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Mahias Champion In Tense WorldSSP Finale | SPORT | WSBK

Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) won the 2017 WorldSSP title after a front-running race win at Losail. He is the first Yamaha WorldSSP champion since Sam Lowes in 2013.

He won the title by 29 points from the gritty Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) who raced with a broken pelvis to third in the race and took a new lap record of 2’01.832 on lap 12.

Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) was only 0.023 seconds behind Mahias at the flag, taking to the trackside gravel on the home straight to try and pass his countryman for the win.

Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) was fourth, hijacked for real by Sofuoglu on the last lap after two previous attempts to pass near the end.

Anthony West (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) had an amazing ride through from a lowly starting place, finishing fifth, one place up on Niki Tuuli (Kallio Race System Yamaha).

West, WSS Race, Qatar WSBK 2017

Sheridan Morais (Kallio Race System Yamaha) was seventh, and that made him fourth overall in the points, behind Cluzel.

Luke Stapleford (Profile Racing Triumph) placed eighth, winning an all British fight from Gino Rea (Team GO ELEVEN Kawasaki) and Kyle Smith (GEMAR Balloons – Team Lorini Honda).

In the final points Mahias has 190, Sofuoglu 161, Cluzel 155, Morais 141, Caricasulo 118 and the Patrick Jacobsen (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 108, after suffering a technical issue with his bike and not finishing the race.

By Gordon Ritchie

Mahias, Qatar WSBK 2017

Jonathan Rea and Mahias, World Champions, Qatar WSBK 2017