SEPANG: National rider Hakim Danish Ramli gave Malaysian fans a big reason to cheer after storming his way to the front row for the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix Moto3 race today.
The 19-year-old clocked a time of 2:10.529s at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) to start the race in third place today, with Spanish riders Maximo Quiles on pole with 2:10.396s and Brian Uriarte 0.084s behind in second.
Hakim is the first Malaysian to start on the front row in a Moto3 race on home soil since manager and mentor Zulfahmi Khairuddin took pole in 2012 before finishing the race in second.
The Terengganu-born rider, who is competing in his rookie year in the Moto3 World Championship, was glad to achieve a strong qualifying position in front of his fans, especially after the recent races have not gone particularly well for Hakim.
“It’s very meaningful for me to be on the front row here at home after I struggled in the last few races where I was at the back,” said Hakim.
“Before arriving here I was quite worried about starting my home Grand Prix, but I kept my spirits up and stayed positive for this week.
“Zulfahmi was the last to be on the front row, and now here I am. Starting on the front row is very important for me to stay with the front pack and fast riders.”
Hakim’s best finish in the last five races was ninth in Austria last month, while his other races have ended outside the top 10.
The Aeon Credit-MT Helmets-MSi Racing rider has gotten strong results this year after winning the Czech Grand Prix in June and finishing third at the Italian Grand Prix before that in May.
Meanwhile, Qabil Irfan clinched Race 1 win in the Moto4 Asia Cup after returning back to track following a double fracture in his left leg that kept him out for two rounds of the championship. Malaysia celebrated a double podium as Qayyim Razin came in third place, with Indonesia’s Bintang Pranata coming in second.
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