Malaysian riders show they will be no pushovers

PETALING JAYA: The two Boon Siew Honda Racing Malaysia riders competing in the 8 Hours Suzuka Endurance Road Race showed their local rivals that they are not to be taken lightly after qualifying sessions at the Suzuka circuit yesterday. Competing in the in the 4-Hour ST600 class, Azlan Shah Kama ru zaman put up a strong ride to place himself as the second fastest among the first riders. He clocked 2:17.270 – 0.383 seconds off Ka zu hiro Kojima (2:16.887). Yoshinori Yamauchi was third fastest in 2:18.973.

Azlan’s team-mate, Mohd Emir Firdaus Hasan, recorded 2:21.096 to place himself sixth among the second riders. Yusuke Takeda emerged as the fastest rider in 2:19.115, followed by Yuta Tani (2:19.838) and Eitetsu Hashimoto (2:20.645). Boon Siew Honda Racing Malaysia will start from second on the grid alongside pole sitter Business Rariat & TSR, who have Kojima and Taiki Sato as their riders. “Today was great for both of us. I managed to clock a good lap time while Emir registered sixth, automatically placing us second on the grid,” said Azlan.

Qualifying results

ST600

First rider: 1. Kazuhiro Kojima (Business Rariat & TSR) 2:16.887, 2. Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (Boon Siew Honda Racing Malaysia) 2:17.270, 3. Yoshinori Yamauchi (ADF & Toyboy with Tane-Juku & Hie Racing) 2:18.973, 4. Shotaro Ogura (SP Tadao Racing) 2:19.587, 5. Takanori Nakai (Team Business Rariat) 2:19.849.

Second rider: 1. Yusuke Takeda (Moto Win Racing) 2:19.115, 2.Yuta Tani (Club MOTOLABEJ Special Agent) 2:19.838, 3. Eitetsu Hashimoto (Red Tricycle Racing Club & Black Sennard S.Point) 2:20.645, 4. Keiyu Sato (SP Tadao Racing) 2:21.085, 5. Tsutae Ouchida (Tokai AUTONR & Green Club Nozuka & B`Dash 106Snail Racing) 2:21.095

-thestar online.