Doha: Malaysian Zaqhwan Zaidi snatched the overall SuperSports 600cc crown from the grasp of Japanese duo Katsuaki Fujiwara and Yuki Ito to become the youngest rider to win the premier class in a thrilling Petronas Asia Road Racing Championship season finale at the Losail International Circuit here on Sunday night.
The Musashi Boon Siew Honda Racing rider was third in the standings, trailing leader Fujiwara by 22 points heading into Sunday’s final round. But the 19-year-old Zaqhwan finished second in Race 1 and then went on to win Race 2 to emerge overall champion.
In an intense battle, Zamri Baba aced Race 1 in 31:37.305 followed by Zaqhwan (31:37.371) and Manual Tech KYT Kawasaki’s Yudhistira (31:37.529).
Oozing with confidence, Zaqhwan signed off the season by wrapping up the gruelling 15-lap Race 2 in 31:24.717 ahead of Yuki (31:25.097). The 31-year-old Zamri finished third in 31:25.119.
Fujiwara, representing BEET Kawasaki Racing, missed out on his second overall title after he finished both races outside the top 10 due to his bike’s front-end suspension problems.
Zaqhwan is only the third Malaysian to win the premier class title after Chia Tuck Cheong (2001) and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (2013). Zaqhwan ended the season with 170 points, just one ahead of Hong Leong Yamaha’s Ito. Fujiwara was third with a 155 total.
“You dream about being champion and dedicate your whole life to it, so when it comes true it is very special and amazing! I’m just really happy to make my country proud,” said an emotional Zaqhwan after the race.
“We did not expect to win because this is only my third year racing in the premier class. But when we saw Ito and Fujiwara finish outside the top five in Race 1, it became clear we actually stood a chance.
“Zamri and I then cooked up a strategy together.
“I owe my win to Zamri. Without him holding Yuki and the rest of the field back, it would have been impossible to win. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to the team, sponsors, family, friends and fans for believing and supporting me all this while,” added Zaqhwan.
In the battle for the Asian Underbone 130cc overall title, Gupita Kresna emerged champion with 176 points.
The Indonesian started on pole in Race 1 but could only finish 13th after a collision with Kazuki Masaki of Team Honda RSC on the front straight in the final lap. Both riders escaped the crash uninjured and Gupita was forced to push his Kawasaki to the finish line.
Indonesian Reza Fahlevy of Faito Factory Racing won in 18:04.320 followed by Ahmad Fazrul Sham (18:04.330) and Rusman Fadil (18:04.338).
Gupita was undeterred by the earlier crash and went on to win Race 2 in 18:04.860, 0.118 seconds ahead of Ahmad Fazrul.
In the Asia Dream Cup, Sarath Kumar turned in the best performance of his career as he bagged his first podium finish with a second place, 2.386 seconds adrift of winner Khairul Idham Pawi. The last named bid farewell to the Asia Dream Cup on a high as he chalked up another double win. Having already wrapped up the championship title in Thailand, Khairul could afford to relax in Qatar, but it would simply see him perform better.
Meanwhile, Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) President and FIM Vice President, expressed his happiness in hosting the last round of the Petronas Asia Road Racing Championship in Qatar.
“I am very happy to host the final round of this championship for fifth year and I wish all the best to all the riders for the future,” Al Attiyah said.
Al Attiyah, who was elected as FIM Deputy President last month, took the opportunity to thank all the Asian members for their support and trust in him.
“First of all I would like to thank to all the Asia members that supported me and trusted me for the new position of Deputy FIM Vice President and I would like to encourage the rest of Asia Members to have a bigger positions in the future.
“We have to show our ability and potential, one of the strongest continent and we have to be confident all together to put our signature in the future and we are committed to the FIM and to worldwide motorcycle family,” Al Attiyah said. The Peninsula
