KUALA LUMPUR – Johor Darul Ta’zim Racing rider Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah is poised for podium success this weekend at his favourite circuit, Twin Ring Motegi in Japan, for the third leg of the Asia Road Race Championship.
Hafizh, who triumphed in the first race at Zhuhai in China last April, stands in a strong position to contend for the Asia Superbike 1000 title.
Currently positioned third overall with 45 points, he trails behind Asia champion Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (TKKR BMW Racing) and the current leader, Andi Farid Izdihar (Honda Asia Dream Racing).
Motegi holds a special place in Hafizh’s heart, given his extensive experience racing on this track, especially during his time competing in the MotoGP World Championship.
Among his notable achievements at Motegi was a commendable 10th-place finish with Monster Yamaha Tech3 in the 2018 season.
Hafizh is also fortunate to have had the opportunity to test his bike at the Suzuka Circuit a few days before the start of the Motegi race weekend. This test session served as preparation for the upcoming Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race.
“Now that we’ve arrived in Motegi, our target remains the same as it was in China. I recently conducted tests for the Suzuka 8 Hours at Suzuka Circuit, and the results were promising.
“The added mileage with the bike has been beneficial, and I’m grateful to Ducati and Team Kagayama for providing this opportunity to test before the race.
“Usually, we avoid these types of tests to prevent mistakes and injuries, but I managed it very well. I’m thrilled to be here because Motegi is one of my favourite tracks.
“Although we don’t have extensive data, we’ve managed well in rounds one and two, and we have a good base set-up for the bike. Each track requires adjustments, such as changes to the bike’s geometry and gearing, but it’s not a major concern for us.
“I’ve raced here many times, for over five years now, so the track doesn’t worry me. Our focus is on fine-tuning the bike to ensure a successful weekend,” said Hafizh. – June 7, 2024