QMMF Racing Team rider Anthony West of Australia is seen with Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, President of Qatar Motor and Motorcycling Federation (QMMF), second rider Elena Rosell of Spain and team mechanics at Sepang Circuit, Malaysia, yesterday.
BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: The Qatar Motor and Motorcycling Federation (QMMF) camp yesterday was in ecstatic mood after Australian rider Anthony West finished second in Moto2 race at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
West’s daredevil show in pouring rain at Sepang Circuit was rewarded by QMMF who have offered the Australian another ride in the 2013 championship.
For the 31-year-old Australian, who joined the QMMF Racing Team in March this year, it was his first podium finish in Moto2 racing.
Alex De Angelis won the Moto2 race at a rain-soaked Sepang Circuit with QMMF’s West coming second in an action-packed event.
British rider Gino Rea, a successful supermoto rider, was third on a Suter.
Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, President of QMMF, was the first one to applaud West’s effort.
“It’s a great feeling. It was a wonderful race. We enjoyed it immensely. It is a big win, a big achievement by the rider, by our team,” Al Attiyah said over phone from Sepang.
“It will give us a big boost for the future,” the QMMF chief added.
“We have confirmed his name ...Anthony’s name has been forwarded to Dorna for approval. It wasn’t a tough decision,” Al Attiyah said while confirming that West would ride for QMMF Racing Team next season.
“He has improved with every race. We are still considering the second name. We will decide on the second name within a week or so,” he added. The Qatari, who is also the Vice-President of FIM, said he was not surprised to see West nail the second spot in trying conditions.
“I am not surprised because Anthony does well in the rain. He has amazing results in wet weather. We always had big expectations from him,” Al Attiyah said.
“To reach the podium is an amazing feat and feeling. We are glad that this finish has put Qatar on the world map. This is our first podium,” Al Attiyah, who is the Team President, said. He added pelting rain made life tough for the riders on the circuit.
“It was a difficulty race for all riders. The riders had a tough time to stay on the track. It was a tough Grand Prix for riders of all categories,” Al Attiyah said over from Malaysia.
“I would say these were very hard conditions. The riders did well to keep the bike on the track. We got our best result in these tough conditions.
“We even led the race for a few seconds until the red flag came out. We then dropped back.
“There was a great fight among the top four riders. It was a challenge worth watching. I’d say again, it was an amazing result,” Al Attiyah said.
The QMMF Racing Team said West’s riding partner Elena Rosell from Spain also fought well in trying racing conditions.
“Elena also did well, finishing in 20th position. That’s a great result for her. She performed brilliantly too. We hope she could do better in Phillip Island (Australia) and in Valencia (Spain),” he said.
THE PENINSULA
