion, taking the chequered flag with sizeable gaps of 10.850 and 18.801 seconds.
All the close battles took place behind the Swede, with Tannir, Al Muyini and Totaro fighting for every corner. The green Yamaha of Ahmed Al Muyini was best-of-the-rest in race one, beating Tannir’s Honda CBR600RR (Moto-Tech, TMR) to the line by just 0.767 seconds.
Tannir stormed back in the second race, getting ahead of Al Muyini and holding on to P2 by almost six seconds clear of the Saudi rider. Totaro’s red Ducati 848 EVO (Power Horse, Milwaukie, Cruciata) was always in the mix but the Italian rider just missed the winner’s podium in both races.
Waleed Alshemais National Sportsbike Championship Results
Report: Aaron Meriwether
Photos: Aaron Meriwether & Arthur Rosales
