Tannir: Hoping to achieve podium finish

Mahmoud Tannir 17:20 18/12/2014
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  • Aiming high: Mahmoud Tannir believes Honda can achieve a podium finish at this weekend's Qatar Superbike Championship.

    It’s a fifty minute flight from Doha to Dubai – 675km in total as we set out across the Arabian Gulf, over Al Wakra and into the capital. It doesn’t give me a lot of time to gather my thoughts as I step out on to the track for Friday’s Qatar Superbike Championship.

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    It’s always more difficult racing in Qatar. There are a lot more competitors and it’s not easy to race when you have a small grid. The competition will be fierce this weekend, and that’s why I’m relishing the prospect of going out there and proving that the team can achieve a podium finish. We always aim for the win and that’s something we’ll look to accomplish on Friday at our opening practice session.

    During a qualifying lap when everyone is aiming to complete their best time possible, it can get cluttered which leads to mistakes. Our aim is to get into space and work our way into a favourable position on the grid for Saturday’s finals.

    There are professional guys coming from Europe to race in Doha. That’s the level of competition we’re up against. This round will see three guys from Moto2 GP class compete in the 1000cc. I don’t know if anyone will compete in the 600cc but they are all super-fast and competitive.

    If anything, the experience of racing with this calibre of athletes, combined with the fast track, will make us improve and that’s what excites me.

    It’s excellent experience for the team and if we can win, that would be amazing. Our target is a top-three finish and we keep focusing on that.

    Qatar’s a completely different track to Dubai. Firstly, it’s a different layout. I feel the layout suits my style a lot more, and it makes me more comfortable. Everything is more relaxed and acceptable.

    It’s known to be a fast and flowing track. Around the UAE, the tracks are more technical with hard-braking points and they can be very physical. When you have a circuit like this, you need to alter your tactics a bit more and be looser around the track. The tarmac quality is much better here – allowing us to gain the extra grip on the circuit.

    I’m aiming to be on the podium on Friday, irrespective of my recent calf injury. It’s been a tough few weeks but my physio Vaughan is doing whatever he can to ensure I’m fully fit. I lost quite a bit of muscle because of the tear but it’s progressing well and I’m now building it up again. The physio’s job is to work on the scar tissue and keep it as flexible as possible so that it doesn’t adversely affect the performance.

    The last race in Dubai was not so bad; it was better than I anticipated. The injury didn’t bother me on the bike, only when I move around. Vaughan has assigned me a program to complete outside practice. I can’t do circuit sessions, but the cycling is helping a lot. It will need five weeks to get back to full strength.

    After Qatar, we have a three week break. I’ll have more time to let the calf recover and it’ll give me a chance to spend time with my family. It’s a blessing to have such good people around me.

    We’re only three races in but the confidence the team have gathered over the last number of weeks is amazing, and it’s only going to help us to develop. 

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