After four hours of racing, Yamaha Racing France GMT 94 Ipone leads the race on the Losail racetrack in Qatar. The French official Yamaha managed to hold back the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, trying to win an eleventh world title. At mid-race, the SERT leads his direct competitor, the BMW Motorrad France 99 and the Monster Yamaha YART.

There was some high tension on the track already from the start. Vincent Philippe made the holeshot and led the first lap for the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team but each lap the leadership changed constantly by the efforts from Yamaha Racing France GMT 94 Ipone, Monster Yamaha YART and BMW Motorrad France 99.

BMW Motorrad France 99 was seen as the arch-favourite but were involved in a dramatic moment, which took place during the ninth lap. A collision between Sébastien Gimbert on the BMW Motorrad France 99 and Katsuyuki Nakasuga on the Monster Yamaha YART sent the two leading machines at the back of the pack. Back on track with a bang, the Austrian
Yamaha and the Belgian BMW started from the tail end, with a one lap deficit.

The Honda TT Legends find themselves again in the top 5, thanks to great race management of their pit stops. The British Honda leads the Spanish Yamaha of YMES Folch Endurance. Bolliger Team of Switzerland, after a great start despite a crash this morning at the warm up, lost all the benefits of a great race due to some fuel injection problems.

In the Superstock class, the podium spots changed frequently according to the pits frequent stops between Yamaha DG Sport and the three Suzuki of Team Motors Events Bodyguard AMT, Qatar Endurance Racing Team and MCS Racing Ipone.

Some of the Superstock favourites have seen all their hopes for victory vanish from the very early stages of the race. Suzuki AM Moto Racing Compétition had some fuel injection problems from the second lap and just retired, the Suzuki No Limits Motor Team crashed and BMW from Van Zon Boenig Motorsportschool Penz13 RT, after a great start, lost ground after a fuel shortage.

The feminine team from Qatar Endurance Racing Team II continuous to round the circuit consistently, to find themselves in a very credible sixteenth place overall. The sunset just came over Doha and the arrival is scheduled at 9 pm (GMT + 3).