SEPANG: Wildcard rider Hakim Danish Ramli delivered a stunner when he qualified automatically for Qualifying 2 after recording the 11th fastest time in the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia Moto3 practice session at the Sepang International Circuit.
The 18-year-old may be riding the KTM bike on the track for the first time but did not show any nerves as he displayed good control throughout the 45-minute long session.
Hakim, racing with the AEON Credit SIC Racing MSI team, recorded a time of 2:11.820s, just 0.668s behind Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Jose Antonio Rueda who emerged as the fastest rider with a time of 2:11.152s.
The top 12 riders in yesterday's practice session goes straight to Q2 today.
Rueda's teammate Alvaro Carpe, also from Spain, recorded the second fastest time (2:11.187) while this season's Red Bull Rookies Cup champion and Hakim Danish's rival Brian Uriarte recorded the third fastest time (2:11.202).
Hakim had showed an encouraging performance in the first practice session this morning when he recorded the eighth fastest time with 2:11.317s, thus maintaining the positive momentum ahead of today's qualifying session.
"I personally didn't expect to get a result like this. Every lap, every session I just focus and keep trying to stay in the best position," said Hakim.
Commenting on his preparations for Q2 today, Hakim said he will try to improve his time to ensure the best position on the race grid for Sunday.
