Kasma rides into the big stage with new team

PETALING JAYA: Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin (pic) will be taking it one race at a time when he makes his debut in the Moto2 world championships next year. The 19-year-old signed a three-year contract with ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team recently.

The Malaysian-backed outfit competed in the Moto2 world championship and the Moto2 European Championships this year.

In Moto2, the team signed riders Remy Gardner of Australia and Tetsuta Nagashima of Japan.

The team used Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman and Ramdan Rosli for the Moto2 European Championships.

Kasma will be one of three full-season Malaysian riders in the world championships which start in March next year.

He will have Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah for company in Moto2. Hafizh is riding for Angel Nieto team while Khairul Idham Pawi will be fighting in the Moto3 class for Petronas Sprinta Racing.

“I am very grateful for this opportunity. It is a big step up into the big league for me.

“But I am no stranger to competitive racing as I did well in the Asian Road Racing Championships (ARRC) 600cc category this year,” said Kasma, who finished second overall behind Thai Peerapong Boonlert in the ARRC 600cc category.

“I will definitely do my best to learn the circuits and work hard to improve step by step. It will be a learning stint each racing weekend as I am new, so I can’t say much but I will try my best to get used to the situation fast,” said Kasma, who will be riding alongside Gardner.

Kasma made headlines when he became the youngest Malaysian Cub Prix Championship winner in 2016. He also rode for Dynavolt Intact SIC Junior Team in the Moto2 European Championship this year.

He did well by finishing 10th overall in the series, which is a feeder competition for the world championship.