HAFIZH BIDS GOODBYE TO PETRONAS
PETALING JAYA: Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah, who has scored three podium finishes in the Moto2 world championship so far, will not continue with Petronas Raceline Malaysia next season.
The team announced yesterday that the 23-year-old rider is parting ways after the final round in Valencia, Spain next month.
The team have had a very successful relationship with Hafizh dating back to 2007 when the young rider made his debut at the Malaysian Cub Prix Championship.
Barry Leong, the team principal then, first discovered the budding star when he was racing in the Pocket Bike League.
“It has been a wonderful journey to see Hafizh progress from the Malaysian Cub Prix and then moving up the different classes before advancing to the Asia Road Racing Championship,” said Barry.
Hafizh then participated in the Australian Formula Extreme Championship in 2011 before going on to race in the FIM CEV Championship in Spain.
“It truly has been an honour and a privilege for us as a team, to have grown together with Hafizh.
“I have known and guided him since he was 12. However, for everything that has a beginning, there has to be an ending, and we have come to a natural and amicable one,” he said.
Hafizh is expected to join the newly formed SIC Racing Team.
Hafizh did not get a good start in the Australian Grand Prix in Phillip Island yesterday.
He was placed 20th in the second practice with 1:35.065 while Idemitsu Honda Team Asia rider Khairul Idham Pawi was 30th (1:36.286).
Adam Norrodin of SIC Racing Team was 20th in the Moto3 second practice (1:38.892).