PETALING JAYA: Rider Syarifuddin Azman (pic) keeps getting better in the FIM JuniorGP World Championship.
The youngster blazed the track in Portimao, Portugal to record his third podium finish when he finished second with a time of 29:07.323 in round five. And to make it even more memorable, the rider known as Damok, posted the best lap with a time of 1:47.229.
Spain’s Jose Rueda of Estrella Galicia was truly imperious and consistent in the 16-lap race by recording a time of 29:00.772, a huge seven-second gap ahead of Syarifuddin.
Another Spaniard, Adrian Cruces of Cuna De Campeones, gave a tough fight for Syarifuddin but settled for third with a time of 29:07.437.
This is Syarifuddin’s best finish in Portimao.
He finished 24th in the Moto3 World Championship earlier in the season and was eighth in the JuniorGP last year.
The other second-place finishes for Syarifuddin this season were recorded in both races of round three at the Catalunya Circuit in Spain last June.
Syarifuddin said it gave him great satisfaction to finish on the podium again.
“It was hot and challenging, but I could maintain my footing up front. There were lots of overtaking and exchanges of positions, but I am glad to have finished second in the race,” he said.
“I’ve to thank my mechanics for such a good weekend. Second during qualifying and second in the race. It’s good. I want to gift this to all Malaysians.
“I hope this will spur me to do well in round six (San Marino from Sept 8-9).”
Another Malaysian, Danial Syahmi Sharil of the Junior Talent Team, finished 18th with a time of 29:33.660.
In the rider’s standings, Syarifuddin is second with 97 points.
Rueda is truly on song, on top with 178 points while Spaniard David Salvador of Laglisse Academy is third with 95 points. Danial is 19th with 17 points.
Meanwhile, in the European Talent Cup, Hakim Danish Ramli of SIC Racing had a heartbreak when he could not finish the race.
He had completed nine laps but couldn’t continue the final lap due to technical issues with his bike.
