PETALING JAYA: Former Moto3 world championship winner Zulfahmi Khairuddin believes it is a matter of time before Syarifuddin Azman grabs the chequered flag in the FIM JuniorGP.
The 20-year-old blazed the track in the fifth round of the series in Portimao, Portugal to record his third podium finish of the season after finishing second in the 16-lap race last week.
His other second-place finishes this season were recorded in both races of the third round at the Catalunya Circuit in Spain in June.
The result propelled Syarifuddin, who was fifth before the weekend race, into second position overall on 97 points.
Spaniard Jose Antonio Rueda is the runaway leader with 178 points.
Syarifuddin, better known as Damok, will be eyeing more podium finishes in the remaining four races. He has notched five top five finishes so far and Zulfahmi, who is SIC Racing team manager, wants his charge to use the next few weeks to improve on his riding skills. “The action will get more intense in the last four rounds as it will determine the outcome of the championship,” said Zulfahmi.
“The target for Damok is to finish in the top three and currently I’m very satisfied with what he has achieved.
“I hope he can remain consistent. There is no event until September and Damok will work on the areas he is weak in. If he can overcome them, Damok can even fight for the top spot,” added Zulfahmi.
Asia Talent Team’s Danial Syahmi Ahmad Shahril, who is competing in the same category but in his rookie year, is 19th overall with 17 points.
