I’ll be a Monster
Hafizh to ride for Yamaha Tech 3 at MotoGP pre-season testing
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah is ready to play the daredevil with Monster Yamaha Tech3 in the official MotoGP pre-season testing in Buriram, Thailand, from Feb 16-19.
“I hope to ride fast on the MotoGP machine from the word go, to show everybody what I’m capable of,” said a beaming Hafizh, who will become the first South-East Asian to ride in the MotoGP.
“It’s a dream come true for me.” Monster Yamaha announced yesterday that Hafizh will be participating in the MotoGP pre-season testing in Buriram.
The three-day testing will be held at the Chang International Circuit, where Thailand will host a leg of the MotoGP for the first time in October.
Hafizh and his future teammate, two-time Moto2 world champion Johann Zarco of France, will ride the 2018 YZR-M1 Yamaha bikes during the testing.
The 23-year-oldHafiz, who boasts four years of Moto2 experience, feels he is more than ready to make his mark in the premier class of motorcycle racing.
“I want to thank Herve Poncharal (Monster Yamaha team principal) for this opportunity and the entire Monster Yamaha Tech3 team,” said Hafizh.
“I’m also grateful to Sepang International Circuit chief executive officer Datuk Razlan Razali and the people who supported me and made this possible.
“I’ll try my best during these three days in Thailand. It’s a big thing to go to MotoGP.
“I’m overly excited and incredibly happy to ride a MotoGP bike for the first time in Buriram.”
He is optimistic about facing the challenges of riding in the big league.
“I’ve to learn a lot about the Yamaha YZR-M1 and I’m eager to understand how the team works. They are very experienced and I want to make the most of their input.
“During this winter, I’ve trained a lot. I hope my hard work pays off,” said Hafizh from Barcelona, where he is training to get ready for the new season starting next month.
While the team are only making an official announcement after the three-day testing, Razlan said it would just be a formality.
“I’ll be going to Buriram to discuss the signing of the contract. To me, it’s 100% confirmed,” said Razlan.
“Yamaha and Dorna (MotoGP promoters) agreed as it will be good for marketing and promotion of the sport.”
Spaniard Poncharal said: “We’ve been looking for a replacement since Germany’s Jonas Folger couldn’t race.
“Hafizh is young and has podium finishes in Moto2, which is not easy. He ended 2017 in the top 10, which is a huge achievement.”