PETALING JAYA: Rider Syarifuddin Azman overcame a poor start to put himself in the front row of the FIM JuniorGP World Championship in Portimao, Portugal.
Syarifuddin did not have the best of start in the first qualifying session of Round 5 when he finished 12th. In the second session, the SIC Racing rider showed great composure and character to finish second with 1:48.271.
Spaniard Adrian Cruces of Cuna Campeones took pole with 1:48.182 while Australia’s Harrison Voight of SIC 58 was third in 1:48.324.
Meanwhile, Danial Syahmi Sharil of Junior Talent Team came in 20th (1:49.320) in his debut season.
Syarifuddin, better known as Damok, was elated with his performance.
“I was a bit disappointed with my first session because many riders stopped me from making fast lap times,” he said.
“In the beginning of the second session, I had the same issue but I tried to find a way to go faster.
“Thankfully, I improved on my lap time and will start second on the grid.
“I want to thank Monlau Motul, SIC Racing and all my sponsors who supported me this weekend.”
Syarifuddin has the experience racing at the circuit as he had finished 24th in the Moto3 World Championship earlier in the season and was eighth in the JuniorGP last year.
Team manager Zulfahmi Khairuddin was happy to see his rider getting a good position on race day.
“Damok did an amazing job in the qualifying sessions. The second session was more difficult as the temperature is higher in the afternoon. Kudos to Damok.”
Meanwhile, in the European Talent Cup (ETC), Hakim Danish Ramli of SIC Racing finished eighth (1:51.725) in the combined qualifying session.
RESULTS
ROUND 5 QUALIFYING
FIM JuniorGP World Championship
Combined qualifying: 1. Adrian Cruces (Spa) Cuna Campeones 1:48.182, 2. Syarifuddin Azman (Mas) SIC Racing 1:48.271, 3. Harrison Voight (Aus) SIC 58 1:48.324
Selected: 20. Danial Syahmi Sharil (Mas) Junior Talent Team 1:49.320
European Talent Cup
Combined qualifying: 1. Dodo Boggio (Ita) Aspar Junior Team 1:50.422, 2. Joel Esteban (Spa) Aspar Junior Team 1:50.664, 3. Brian Uriarte (Spa) Estrella Galicia 1:50.695
Selected: 8. Hakim Danish Ramli (Mas) SIC Racing 1:51.725
