Mashel Al Naimi: Moto2 debut on home soil

Mashel Al Naimi knows the Losail International Circuit well. The first Qatari rider to take part in the World Championship has trained and competed at the desert track many times before, but this weekend offers a whole new experience: his first race in the new Moto2 category.

The Blusens-STX rider has collected plenty of kilometres on his BQR-Moto2 chassis throughout the pre-season and arrives at the Losail International Circuit with hopes of achieving a good result. Al Naimi is also well aware of the difficulty he faces in that aim as he competes alongside 39 rivals, many of whom have much more experience at the highest level.

“For me this Grand Prix is the most special this year for two reasons. The first is because it’s my debut in the World Championship, and the second is that it’s the Qatar GP, my home event,” explained Al Naimi, who alongside team-mate Yonny Hernández forms one of the more unique combinations in the MotoGP paddock.

“I hope these factors will be more of a motivation than an extra pressure. I am starting this extraordinary Championship at a circuit that I know to perfection, and I am confident that this can help me achieve a good result that will be amongst the top 15 and in the points. I know it will be very difficult but both my technical team and I have been working hard during pre-season, and we’ve made good progress. We will give it our everything,” added the 26 year-old Al Naimi.

“For me to be in the World Championship is a dream come true and a great honour and I want to thank my sponsors, especially the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation and my team who have given me the chance to take part in this historic season in the Moto2 category,” he concluded.