Mission accomplished

Hafizh achieves top-10 target after finishing sixth in Valencia GP

PETALING JAYA: Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah (pic) ended the Moto2 season on a high, finishing sixth in the Spanish Grand Prix in Valencia to secure 10th-place overall in the world championship.

Starting from 11th on the grid, Hafizh managed to claw his way up to complete the final race of the season in 43:30.438.

Portuguese Miguel Oliveira completed the 27-lap race in 43:15.843 for his third straight win of the season.

Italian Franco Morbidelli, who wrapped up the world title at the Malaysia Grand Prix in Sepang last month, finished second in 43:17.997. Brad Binder of South Africa clocked 43:20.024 for the last spot on the podium.

Hafizh thus achieved his target of ending the 18-round world championship in the top 10 with a total of 106 points.

The 23-year-old Petronas Raceline Malaysia rider had two podium finishes — finishing second in the San Marino Grand Prix in September and third in the Japanese Grand Prix last month.

Idemitsu Honda Team Asia’s Khairul Idham Pawi, the other Malaysian Moto2 rider, could only finish 25th yesterday with a time of 44:25.913. He was placed 27th overall with 10 points.

SIC Racing Team rider Adam Norrodin also failed to secure a point in Moto3. He started from 12th on the grid, but ended up in 17th place. Adam ended the season 17th overall with 42 points.