Azlan Harap Kutip Mata Musim 2015

Pelumba Moto2 Malaysia, Azlann Shah Kamaruzaman berharap dapat mengutip mata kejuaraan pada saingan Grand Prix Motosikal Dunia 2015 berdasarkan aksi positif pada sesi ujian pra-musim rasmi di Litar Jerez, Sepanyol, Khamis lepas.

Pelumba 31 tahun yang membawa cabaran Honda Team Asia itu mencatat masa keenam terpantas keseluruhan sepanjang tiga hari sesi ujian yang terganggu dengan hujan lebat dan angin kuat sejak hari pertama ujian yang berlangsung pada hari Selasa.

Azlan mencatat masa terpantas pada sesi pertama hari kedua (Rabu) dengan masa 1’45.729s, satu saat lebih baik pada catatan terpantas yang dilakukan pada musim lepas di litar sama.

“Kami melakukan persediaan secukupnya sebelum ke Jerez dan saya berpuas hati dengan catatan yang dilakukan,” jelas Azlan yang berjaya menempatkan diri dalam kelas Moto2 setelah muncul juara SuperSports 600cc Kejuaraan Motosikal Asia (ARRC).

“Saya bekerja keras sepanjang dua minggu lepas dan merasakan peningkatan dari segi fizikal dan tunggangan saya. Cuma malang, keadaan cuaca tidak begitu baik dan menghalang kami untuk lebih banyak masa di atas jentera. Namun ia bukan masalah besar kerana pada masa sama kami dapat melakukan ujian untuk mendapatkan pelarasan bagi litar basah dan ia penting untuk sesetengah perlumbaan musim ini,” jelasnya.

Bercakap tentang sasaran pada musim ini, Azlan berkata, “Saya bertambah yakin untuk menghadapi musim 2015, juga musim kedua saya dalam saingan Moto2. Saya berjaya melakukan 88 pusingan dalam sesi latihan sebelum ini dan agak berpuas hati dengan prestasi yang ditunjukkan. Berbeza dengan musim lepas di mana saya menghadapi kesukaran dengan jentera Kalex yang digunakan. Saya yakin jika terus bekerja keras seperti ini, saya mampu untuk mengutip mata kejuaraan pada musim ini.

Sementara itu, pelumba Speed-Up, Sam Lowes mendahului sesi ujian dengan masa 1’44.129s hampir satu saat lebih pantas berbanding catatan milik pelumba lain namun dua saat ketinggalan berbanding catatan Johann Zarco pada sesi ujian pra-musim Februari lepas.

Pelumba Jerman, Jonas Folger dari pasukan AGR Team Kalex mencatat masa kedua terpantas, (1’45.207s), mengatasi catatan pelumba Derendinger Racing Interwetten, Thomas Luthi (1’45.244s).

Rakan sepasukan Azlan, Takaaki Nakagami  mencatat masa keempat terpantas, mengatasi catatan pelumba IR Racing, Randy Krummenacher.

AZLAN HOPING TO SCORE POINTS IN SOPHOMORE YEAR

Malaysian Moto2 rider, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman is hopeful he will be able to score points in the 2015 World Moto2 Championship following a positive outing during the pre-season test at the Circuito de Jerez, Spain on Thursday.

The 31-year old riding for Honda Team Asia came in sixth quickest overall in the three-day test that was heavily affected by strong wind and intermittent rain showers since it commenced on Tuesday.

Azlan posted his best lap in the first session on day two (Wednesday) and recorded an impressive 1’45.729s, which was almost a second faster compared to his best lap at the same circuit last year.

“We came to Jerez prepared and I am pleased with the results,” said Azlan who earned his Moto2 ride having clinched the 2013 Asia Road Racing Championship SuperSports 600cc title.

“I have been training hard physically for the past two weeks and I can feel my fitness and riding has improved tremendously. Unfortunately, the treacherous weather prevented us from showing what we can do onboard the bike. But not everything was lost because we still got to test the wet-setup which is important for several races this season,” he added.

Speaking about his expectations for the upcoming season, Azlan commented, “I feel confident for 2015, which also marks my second year in Moto2. I managed to complete 88 laps throughout the three days and felt really comfortable on the bike. In comparison, last year I struggled a lot with the Kalex machine especially at corner entry. I’m sure if I keep working in this direction, I will be able to score points in some of the races this year.”

Meanwhile Speed-Up’s Sam Lowes led the Moto2 timesheets with a 1’44.129, over a second quicker than the rest of the field, although his lap was two seconds slower than the fastest time set by Johann Zarco at the previous test in Jerez last February.

German rider Jonas Folger, on the AGR Team Kalex, finished second fastest overall (1’45.207s), ahead of the Derendinger Racing Interwetten machine of Thomas Luthi (1’45.244s).

Azlan’s teammate, Takaaki Nakagami, who was one of the only riders to go out during the last session on the final day, ended up in 4th on the timesheets, just five-hundredths ahead of JIR Racing’s Swiss rider Randy Krummenacher.

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