Zaqhwan Zaidi in action at Pasir Gudang

Md Zaqhwan Zaidi sekali lagi mempamerkan aksi bertenaga apabila berjaya mengungguli hari pertama sesi latihan bebas pusingan pembukaan Kejuaraan Motosikal Asia FIM (ARRC) yang berlangsung di Litar Johor, Pasir Gudang, Johor, hari ini.

Pelumba Musashi Boon Siew Honda Racing itu mencatat masa terpantas 1’31.423s dalam sesi latihan kedua namun gagal mengatasi catatan terpantas 1’31.112s yang dilakukannya sewaktu sesi ujian pra-musim di litar sama, minggu lepas.

“Cuaca hari ini agak panas, berbeza ketika sesi ujian pra-musim minggu lepas. mungkin sebab itu saya gagal untuk mencatat masa yang lebih baik,” jelas Zaqhwan.

“Lagipun mungkin pelumba hari ini tidak terlalu mencuba untuk mencari masa yang lebih baik setelah melakukan banyak pusingan sewaktu sesi ujian pra-musim baharu ini. Ramai yang ingin menguji ketahanan tayar mereka bagi menghadapi perlumbaan sebenar nanti.”

Sementara itu, Tomoyoshi Koyama (T.Pro Yuzy Honda NTS) muncul pelumba kedua terpantas dengan masa 1’31.654s diikuti Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (BikeART Racing Kawasaki) ketiga, 1’31.902s.

Apiwat Wongthananon (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team) terus menguasai kelas Asia Production 250cc dengan mencatatkan masa terpantas 1’45.142s pada sesi latihan bebas ketiga.

Mengekori di belakang pelumba Thailand itu ialah Reynaldo Chrisantho Ratukore (Yamaha Racing Indonesia) yang mencatatkan masa terbaik 1’45.513s diikuti juara musim 2015, Takehiro Yamamoto (Trickstar Racing) dengan masa 1’45.582s.

Dalam kelas Underbone 130cc, Azroy Hakeem Anuar (T Pro Yuzy Honda) bakal memulakan perlumbaan akhir dari petak pertama setelah mencatat masa terpantas 1’53.833s dalam sesi kelayakan Superpole mengatasi Md Haziq Md Fairues (UMA Racing Yamaha Maju Motor) yang mencatat masa 1’54.222s. Md Adib Rosley (RCB Kage Motobatt Yamaha YY Pang) di petak ketiga dengan masa 1’54.452s.

 

Keputusan

Latihan bebas

SuperSports 600cc

  1. Md zaqhwan Zaidi (MAS) 1’31.423s 2. Tomoyoshi Koyama (JPN) 1’31.654s 3. Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (MAS) 1’31.902s 4. Ratthapong Wilairot (THA) 1’32.130s 5. Thitipong Warokorn (THA) 1’32.166s

Asia Production 250cc

  1. Apiwat Wongthananon (THA) 1’45.142s 2. Reynaldo Chrisantho Ratukore (INA) 1’45.513s 3. Takehiro Yamamoto (JPN) 1’45.582s 4. Anupab Sarmoon (THA) 1’45.690s 5. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin (MAS) 1’45.846s

Superpole

Underbone 130cc 

  1. Azroy Hakeem Anuar (MAS) 1’53.833s 2. Md Haziq Md Fairues (MAS) 1’54.222s 3. Md Adib Rosley (MAS) 1’54.452s 4. Md Izzat Zaidi Salehan (MAS) 1’55.081s 5. Norizman Ismail (MAS) 1’55.301s

ARRC riders 2016

ZAQHWAN CONTINUES TO DOMINATE 600CC TIMESHEETS

The temperature may be soaring at the Johor Circuit, but local boy Zaqhwan Zaidi is not sweating the competition as he faces down a 21-strong SuperSports 600cc grid. The 21-year-old rider secured the provisional pole position for the season opening leg of the 2016 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship with his fastest time of 1’31.423s.

Zaqhwan, who is also 2014 SuperSports 600cc Asian Champion, will expect stiff competition from Japanese rider Tomoyoshi Koyama who was second fastest with 1’31.654s and his former team mate Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman who clocked third fastest with 1’31.902s. The top three riders were the only ones lapping within the 1 minute 31 second barrier. Zaqhwan’s fastest time recorded during the official pre-season test, 1’31.112s, remains as the unofficial lap record at the 3.86km Johor Circuit.

“I think everyone was more relaxed today because we have all been able to do many laps during the pre-season test last week. The variables such as track temperature and tarmac condition has remained the same. So, for the free practices, we were able to focus on long runs to find the limits of the new tyres instead of going for speed. I have been able to test out many different compound combinations but we are still fine-tuning our strategy for qualifying and the race. I am expecting a drastic change of results during the qualifying session so we can’t rest on our laurels yet,” said Zaqhwan.

Thai riders Ratthapong Wilairot (1’32.130s) and Thitipong Warokorn (1’32.166s) completed the free practices in fourth and fifth places respectively. Indonesian riders Gerry Salim and Ahmad Yudhistira, double 600cc champion Decha Kraisart, 600cc sophomore Taiga Hada and defending champion Yuki Takahashi all made it into the top-10 in the SuperSports 600cc. Moto2 rider Anthony West, was 13th fastest with 1’32.741s, 1.5 seconds off Zaqhwan’s pace.

Meanwhile, Thai rider Apiwat Wongthananon continued to exert his dominance in the Asia Production 250cc class. The 22-year-old rider was consistently the fastest man on the grid, and topped the first day’s timesheets with 1’45.142s. Indonesia’s Rey Ratukore upped his game and posted the second fastest time of 1’45.513s. Defending champion Takehiro Yamamoto was third fastest with 1’45.582s. Similar to the SuperSports 600cc class, the lap record charted during the pre-season test held intact after the first day of practice.

“We didn’t make much changes to the bike set-up for today, the team and I were satisfied with the results from last week’s pre-season test. But thanks to the extra practice, I now feel more comfortable on this bike. Today, I spent the three free practice sessions focused on my riding and I am confident that I will be in contention for pole position during qualifying,” said Apiwat.

Apiwat’s team mate, Anupab Sarmoon and Johor-born Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin rounded up the top five.

Underbone 130cc newcomers Azroy Hakeem Anuar and Md Haziq Md Fairues distinguished themselves during the first day of practice at the kick-off leg of the 2016 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. 17-year-old Azroy emerged as the fastest rider with1’53.833s while 15-year-old Haziq checked in at second fastest with 1’54.222s.

Despite consistently dominating the timesheets during the pre-season test, RCB KAGE Motobatt Yamaha YY Pang duo Md Adib Rosley and Md Izzat Zaidi were only third and fourth fastest in the Underbone 130cc SuperPole.

Results

Combined Free Practice

SuperSports 600cc

  1. Md zaqhwan Zaidi (MAS) 1’31.423s 2. Tomoyoshi Koyama (JPN) 1’31.654s 3. Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (MAS) 1’31.902s 4. Ratthapong Wilairot (THA) 1’32.130s 5. Thitipong Warokorn (THA) 1’32.166s

 Asia Production 250cc

  1. Apiwat Wongthananon (THA) 1’45.142s 2. Reynaldo Chrisantho Ratukore (INA) 1’45.513s 3. Takehiro Yamamoto (JPN) 1’45.582s 4. Anupab Sarmoon (THA) 1’45.690s 5. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin (MAS) 1’45.846s

Superpole

Underbone 130cc 

  1. Azroy Hakeem Anuar (MAS) 1’53.833s 2. Md Haziq Md Fairues (MAS) 1’54.222s 3. Md Adib Rosley (MAS) 1’54.452s 4. Md Izzat Zaidi Salehan (MAS) 1’55.081s 5. Norizman Ismail (MAS) 1’55.301s
- Advertisement -

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR