ARRC RD02:PRACTICE REPORT

Underbone 130cc

Ahmad Fazli Sham celebrated his return to the PETRONAS Asia Road Racing Championship in strong form as the seasoned contender took the third fastest time in the Underbone 130cc opening practice at the Sentul Circuit in Indonesia.

The PETRONAS Hong Leong Yamaha rider who leads the championship standings came in third quickest overall in 1’55.019s while local, Gupita Kresna stormed to the top of the Underbone 130cc timesheets.

Gupita set the new 130 benchmark at the Sentul track with a time of 1’53.632s followed by Indonesia’s current top IndoPrix 130 rider Hendriansyah who clocked 1’54.655s.

Hendriansyah has entered as a wildcard but as per most Underbone races in Indonesia and Malaysia, even the wildcards stand a chance to get to the top of the podium. Championship leader Ahmad Fazli Sham checked in third fastest with 1’55.019s, 1.023 seconds adrift of Gupita.? ?Rounding up the top five was defending champion, Hadi Wijaya and Wahyu Aji Trilaksana with 1’55.432s and 1’55.995s respectively.? ?Last year’s Underbone double winner, Norizman Ismail could only afford to come in 10th fastest, struggling with an injury from a training incident last weekend.

SuperSports 600cc

PETRONAS Hong Leong Yamaha’s SuperSports 600cc contenders on the other hand endured a sluggish start to the Indonesian round of the Asian Championship.

Ahmad Fuad Baharudin came in 10th quickest overall in the morning practice with 1’31.999s before dropping down to 17th in the afternoons session with 1’33.146s. Japan’s Yuki Ito who is recovering from injuries came in 16th in both outing, clocking in 1’32.565s and 1’31.859s respectively.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Afif Amran who is under no pressure to perform since this is his first year competing in the hyper competitive SuperSports 600cc class came in 25th in both practice sessions, clocking in 1’34.408s in FP1 before improving to 1’33.146s in FP2.

Leading the combined overall timesheet was Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi with 1’30.224s followed by his teammate, Mohd Zamri Baba with 1’30.348s and Katsuaki Fujiwara third, 1’30.760s.