PETALING JAYA: Patience and perseverance have paid off in a big way for Malaysia’s young rider Hakim Danish Ramli.
Handed a hefty penalty before the Grand Prix of Czechia that forced him to start 14th on the grid, the 18-year-old showed remarkable determination as he patiently worked his way through the field to claim his first Moto3 victory yesterday.
In his rookie season, Hakim displayed tremendous fighting spirit, crossing the finish line first in 33:34.26s ahead of Spaniards Brian Uriarte and Maximo Quiles at the Brno Circuit in Ostrovacice to become the first Malaysian rider in 10 years to win a Moto3 Grand Prix.
The last Malaysian to achieve the feat was Khairul Idham Pawi at the German Grand Prix in 2016.
Hakim knows just how significant the victory is for both himself and Malaysia.
"I know how long everyone in Malaysia has waited for a moment like this. This is a very special victory for me," said Hakim.
"It had not been an easy weekend as we faced a number of challenges, but I never stopped believing in myself or in the hard work we have put in together as a team.
"It’s difficult to put my feelings into words. I’m extremely happy and proud to deliver this result for everyone who has supported me."
The roller coaster weekend had Hakim set to start in second on the grid after qualifying on the front row, but was handed a 12-position penalty for slow riding during the qualifying session on Saturday.
Hakim said he was determined to prove a point after the penalty.
"The race was demanding. I had a good start but had lots of work to do to close the gap.
"I managed to overtake riders and my focus was on staying with the front group and identifying areas to make overtakes.
"On the final lap, I gave it absolutely everything and pushed the bike to its limits.
"The riders ahead of me made a mistake and I seized the opportunity to overtake them."
The win sees Hakim move from 10th to seventh place in the world championship standings with 73 points.
Quiles leads with 186 points, 65 points ahead of compatriot Alvaro Carpe in second.
