Newly crowned CP130 champion, Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi put on another commanding performance as he topped the rain-affected opening practice in the final round of the 2014 PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship in Alor Setar, Kedah on Friday.
The Givi Honda Yuzy Racing rider posted the quickest lap in 49.670s around the Taman Jubli Emas track within the first 10 minutes of the practice before heavy rain intervened, forcing all the riders to pit in and call it a day.
This is the eighth time Zaqhwan has dominated the practice session this season. Previously he was fastest in Batu Kawan, Muar, Terengganu, Melaka, Temerloh, Kluang and Jempol. The only two rounds the 19-year old failed to top the timesheets was in Teluk Intan and Kangar.
The next best effort came in the form of Motul Yamaha YY Pang’s Mohd Adib Rosley followed by seasoned contender, Ahmad Fazli Sham (PETRONAS Yamaha Maju Motor) with 49.931s and 49.949s respectively.
The top five was completed by Ahmad Afif Amran (PETRONAS Yamaha CKJ) and Adib’s teammate, Mohd Azhar Abdul Jalil.
Zaqhwan said, “We had another good start but I can’t shake off the feeling that our work today is incomplete because we had to sit out the remaining five minutes. I believe we could improve a lot more but the track was too slippery.”
Speaking about his expectations ahead of Sunday’s SuperPole and final race, Zaqhwan commented, “Although I’ve won the title, I will not let my guard down. I will push for another win, not just for myself but also for the team because we are still in the running for the Team Awards.”
He added, “However we might need to make some improvements to the machine first. The bike is definitely competitive but we didn’t really get a chance to test its limits today and we don’t want any last minute surprises during the finals.”
Besides the top five, others who qualified for the SuperPole tomorrow includes Zaqhwan’s teammate, Sasitharen Sukumaran, Ahmad Fazrul Sham, Mohd Taufiq Roslan, Mohd Affendi Rosli and Emir Firdaus Hasan.
Meanwhile Tengku Amirul Haffiruddin is all set to defend his third overall position in the standings having clocked in fastest in the practice session.
The Motul Yamaha YY Pang rider topped the intermediate class timesheet with 52.595s followed by Felda Pbafb Tech duo, Aziamizat Sumairy and Iqbal Amri Malek with 53.078s and 53.092s respectively.
PETRONAS Yamaha Maju Motor’s Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin and Givi Honda Yuzy Racing’s Mohd Rozaiman Mohd Said rounded up the top five.
“I did not expect to be the fastest today but I am happy I did,” said the Terengganu born.
“We have a good pace and hopefully we can keep the momentum for the qualifying and race tomorrow. I want to make YY Pang proud and complete a top three overall in the standings with my teammates, Izzat Zaidi and Zaidy Zaifaizal,” he added.
Separately Khairul Idham Pawi gave a clear warning he is out to hunt for his ninth consecutive win for the season after he came in fastest in the WIRA category.
The Kozi Yam Honda Racing rider who clinched the WIRA title in Kangar (Round 8) blazed to the top of the timesheet with 53.214s ahead of teammate, Harith Farhan Baharin with 53.729s. Felda Pbafb Tech’s Saiful Izman Ahmad Zamani finished third with 53.755s.
Practice Results
CP130
1.Zaqhwan Zaidi (Honda) 49.670s 2.Mohd Adib Rosley (Yamaha) 49.931s 3.Ahmad Fazli Sham (Yamaha) 49.931s 4.Ahmad Afif Amran (Yamaha) 50.118s 5.Azhar Abdul Jalil (Yamaha) 50.245s
CP115
1.Tengku Amirul Haffiruddin (Yamaha) 52.595s 2.Aziamizat Sumairy (Yamaha) 53.078s 3.Iqbal Amri Malek (Yamaha) 53.092s 4.Kasma Daniel (Yamaha) 53.117s 5.Rozaiman Mohd Said (Honda) 53.325s
WIRA
1.Khairul Idham Pawi (Honda) 53.214s 2.Harith Farhan Baharin (Honda) 53.729s 3.Saiful Izman Ahmad Zamani (Yamaha) 53.755s 4.Afiki Supaat (Yamaha) 53.822s 5.Saiful Azhary Muhamad (Honda) 54.496s
ZAQHWAN TUMPU GELARAN PASUKAN TERBAIK
Juara keseluruhan CP130, Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi berazam untuk merealisasikan misi pasukan untuk memenangi Anugerah Berpasukan Keseluruhan setelah berjaya mempamerkan aksi terbaik dengan mencatat masa terpantas pada sesi ujian masa pada pusingan terakhir Kejuaraan Cub Prix AAM Malaysia PETRONAS yang berlangsung di Alor Setar, Kedah, hari ini.
Pelumba Givi Honda Yuzy Racing itu mencatat masa terpantas 49.670s mengatasi catatan pelumba Motul Yamaha YY Pang, Mohd Adib Rosley yang mencatatkan masa terbaik 49.931s. Catatan ketiga terpantas milik Ahmad Fazli Sham (PETRONAS Yamaha Maju Motor) dengan masa 49.949s.
“Selain merebut kemenangan peribadi, saya mahu membntu pengurus pasukan, Shahrol Yuzy Ahmad Zaini untuk meraih gelaran pasukan terbaik pada tahun ini. Dengan masing-masing mempunyai dua pelumba yang akan bersaing dalam perlumbaan akhir, peluang masih terbuka diantara kami dan pasukan PETRONAS Yamaha-CKJ (Ahmad Afif Amran dan Mohd Affendi Rosli),” jelas Zaqhwan.
Tambahnya, “Apa yang penting saya dan rakan, Sasitharen Sukumaran perlu berusaha menamatkan saingan di hadapan mereka dan kalau muncul juara, ia akan memberi banyak kelebihan mata kepada kami,” jelas Zaqhwan.
Mengulas tentang aksi di Alor Setar, Zaqhwan berkata, “Beraksi di litar baharu bukan halangan besar kepada saya. Yang penting saya perlu mendapatkan pelarasan terutama sistem suspensi terbaik. Dari segi kelajuan jentera, ia tidak mempunyai banyak masalah kerana sama seperti kebiasaannya, jurutera pasukan telah menyediakan jentera pada tahap terbaik.
“Jika cuaca hujan pada perlumbaan akhir esok, saya fikir ia bukan halangan kerana tayar Dunlop yang kami gunakan memberikan cengkaman yang cukup baik. Mudah-mudahan kami dapat mencapai misi meraih kemenangan berganda pelumba dan pasukan terbaik pada tahun ini,” jelas Zaqhwan.
Dalam saingan CP115, Tengku Amirul Haffirudin (Motul Yamaha YY Pang) muncul pelumba terpantas ujian masa dengan catatan masa 52.595s.
Dua pelumba Felda Pbafb Tech Racing, Aziamizat Sumairy dan Mohd Iqbal Amri Abd Malek mempamerkan prestasi terbaik pada musim ini setelah mencatat masa kedua dan ketiga terpantas, masing-masing dengan masa 53.078s dan 53.092s.
“Saya hanya menetapkan matlamat untuk mengekalkan kedudukan di tangga ketiga keseluruhan ketika ini. Paling penting saya perlu menamatkan saingan di atas podium pada perlumbaan akhir esok,” jelas Tengku Amirul.
Sementara itu, dalam kategori Wira, juara keseluruhan, Khairul Idham Pawi (Kozi Yam Honda Racing) terus mendominasi saingan dengan melakukan catatan terpantas, 53.214s diikuti rakan sepasukan, Mohd Harith Farhan dengan masa 53.729s. Saiful Izman Ahmad Zamani (Felda Pbafb Tech Racing) muncul pelumba ketiga terpantas dengan masa 53.755s.
Keputusan Latihan
CP130
1.Zaqhwan Zaidi (Honda) 49.670s 2.Mohd Adib Rosley (Yamaha) 49.931s 3.Ahmad Fazli Sham (Yamaha) 49.931s 4.Ahmad Afif Amran (Yamaha) 50.118s 5.Azhar Abdul Jalil (Yamaha) 50.245s
CP115
1.Tengku Amirul Haffiruddin (Yamaha) 52.595s 2.Aziamizat Sumairy (Yamaha) 53.078s 3.Iqbal Amri Malek (Yamaha) 53.092s 4.Kasma Daniel (Yamaha) 53.117s 5.Rozaiman Mohd Said (Honda) 53.325s
WIRA
1.Khairul Idham Pawi (Honda) 53.214s 2.Harith Farhan Baharin (Honda) 53.729s 3.Saiful Izman Ahmad Zamani (Yamaha) 53.755s 4.Afiki Supaat (Yamaha) 53.822s 5.Saiful Azhary Muhamad (Honda) 54.496s
