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| Zaqhwan Zaidi after winning the SuperSports 600cc title of the Petronas Asia Road Racing Championship at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. |
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Zaqhwan Zaidi snatched the overall SuperSports 600cc crown from the grasp of Japanese duo Katsuaki Fujiwara and Yuki Ito to become the youngest rider to win the premier class in a thrilling Petronas Asia Road Racing Championship season finale at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.
The Musashi Boon Siew Honda Racing rider was third in the standings, trailing leader Fujiwara by 22 points heading into Sunday’s final round. But the 19-year-old Zaqhwan finished second in Race 1 and then went on to win Race 2 to emerge overall champion.
In an intense battle, Zamri Baba aced Race 1 in 31:37.305 followed by Zaqhwan (31:37.371) and Manual Tech KYT Kawasaki’s Yudhistira (31:37.529).
Oozing with confidence, Zaqhwan signed off the season by wrapping up the gruelling 15-lap Race 2 in 31:24.717 ahead of Yuki (31:25.097). The 31-year-old Zamri finished third in 31:25.119.
Fujiwara, representing BEET Kawasaki Racing, missed out on his second overall title after he finished both races outside the top 10 due to his bike’s front-end suspension problems.
Zaqhwan is only the third Malaysian to win the premier class title after Chia Tuck Cheong (2001) and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (2013). Zaqhwan ended the season with 170 points, just one ahead of Hong Leong Yamaha’s Ito. Fujiwara was third with a 155 total.
“You dream about being champion and dedicate your whole life to it, so when it comes true it is very special and amazing! I’m just really happy to make my country proud,” said an emotional Zaqhwan after the race.
“We did not expect to win because this is only my third year racing in the premier class. But when we saw Ito and Fujiwara finish outside the top five in Race 1, it became clear we actually stood a chance.
“Zamri and I then cooked up a strategy together.
“I owe my win to Zamri. Without him holding Yuki and the rest of the field back, it would have been impossible to win. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to the team, sponsors, family, friends and fans for believing and supporting me all this while,” added Zaqhwan.
In the battle for the Asian Underbone 130cc overall title, Gupita Kresna emerged champion with 176 points.
The Indonesian started on pole in Race 1 but could only finish 13th after a collision with Kazuki Masaki of Team Honda RSC on the front straight in the final lap. Both riders escaped the crash uninjured and Gupita was forced to push his Kawasaki to the finish line.
Indonesian Reza Fahlevy of Faito Factory Racing won in 18:04.320 followed by Ahmad Fazrul Sham (18:04.330) and Rusman Fadil (18:04.338).
Gupita was undeterred by the earlier crash and went on to win Race 2 in 18:04.860, 0.118 seconds ahead of Ahmad Fazrul.
-thestar online.
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