Anthony Delhalle thundered around the Losail International Circuit and his Suzuki stormed to a record time in the Qatar International Road Racing Championship record in the third round.

The French rider, inspired by the fastest ever time of sub 2:03.570 in the first race on Saturday (March 6), clinched both the races and widened his overall lead on the top of the general standings.

Considering the red-hot form of Delhalle and Mashel al Naimi's absence due to his Moto2 testing in Spain, this most interesting factor to see was how other riders take up the challenge in this round.

The top four riders in both the races were unchanged and so was their order of the finish as well - Delhalle was followed by Alexander Cudlin, Yousef Majed Al Malki and Nasser Hasan Al Malki.

In the first race, the gap between the best three finishers was a bit bigger but in the second race, the top trio put up a much more intense battle for the podium and they crossed the finish line within a little over six and a half seconds difference.

Rashid Al Mannai and Sultan Al Naimi, who are among the chief riders of Qatar, were expected to push more. The pace was, however, proved more strong for their bikes. Al Mannai and Al Naimi were fifth and sixth in the first but the former slipped to 11th in the next and the latter had to retire after 11th lap.

Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation President Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Attiya was the chief guest at the closing ceremony and gave away the prizes. He was quite delighted with the way the series is shaping up.