Hafizh thrilled to earn his second top-10 finish of the season

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah raised cheers with a top-10 finish in the Japanese MotoGP at Motegi.

Hafizh started from the sixth row (16th) spot and slipped to 18th after the first lap, but upped his pace step by step and moved up one position after another.

The MotoGP newcomer eventually crossed the finish line in 10th spot, gaining another point on Italian rider Franco Morbidelli and is now behind the Rookie of the Year leader by just four points.

Hafizh, riding for Monster Yamaha Tech 3, is ranked 17th in the overall standings with 34 points. There are three more races to go, including the Malaysian MotoGP in Sepang early next month.

Hafizh was delighted to earn his second top-10 finish of the season. He was ninth in the second round of the championship in Argentina earlier this year.

“I’m really happy to be in the top 10. This is what I always wanted for myself and now we’re inside the top 10 for the second time, so I’m really delighted.

“Thank you very much to the whole team because they did a good job.

“We’re always working hard to be strong in the race.

“Thanks as well to everybody who supports me and especially my family who came here.

“We need to continue working hard. The next race in Phillip Island, Australia (next week), I will do my best.”

Adam Norrodin of Petronas Sprinta Racing finished out of the points in 19th spot.