Thursday October 18, 2012
Hafizh confident of better showing with new bike
Malaysia’s Moto2 wild card rider Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah is all smiles as he poses with a bevy of Petronas umbrella girls after the unveiling of his bike FTR at KLCC Wednesday. — S.S. KANESAN / The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah looked out of sorts in his debut ride in the Malaysian Motorycle Grand Prix at Sepang last year.
But things will be different this time.
With a faster bike, more big race experience and better preparation, the 18-year-old promises to deliver the cheers for Malaysia at this weekend’s race.
Hafizh will ride in the Moto2 on wild card slot for the second time and he has set his sights on bettering the 22nd placing he earned on a Moriwaki bike last year.
Hafizh, who is currently competing in the CEV Buckler Spanish Championships, will be riding the same FTR bike he uses in the Spanish races for the Sepang race.
Hafizh is also getting the services of the same Spanish championship backroom staff.
“It will definitely give me some advantage as they managed to put the bike in prime condition before every race in Spain, so I’m expecting a better run this year.
High expectation: Malaysia’s Moto2 rider Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah at a press conference after the unveiling of his bike at KLCC Wednesday. “I did three days of testing in Sepang and I’m confident of getting good results here. For me, a top 15 finish is achievable and great as this is our Malaysian GP race,” said Hafizh at the unveiling of the team bike at KLCC yesterday.
If Hafizh makes the top 15 bracket to secure a points finish, it will be an achievement alongside AirAsia-SIC-Ajo team rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin.
Expectations are high on Zulfahmi to finish strongly in the Malaysian Grand Prix this year as he has been challenging consistently for the top 10 in the races so far this season – and this is something not lost on Hafizh.
“Zulfahmi is also the reason why many people are going to be at the circuit this weekend and it will be great if both of us get points finish, which I think has never happened,” said Hafizh, who has been making great strides in his career this year.
Having risen up the ranks from the Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship and the Petronas Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC), Hafizh moved to Spain to become the first Malaysian to race full time in the CEV Buckler Spanish Championships.
He has chalked up five top-five finishes out of six races and is sixth in the standings with one round to go.
Hafizh is delighted to be competing in front of the home crowd.
“I am delighted to be back and I have to say a big thank you to Petronas for having the confidence in my abilities and for their incredible support,” he said.
- Mixed reaction to Chong Wei’s remarks on Lin Dan’s wild card
- Formula One: Increased venom as F1 tyre war erupts again
- Badminton: Coaches voice out frustration over new lighting system at Putra Stadium at Bukit Jalil
- Cai Lin breaks 200m freestyle record
- Djokovic crashes in Rome, ailing Sharapova pulls out, Federer wins
- China play it cool; Past records mean nothing, says chief coach Yongbo
- Learn Spanish Hafizh as part of plan to conquer MotoGP
- Table tennis: Leading Chinese quartet power into last 16 of world meet
- Shankar hopes Sri Lanka will shine at Sudirman Cup
- KLHC don’t want final to go into extra-time or shootout
- O'Gara retires to take up coaching role
- Shields up to push claim for higher honours
- Dane Hoyer Larsen elected BWF president
- Crusaders slap down upstart Blues in soggy Christchurch
- Cycling: Leader Van Garderen wins California time trial
- Golf: Keegan Bradley maintains Byron Nelson lead
- Golf: Korda seizes lead at Mobile Bay LPGA
- Bradley stays in charge, Guan exits
- Hall of Famer Venturi dies aged 82
- Formula One: Increased venom as F1 tyre war erupts again
RSS
