Why superbike racing? Why Bahrain? Actually, the two make a perfect match…one that brings high-level attention to Bahrain while providing equal opportunity to local racers.
Could you please introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us what you currently do?
My name is Abdulrahman Almoayed. My company, Wheels of Arabia, distributes motorcycle brands and related items to several regional markets. Most recently, my passion for the sporting side of motorcycles has led me to create the Bahrain Superbike Championship (BSBK) with my good friend and partner, Hussain AlKooheji.
Would you mind giving us a brief description of what the Bahrain Superbike Championship (BSBK) is about?
BSBK is a Bahrain-based championship that makes motorcycle racing easy and accessible for people who may aspire to become seasoned racers, but do not have the resources to do so. BSBK was born to serve this niche, and to further the love of the sport. The series takes care of all a participant’s racing needs, from provision of standardized bikes to parts, tires, maintenance, and bike transportation. Essentially, this leaves riders free to simply bring their gear and focus on enjoying the bike and the track.
Traditionally, the amount of money spent on a bike is part of the equation that determines the speed with which a racer is able to achieve in an open-class race. At BSBK, one of our goals is to level the playing field. Riding skill becomes the sole differentiator in winning a race.
WE BELIEVE THAT SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE FORM THE BASIS OF A GOOD RACING EXPERIENCE, SO WE HAVE WORKED TO ENSURE THAT PARTICIPANTS ARE GIVEN RIDING INSIGHT FROM WORLD-RENOWNED RACERS LIKE CARLOS CHECA, A CELEBRITY GUEST IN OUR FIRST SEASON.
Our Arrive and Ride format provides riders with access to skills workshops. We are very proud of the publicity it has generated and the positive feedback we have received from the racers and partners. Our first season was, quite literally, a roaring success, bringing people from nine different countries together. The happy consequence was that the racers forged some truly spectacular friendships, which we hope to build upon to shape a thriving local and regional racing community.
How did you decide to create an event related to superbikes?
The grassroots incentive arose from the desire to serve a niche segment of riders seeking to develop their racing skills. Additionally, we believe there is room to further the sporting profile of motorcycle racing in the region. The most prominent markets in motorcycle racing tend to be in Europe, which is why a majority of the racers in series (such as MotoGP and World Superbike) usually come from there. However, European racing comes to a standstill in the winter due to their weather conditions, making us a natural destination for races in their off-season.
THE GCC HAS THE NEWEST AND BEST RACETRACKS, AND HAS NOW BECOME ONE OF THE MOST ACCESSIBLE REGIONS OF THE WORLD, THANKS TO LARGE REGIONAL AIRLINES. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE A GREATER LOCAL FOCUS ON THE SPORT, RESULTING IN AN INTERNATIONAL RACING PRESENCE.
Who can participate in the race? What are the requirements?
We have made the BSBK participation process as simple as possible. All a racer needs is his standard racing and safety gear and a racing license from the Motor Federation. The license is obtained via completion of a course on a track, which highlights safety rules and regulations. This is followed by an on-track instructor evaluation.
For our international participants, we try to ensure accessibility through our hospitality partners. This season, we are lucky to have the involvement of the Sofitel Thalassa Resort as our 2016/2017 race hotel.
When selecting a motorcycle for the Superbike Championship, why did you decide to go with the Ducati 899?
Ducati has racing in its genes; the brand lives and breathes the thrill of racing. The 899 Panigale has many positive attributes we felt made it an ideal choice. It’s nimble, easy to handle, and has just the right amount of power to appeal to both experienced and amateur racers. It helps that Ducati themselves were very excited and supportive of the series, working with us to ensure the success of the program. As a result, we have seen a growing Ducati presence on-track.
In your opinion, how else can the F1 track be utilized to benefit Bahrain?
We are lucky to have a world-class facility like the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) within our access. It has elevated the experiential element of our series to professional (albeit still super fun) levels. It is one of the few tracks in the world to host night events. Personally, I would love to see the BIC host few more open-track days throughout the year—but then again, you can never have enough track days!