Yuki fails to win it for pal
His namesake takes Race One in Japan
PETALING JAYA: Japan’s Yuki Takahashi wanted to win it for his injured Malaysian team-mate Zamri Baba.
But alas, it was not to be as Yuki crashed out while his namesake Yuki Ito revved to victory in Race One in the SuperSports 600cc race of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan yesterday.
Musashi Boon Siew Honda Racing’s Zamri is still recovering at the Siloam Karawaci Hospital in Jakarta following an accident at the Sentul International Circuit on June 7.
Pole-setter Takahashi, who said he wanted to win the race for Zamri, crashed out on the seventh lap as Petronas Hong Leong Yamaha rider Ito romped home in 32:16.873 in the 13-lap race held under precarious track conditions.
Tomoyoshi Koyama (T. Pro Yuzy Honda NTS) was second in 32:24.233 ahead of thirdplaced Noriyuki Haga (Team Kagayama Suzuki ASIA) to complete a 1-2-3 finish for Japanese riders.
“I am very happy to win here because the first two rounds this season have not been going so well. However, this win did not come easy because I struggled from the start. I could not keep the pace with Takahashi and almost crashed midway through the race,” said Ito.
“To my surprise, Takahashi retired with six laps remaining. I took a safe approach and maintained a steady pace without taking much risk. Thank you to the team for giving me a good setup. Hopefully we can secure another win in Race Two tomorrow (today,” he added.
Another Japanese Takehiro Yamamoto won the Asia Production 250cc race, winning the eight-lap race in 22:05.316.
Norizman Ismail did everything right to win a frantic Underbone 130cc event. The Harian Metro Y-TEQ SCK Honda Racing rider crossed the finish line in 18:33.199.