Still on top – Qabil will remain in Spain to train for next round

Credit - ZK Racing

PETALING JAYA: Young national rider Qabil Irfan (pic) will continue to camp in Europe to remain competitive as he seeks to defend his position at the top of the ESBK Talent Championship.

The move was taken after the 13-year-old rider endured a less than encouraging campaign in Round 5 at Navarra Circuit in Spain last week where he finished Race 1 in fourth place.

The Terengganu-born rider’s bid to win on National Day did not materialise as his campaign was cut short in Race 2.

The red flag came out early and Qabil, who was then fighting for the lead, had to settle for third.

SIC racing team manager Zulfahmi Khairuddin said the result achieved by the Frando Racing VHC Team Liqui Moly rider was not what they targeted.

“Although he was quite competitive at the beginning, the final result was not very good,” said Zulfahmi.

“But I believe Qabil has given his best, with a difference of only 0.1 second from the winner (in the front group). In Race 2, we already set a strategy to attack in the last lap but unfortunately the race was stopped with a red flag.”

After five rounds, Qabil has collected 202 points and followed by Swiss rider Alessio Arnold (170) and Spaniard Izan Rodriguez (144).

Round 6 will take place in Estoril, Portugal next weekend.