First test done and dusted for world championship riders Zaqhwan and Zulfahmi

Zaqhwan Zaidi got his first taste of the Suter bike he will be using for the 2015 Moto2 season, which starts on March 29 at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. - AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

SEPANG: Two Malaysian entrants in the Moto2 and Moto3 world championships – Zaqhwan Zaidi and Zulfahmi Khairuddin completed the first pre-season test with their new bikes at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) last weekend.

And it was an important shakedown, especially for Zaqhwan who will be on his maiden season in Moto2, as both riders got to know their bike characteristics over the test.

Zaqhwan, who will be riding a Suter with Malaysian-owned outfit JPMoto Racing, completed almost 100 laps to learn more about the bike over the weekend.

“The first test for me is not about making fast times. It is important to learn as much as I could about the bike because it is very different from the Supersport bikes I’m used to,” said the Asia Road Racing (ARRC) Supersport 600cc champion.

“It was a very satisfactory test for me. From this test we learn a lot about the suspension and hopefully we could get things right in the next test,” said Zaqhwan.

For Zulfahmi, a return on board a KTM after a disastrous season with Honda last year was already exciting for him. Astride Honda last season, Zulfahmi could only finish in 20^th spot with just 19 points, a stark contrast to his brilliant year in 2012 when he finished seventh with 128 points on a KTM.

“I’m very happy with the progress we made in the first test and I hope we could improve more for the next test. Over the weekend we know how to improve the set-up and rectified the problems we've had. This is just the beginning and I hope we will improve more before the season starts,” said the SIC Racing rider who managed just under 100 laps during the test.

Both riders will have another test at the circuit on Feb 28 before joining the other Moto2 and Moto3 riders for another pre-season test at Jerez circuit in Spain from March 17-19. The season will open at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar on March 29.

-thestar online.