Sport | Motorsport
Keen contest on the cards for final round of Superstock Bikes
Challenger Rod 'Papa' Scott is hoping his positive outlook will help him nudge past current leader Abdul Aziz Bakr Bin Laden and claim the Super Stock title at this weekend's UAE National Bikes Championship.
- By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:17 April 23, 2008
- Juzar Motiwala, the champion-in-waiting, feels the riders on the grid need more time to catch up with him.
- Image Credit: Supplied picture
Dubai: Challenger Rod 'Papa' Scott is hoping his positive outlook will help him nudge past current leader Abdul Aziz Bakr Bin Laden and claim the Super Stock title at this weekend's UAE National Bikes Championship.
The final round for the Superstock Bikes Championship has gone down to the wire with defending champion Bin Laden clinging on to a slender two-point lead over Scott.
"The idea is to stay positive and then hope that everything goes in favour of our hard work," Scott told Gulf News.
The battle for the Superstock title between Dubai-based Scott, sponsored by Al Yousuf Yamaha and Saudi Arabia's Bin Laden of the Arabian Falcon Kawasaki team is expected to go into top gear.
The young Saudi is determined to retain the title he won last year with only the 49-year-old 'Papa' standing in his way to a second shot at glory.
"Winning is not the main goal. I just want to go out there and do my best," Bin Laden promised.
"There is no strategy, it's just riding the best I can and keep my focus all the time," the Saudi driver added.
"It is going to be a very difficult challenge for me, more so because there is an added element we have to contend with," Scott stated.
The extra element is the presence of Swiss ace Pascal Grosjean of Piot Moto Shop Kawasaki sandwiched on track between the defending champion and challenger Scott.
Worrying presence
"The presence of the European rider [Grosjean] in the last three or four races has definitely held me back," Scott stated.
"His presence definitely worries me and that is why I want to remain positive and just go along with my race," he added.
To his credit, Grosjean has occupied the podium in the Super stock in all the six races that he has run so far, snatching vital points from the challenger in the bargain.
The overall progress of the championship in the Super Stock Class has been very interesting so far.
Abdul Aziz, as the defending champion, began as the favourite. But Scott used the summer break last year to practice on circuits in Malaysia and Qatar in his bid to challenge the young Saudi.
Obviously, his extra hard work and sweat paid rich dividends with the Scotsman securing six first places in the 14 held over seven rounds so far.
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