KUALA LUMPUR – Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of the JDT Racing Team soared to the top of the overall championship standings in the Asian Superbike 1000cc category after an exhilarating weekend at the 2024 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) in Motegi, Japan.
Demonstrating consistent skill and determination, Hafizh finished third in Race 1 and second in Race 2, earning crucial points that propelled him to first place in the overall rankings.
In Race 1, Hafizh showcased his racing prowess by finishing third with a time of 16 minutes 44.803 seconds.
The race saw intense competition, with Thailand’s Nakarin Atiratphuvapat and Japan’s Sho Nishimura edging Hafizh in the final corners to take the top two spots.
In Race 2, Hafizh improved his position, finishing second with a time of 24m 08.208s, just behind Yuki Kunii.
Thailand’s Nakarin Atiratphuvapat finished third, while Malaysia’s Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, who experienced tyre grip issues in the final laps, settled for fourth place.
The Motegi circuit posed significant challenges, particularly in sector 3, which proved difficult for Hafizh and his bike.
Despite these obstacles, Hafizh expressed his satisfaction with the improvements made over the weekend.
“We started from P5, knowing it would be a struggle, especially in sector 3. The bike’s behaviour was not easy to manage, but we made a big improvement.
“I’m very happy with the championship lead now. We will see how we manage our bike in Mandalika,” he said.
Hafizh’s consistent performances have earned him 81 points, placing him at the top of the overall championship standings, five points ahead of fellow Malaysian Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, who has 76 points.
Indonesia’s Andi Farid Izdihar holds third place with 75 points.
Azlan Shah, representing the TKKR BMW Racing Team, also shared his thoughts on the weekend action.
“We improved compared to yesterday, but I lost front tyre grip in the last three laps. It was tough to lead, and I had to settle for fourth when Nakarin passed me,” he explained.
Despite his disappointment, Azlan remains focused on the upcoming race in Mandalika, aiming to improve his overall championship standing.
The next round in Mandalika will be crucial as riders continue to vie for the top spots in the championship.
Hafizh Syahrin’s current lead reflects his resilience and adaptability, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the season. – June 9, 2024