Malaysian Hafizh Syahrin 2nd fastest rookie in Qatar

Malaysian Hafizh Syahrin 2nd fastest rookie in Qatar

After impressing observers with his performance during testing in Thailand, first Malaysian MotoGP rider Hafizh Syahrin, better known to fans as “Pescao 55”, emerged second fastest rookie at the conclusion of the final MotoGP Winter Test at the Losail circuit in Qatar. Hafizh finished the test in fifteenth position overall with a time of 1’55.273, with fastest rookie Franco Morbidelli of EG 0,0 Marc VDS clocking 1’55.132.

Meanwhile, Hafizh’s Monster Tech 3 Yamaha team mate Johann Zarco was fastest after three days of testing, with a time of 1’54.029 with fan favourite Valentino Rossi of Movistar Yamaha in second with a time of 1’54.276 and Andrea Dovizioso of Ducati in third, clocking 1’54.331. Defending MotoGP champion Marc Marquez of Repsol Honda came in sixth with a time of 1’54.591.

However, it should be noted that the circuit lengths of Losail and Buriram, where Hafizh had his first ride on a MotoGP race machine and came in 21st, are vastly different. Losail measures 5.380 km while Buriram measures 4.554 km, making a direct comparison based on lap times unfair.

Thus, the best indicator of performance can be seen in the percentage of difference between Hafizh and Zarco’s lap times. At Buriram, Hafizh was just about 2% away from Zarco in lap time, but the deficit has now dropped to just over 1%, indicating a clear improvement in Hafizh’s ability to control the Yamaha YZR-M1, a motorcycle he rode for the first time about two weeks ago.

Other Malaysian riders in the MotoGP circus are Zulfahmi Khairuddin, who replaced Hafizh in SIC Racing Team, and Khairul Idham Pawi (#89), also known as “SuperKIP”, riding for Idemitsu Honda Team Asia, in Moto2, with Adam Norrodin (#7) of Petronas Sprinta Racing in Moto3. The 2018 MotoGP championship kicks off March 18 at the Losail circuit in Qatar.

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Mohan K Ramanujam

Coming with diverse and extensive experience in heavy engineering, Mohan enjoys making anything with wheels go fast, especially motorcycles. His weapon of choice is the Desmoquattro engine, and he has a penchant for anything with a dash of Italian design. Strangely enough, he insists he's a slow rider.

 

Comments

  • Ahmadjr on Mar 04, 2018 at 11:46 pm

    Hafizh and zarco are the future of motogp

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 35 Thumb down 1
  • Lombron on Mar 05, 2018 at 2:48 am

    Make us proud!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 37 Thumb down 1
  • Hafizh shud focus more on clocking lap numbers, considering he has little experience with this bike, he needs to put in 2x more laps than his teammate. The team that does most laps consistently, alwiz wins.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • Faizal bin Ahmad on Mar 05, 2018 at 2:13 pm

    They are human.. u r human too hafizh..! No different. No reason for u to be world champion..!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • ashravic on Mar 05, 2018 at 3:36 pm

    wish he would manage to get world#1 one day before get retired.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • alex chan on Mar 05, 2018 at 4:42 pm

    what a waste of tax payer money, how much millions did BN gov put into this boy and paid to the motogp to let the boy race?
    can build hundred of hospital with the money.
    nowadays rakyat is suffering to make a living, BN gov simply2 waste money into this sport? what is the return?

    remember, PRU is near around the corner!, pls dont waste money like this while rakyat is suffering.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 91
    • Alex chan bodo on Mar 05, 2018 at 7:53 pm

      Waaa..a fellow malaysians shine up in the international stage by grit n sweat u simply politicise it..what a 1st class moron..shame on u..that boy give it all at all cost moron..itd show clearly how low ur iq set is by such accusation
      …cakap mmg senang..show some prove la..or otherwise u re nothing but a stupid bastard

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 0
    • Dude. Really? At least do some reading about him.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 0
    • mosar on Mar 06, 2018 at 9:49 am

      what a small minded idiot you are. if u even a little bit aware of how motogp works and the performance and career progress Hafizh has made over the years through the junior series et al, you would know that he deserved the place on merit. no one in the asean region is more qualified then him

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 0
  • Buriram heeft een universiteit? Stel je van een universiteit in Thailand niet al te veel voor. Denk iets van de lesstof af te weten en heb geen bijster hoge pet op van het niveau. Totaal onvergelijkbaar met een Nederlandse of Europese universiteit.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • So proud of him..bring our flag to track..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • noname on Mar 25, 2018 at 8:48 pm

    Show the world who u are.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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