Rookie rider Hafizh settles for 16th spot in Spanish GP

PETALING JAYA: MotoGP rookie rider Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah just missed out on a nice birthday present in the Spanish Motorcycle Grand Prix in Jerez.

Hafizh rode gallantly from the back end of the grid to make his way up but eventually had to settle for 16th spot in the 27-lap race yesterday.

Only the top 15 riders are awarded world championship points.

Hafizh, who turned 24 on Saturday, found the going tough from the practice session itself as he was still hurting from bruises sustained in a bicycle training ride earlier in the week.

He qualified 22nd fastest with 1:39.135 on Saturday.

“I tried my best despite my pain during the qualifying and it was quite difficult to improve my lap time, but finally I gave it all and managed to get closer to the front.

“I want to thank my team because they always try something to find a great direction for me, which is positive.

“I’m also sorry for them because my body didn’t feel so good,” said Hafizh.

Idemitsu Honda Team Asia rider Khairul Idham Pawi earned his best finish of the season so far after coming home 18th in the Moto2 race but Zulfahmi Khairuddin of SIC Racing Team failed to finish the race.

It was a frustrating end to Adam Norrodin’s campaign when he just finished out of the points in Moto3.

Adam, riding for Petrona Sprinta Racing Team, placed 16th at the end of the 22-lap race after starting from 27th on the grid.