Saturday September 8, 2012

Malaysians fail to get on front row in Japan

PETALING JAYA: There was no place for Malaysian riders on the front row of the grid in the Petronas Asia Road Racing Championships (ARRC) in Japan yesterday as homegrown talent ruled the roost at the Autopolis International Race Course.

After the conclusion of the qualifying for Round 4 of the championships, Manual Tech BEET Kawasaki rider Katsuaki Fujiwara set a new track record of 1:54.413 en route to grabbing the SuperSports 600cc pole position.

Championship leader Ryuichi Kiyonari of MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda will start from second spot on the grid after clocking 1:55.014 and Yuki Ito, representing Petronas Hong Leong Yamaha, third in 1:55.221.

Malaysians Mohd Zamri Baba of Petronas Hong Leong Yamaha and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda were only fourth and fifth fastest with times of 1:55.312 and 1:55.355 respectively.

“The team intend to make more changes to the bike to try to get more power out of it on race day,” said Mohd Zamri, who is third in the championships standings with 100 points.

“I am a bit worried as there isn’t much time left for tinkering but I will go with the team’s decision.”

Indonesian Hadi Wijaya of Yamaha Yamalube KYT R9 Tunggal Jaya dominated the Underbone 115cc session to take pole position in 1:30.436 followed by compatriot Rey Ratukore of Nissin R9 KYT Federal Oil BRT in 1:30.641.

Norizman Ismail of Harian Metro Y-TEQ SCK Honda brought some joy to Malaysian riders as he was third fastest in 1:30.945.

Qualifying Results:

SuperSports 600cc: 1. Katsuaki Fujiwara (Jpn) Kawasaki 1:54.413, 2. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Jpn) Honda 1:55.014, 3. Yuki Ito (Jpn) Yamaha 1:55.221, 4. Mohd Zamri Baba (Mas) Yamaha 1:55.312, 5. Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (Mas) Honda 1:55.355.

Underbone 115cc: 1. Hadi Wijaya (Ina) Yamaha 1:30.346, 2. Rey Ratukore (Ina) Yamaha 1:30.641, 3. Norizman Ismail (Mas) Honda 1:30.945, 4. Ferlando Herdian (Ina) Yamaha 1:30.947, 5. Mohd Amirul Ariff Musa (Mas) Honda 1:30.986.

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