8 Hours of Doha SERT leads ahead of BMP Elf 99 and the YART at mid-race The SERT is still leading the race on the Losail racetrack, in Qatar after Vincent Philippe realised the holeshot. The battle for the lead is very intense from the beginning between the SERT, the BMP Elf 99 and the YART. After four hours of racing on a 40°C track, Vincent Philippe, Sylvain Guintoli and Freddy Foray managed to contain the BMW of team BMP Elf 99 with Sébastien Gimbert, Erwan Nigon. Team member Damian Cudlin, who failed to do a great start managed to come back close to the leaders. There is no margin for mistake as the gap between the two machines is still very narrow. In third position, the Yamaha Austria Racing Team with Igor Jerman, Steve Martin and Gwen Giabbani does its best to follow the pace. Behind are the Honda RMT 21 Racing Germany and the Suzuki of Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers. Fourth on the starting grid, RMT 21 Racing Germany is doing a great race so far with Victor Kispataki, Didier Van Keymeulen and Arie Vos. After a difficult season, Stéphane Molinier, Jérôme Tangre and David Brière on the Suzuki Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers could take a rewarding revenge in Qatar. The Suzuki AM Moto Racing is also in a good pace with Fabrice Auger, Etienne Masson and Louis Bulle. With Horst Saiger, Patric Muff and Roman Stamm, the Kawasaki Bolliger Team Switzerland is in seventh position and can still believe about the world title. They are ahead of the Yamaha Folch Endurance and the Suzuki Qatar Endurance Racing Team I, first Superstock machine, ahead of the Team Suzuki Motor Events and Suzuki Qatar Endurance Racing Team II. After suffering a puncture, the RAC 41 City Bike did a great come back to gain places on the classification sheet. The Suzuki RT Racing Motovirus was in the top 10 but has been delayed after a collision with the Suzuki of Team R2CL. Amongst the favourites, the Yamaha France GMT 94 Ipone is missing from the leading group. David Checa crashed after a few laps. Towards mid-race, a second crash has relegated the Yamaha Ipone at the back of the pack, 23 laps behind the leaders. A few teams had already to retire. Well placed on the starting grid, the Yamaha of Team X-One retired after crashing during the second hour of the race. Same consequences for the team BK Maco Moto Racing, with a broken engine due to a coolant leak, and the Suzuki III and IV of Qatar Endurance Racing Team also suffered from engine breakdowns.