Sports

Sunday September 6, 2009

Thai-phoon to tame

By ERIC SAMUEL

CHENNAI: Decha Kraisart of Thailand will start from pole in the SuperSports 600cc category in Round 4 of the Petronas FIM Asian Grand Prix at the Madras Circuit here today.

The 24-year-old Petronas Sprinta Yamaha Thailand rider clocked the fastest lap of 1:45.619 in the second qualifying session yesterday.

Smooth at the bend: Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman taking a corner at the Madras Circuit during the FIM Asian Grand Prix qualifying session yesterday. Inset: Azlan qualified second.

Petronas Sprinta Yamaha Malaysia’s Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman was second fastest in 1:46.125, followed by overall race leader Chalermpol Polamai of Petronas Sprinta Yamaha of Thailand (1:46.325) and Mohd Zamri Baba of Petronas Sprinta Yamaha Malaysia (1:46.604).

Azlan described the Madras Circuit as “a technical circuit and a challenging one”.

He said the racing conditions were tougher due to the numerous bends and bumps in the circuit.

“It all boils down to the individual’s riding experience and how fast he can acclimatise to the racing conditions here,” said Azlan yesterday.

“My priority is to keep pace with the race leaders. I can’t afford to lose my grip on the title chase as I am in fifth position in the overall standings. I will have to keep the pressure on the two Thai riders ahead of me in the remaining races, beginning with this one in Madras,” said Azlan of Round 5 and 6, which will be held in Zhuhai, China.

Chalermpol leads the overall standings with 120 points – two ahead of compatriot Decha.

Md Zamri (80) and team-mate Ahmad Fuad Baharuddin (77) are third and fourth respectively while Azlan is fifth on 73 points.

In the Underbone 115cc category, Indonesian Hokky Krisdianto of Yamaha Petronas FDR Racing Team recorded the best lap time of 2:02.34 in the second qualifying session yesterday to grab pole position.

His compatriot Florianus Roy of U Mild U Bikers Indonesian Racing Team was second quickest in 2:03.034.

Prawat Yannawut of Petronas Sprinta Yamaha Thailand and Malaysia’s Mohd Affendi Rosli of Suzuki Harian Metro SCK Racing Team will start third and fourth on the grid.

Affendi, who did not finish both races in Round Three in Indonesia last month, fell during qualifying yesterday.

But Affendi, who is third in the overall standings with 54 points, has promised he would keep pace with the two Indonesian riders.

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