A little suspense doesn’t hurt as Azroy leaves it late to seal CP150 title

It ain’t heavy: Honda Yuzy Idemitsu Team’s Azroy Hakeem Anuar posing with the trophy.

PETALING JAYA: Honda Yuzy Idemitsu Team rider Azroy Hakeem Anuar left it late to confirm his position as the CP150 overall champion in the Petronas Malaysian Cub Prix Championship.

The season finale round at the Sepang South Track revved off under sunny weather after several days of disruption by heavy rain and floods.

Blessed with a near-perfect racing weather at the final race of the season, the riders were finally able to race at full throttle for the conclusion of the title chase.

The CP150 title chase was a straight fight between Ahmad Afif Amran (Petronas Sprinta Yamaha-CKJ Racing) and Azroy but the latter waited until the last minute to blaze past the chequered flag.

Despite starting the race from pole position, Azroy opted to play it safe by tucking himself deep in the middle of the leading pack.

Azroy focused on staying strategically within the group’s slipstream and his strategy came to a dramatic conclusion when he broke out within a few hundred metres to the finish line with a time of 14:13.682.

“That was a challenging race. There were so many Yamaha riders in front of me. I had no choice but to keep myself tucked in and stay out of trouble,” said Azroy.

“In fact, this entire season had been particularly challenging. We could not keep our momentum when our races were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Nevertheless, I am grateful that our sport has been able to continue despite the obstacles we faced.

“I promise to maintain this level of performance in the coming season,” added Azroy, who claimed the CP150 trophy with 163 points.

Ahmad Fazrul Sham finished second in the race with 14:13.700, followed by Mohd Izzat Zaidi Mohd Salehan 14:13.702.

Azroy’s closest competitor Ahmad Afif ended his race in fifth and had to settle for second overall with 157 points.

RESULTS CP150: 1. Azroy Hakeem Anuar (Honda, Honda Yuzy Idemitsu Team) 14:13.682, 2. Ahmad Fazrul Sham (Yamaha, Yamaha GenBlu AHM Motor Sports) 14:13.700, 3. Mohd Izzat Zaidi Mohd Salehan (Yamaha, Ipone Yamaha YY Pang) 14:13.702. Standings: 1. Azroy Hakeem Anuar (Honda, Honda Yuzy Idemitsu Team) 163, 2. Ahmad Afif Amran (Yamaha, Petronas Sprinta Yamaha-CKJ Racing) 157, 3. Mohd Akid Aziz (Yamaha, ONEXOX TKKR Racing team) 135. CP125: 1. Mohd Hafiza Rofa (Yamaha, ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team) 11:08.299, 2. Mohd Firdaus Mohd Hamdan (Honda, Moto1 Koyoko Honda KC Racing Team) 11:08.391, 3. Mohd Syafiq Rosli (Yamaha, Petronas Sprinta Yamaha – Maju Motor) 11:08.636. Standings: 1. Mohd Adib Rosley (Yamaha, Ipone Yamaha YY Pang Racing Team) 165, 2. Mohd Syafiq Rosli (Yamaha, Petronas Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor) 145, 3. Mohd Hafiza Rofa (Yamaha, ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team) 143. WIRA KBS: 1. Mohd Aqil Danial Nasrul (Yamaha, Petronas Sprinta Yamaha-31 Racing) 10:03.201, 2. Danial Johan (Yamaha, Petronas Sprinta Yamaha-31 Racing) 10:03.273, 3. Mohd Harith Haziq Zamri (Honda, Castrol Power1 Honda Team) 10:03.342. Standings: 1. Mohd Aqil Danial Nasrul (Yamaha, Petronas Sprinta Yamaha-31 Racing) 148, 2. Mohd Irfan Haykhal Amidi (Honda, Moto1 Koyoko Honda KC Racing) 133, 3. Mohd Harith haziq Zamri (Honda, Castrol Power1 Honda Team) 131.