After finishing first and second two weekends ago in New Jersey, the Qatar Al Anabi Racing Top Fuel drag-racing team were brought back to Earth this past weekend in Bristol, Tennessee.
Dubai's Khalid Al Balooshi qualified sixth but lost in the first round of eliminations, and teammate Shawn Langdon was the No 7 qualifier but went out in the quarter-finals.
Al Balooshi, who raced in a new dragster, was upbeat about the team's performance in the 10th of 24 races that make up America's 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season.
"This week in Bristol was not our week," said Al Balooshi, who remains fifth in the championship table.
"We tried hard and did our best, but it was not a good weekend for our team. I need to do a better job leaving the starting line, and I know that I will get better as I get more experience.
"We are leaving what happened this weekend in Tennessee and going to New Hampshire for a better race next weekend. I thank everyone on our team for his hard work, and I know next week will be better for our team."
The Emirati is in his second full season in the world's top drag racing competition.
With the quarter-final loss, Langdon dropped one spot to second place in the Top Fuel points standings. He trails first-place Tony Schumacher by one point and leads third-place Spencer Massey by 85 points.
"We made some good runs in the Al Anabi car this weekend, but we struggled a little bit in the heat today and smoked the tires," Langdon said. "We were trying to make another great run like we have been making in the last few races, but it just didn't work out this weekend. As hard as we try … we know we can't win every race.We've had some really good success lately winning some races and plugging away at it so we hope things will be better for us next week."
The will be back in action from Friday to Sunday at the inaugural Auto Plus NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire.
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ENGLAND SQUAD
For first two Test in India Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, James Anderson , Dom Bess, Stuart Broad , Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes. Reserves James Bracey, Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
