HAFIZH GETS SPOT ON SECOND ROW FOR JAPANESE
PETALING JAYA: There’s just no stopping Moto2 rider Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah when it rains.
The Petronas Raceline Malaysia rider stormed to his best qualifying result of the season so far after clocking the sixth fastest time of the Motul Grand Prix of Japan at the Motegi Circuit yesterday.
The 23-year-old rider clocked 1:54.362 on a drying track to grab a spot on the second row for today’s race.
Takaaki Nakagami of Idemitsu Honda Team Asia will start from pole for his home Grand Prix race after posting 1:53.776.
He is joined on the front row by Spaniards Alex Marquez (1:53.904) and Xavi Vierge (1:54.046).
Hafizh earlier showed his mastery on a wet track when he topped the timesheets in the third practice session.
Hafizh clocked 2:06.163 in rainy conditions and he is hoping to bring good news to his fans from Motegi today.
“The weather is expected to be the same tomorrow (today). I’m in a good position to do well and I’ll try my best to finish with a good result.
“The conditions were tricky and hazardous. But I’m happy we were able to push the bike without compromising on the safety aspects,” said Hafizh, who finished third in the San Marino GP last month.
Rookie rider Khairul Idham Pawi will find it tough to finish in the points as he finished 33rd in qualifying yesterday with 2:00.099.
In Moto3, Malaysia’s Adam Norrodin bounced back from a crash in the third practice session earlier to qualify 13th fastest in 2:10.538.
“I had some big moments on the bike, which held me back but, in the end, we finished P13.
“It’s not such a disaster because we still have a chance to do well tomorrow (today).
“I’m a little disappointed because I know I could have done better.
“Anyway it’s the race that I have to focus on now.
“I’m ready to fight hard,” said the 19-yearold SIC Racing Team rider.