Berita Litar - Proton R3 in Prime Position to Seal MSS Title in Sepang Tomorrow

MALAYSIAN SUPER SERIES BIKES – ROUND 4 – QUALIFYING

Proton R3 Racing dynamic duo – Syafiq Ali and James Veerapan looked set to seal their Malaysian Super Series (MSS) title in Sepang tomorrow as they continue to top competition in the Malaysian Touring Car Challenge with another amazing performance in qualifying at Round 4 today.

The duo, who won all the previous races in all the rounds and amassed a maximum of 125 points, clocked 2 minutes 40.362 seconds in the Proton Satria Neo machine around the 5.543-km track to top the time sheets for the class; sending a clear message of their intentions to wrap the championship battle tomorrow with a round to spare.

The final round would be held from December 2 – 4 where the MSS cars would be reverting back to sprint races in a two-race format.

Soh Kee Koon, who is currently fourth in the overall standings with 40 points, was second fastest in the class with a time of 2 minutes 40.520 seconds as he faced a mountainous task to stop Proton R3 Racing from an early celebration.

The race returned its one-hour endurance format for this round; giving the opportunity for the Proton R3 partnership to change drivers while Soh, the former MSS Supersaloon champion, having the need to go alone throughout the 60-minute battle.

On that note, the partnership of Richard Gomes and Alvaro Maurato would be in a better position to challenge the championship leaders. Driving a Proton Satria Neo as well, the partnership from Tedco Racing was third in qualifying today with a time of 2 minutes 42.012 seconds.

Currently second in the MTCC overall standings with 49 points, Kok Pak Chiang and Sutan Mustaffa Salihin could only manage a fifth fastest time in qualifying with a time 2 minutes 43.388 seconds in their Proton Gen 2 machine.

Scheduled for 3.40pm tomorrow, the MTCC race would run together with competitors from GT Open, Sports Production and Touring Production classes.

In the premier GT class, Frank Yu of Craft Eurasia Racing was fastest in qualifying with a time of 2 minutes 9.414 seconds in his Aston Martin GT3 machine. He would start in the front row tomorrow alongside Vignesa Moorthy, who was second fastest with a lap time of 2 minutes 11.694 seconds in a Radical.

In the Sports Production Class, Zen Low of FX Primus Aylezo Motorsports could also have an early celebrations based on his performance in qualifying today.

Currently leading the class with 105 points and holding a 43-point advantage over his closest rival, Bruce Lee, the Sarawak-born driver was fastest in qualifying today; clocking 2 minutes 25.593 seconds. Bruce was second fastest with a time of 2 minutes 28.695 seconds; but was more than three seconds slower than Zen.

The Touring Production class looked set for an exciting battle tomorrow between two awesome partnerships - Hidehatu Kutoki and Perajun Krishnan in their Honda DC5; and Lai Wee Sing and Tan Lye Wee in a Honda FD2 machine.

Kutoki and Perajun had the faster car in qualifying; but was only 0.144 seconds ahead of Lai and Tan, who clocked 2 minutes 32.127 seconds.

Apart from the MSS car categories, tomorrow’s schedule would also feature a host of international class support races - the Asian Classic Car Championship, Touring Car Championship Asia, the Hong Kong Touring Car Championship, VW Scirocco Series and the Westfield Sportscar Series.

This year’s MSS is supported Iktikadraya – the distributor of alpinestars; Panta Racing Fuel; MAXIM oil lubricants, NITRON shock absorber, DID racing chain, Kawasaki, Pirelli, Michelin, DNA air filter for bikes, XAM sprocket, SBS brake and On The Road, which is the official magazine for the series.

MALAYSIAN SUPER SERIES CARS – ROUND

Top Five Qualifiers
Sepang Circuit – 5.543km

GT Open Class
1.Frank Yu (Aston Martin GT3) 2:09.414
2. Vignesa Moorthy (Radical) 2:11.694
3. Samson Chan (Ginetta G50z GT3) 2:12.585
4. Noel Becker (Radical) 2:15.230
5. Rhommell Singh (Juno) 2:15.708

Sports Production Class
1.Zen Low (Lotus) 2:25.593
2. Bruce Lee (Lotus) 2:28.695
3. Steven Chian (Ferrari F360) 2:29.411
4. Muhammad Rafie/ Freddie Ang (Lotus Exige) 2:31.071
5. Tan Kok Ho (Lotus) 2:34.230

Touring Production Class
1.Hidehatu Kutoki/ K.Perajun (Honda Integra DC5) 2:31.983
2. Lai Wee Siang/ Tan Lye Wee (Honda FD2) 2:32.127
3. Damian Dielenberg (Honda Integra DC5) 2:32.470
4. A.Kesavamoorthy/Michael Raj (Honda Integra DC5) 2:34.562
5. Shamir Kumar Nandy (Honda Integra DC5) 2:39.523s

Malaysian Touring Car Challenge
1.Syafiq Ali/ James Veerapan (Proton Satria Neo) 2:40.362
2. Soh Kee Koon (Toyota Altis) 2:40.520
3. Ricardo Lopes/Alvora Mourato (Proton Satria Neo) 2:42.012
4. Ahmad Faizry/ Juzaili Jasmay (Proton Satria Neo) 2:43.122
5. Kok Pak Chiang/ Sutan Mustaffa (Proton Gen 2) 2:43.388

Berita Litar - Husni Affan Stuns Elder Brother to Take Pole Position at Ninja Cup

MALAYSIAN SUPER SERIES BIKES – ROUND 4 – QUALIFYING

Husni Aizat Abdul Malik stunned elder brother and championship leader Hilmi Affan in qualifying at Sepang Circuit to take pole position for tomorrow opening race of the SIC Ninja 250 Cup at Malaysian Super Series (MSS) championship.

Currently third with 27 points after the opening round, Husni registered 2 minutes 43.688 seconds for his best lap around the 5.543-km track; clocking 1.526 seconds faster than Hilmi, who finished third fastest on the time sheet with a time of 2 minutes 45.214 seconds.

Muhammad Ammar Hafiq Rauzan, who currently sits sixth in the championship standings for the junior category with 20 points, clocked the second fastest qualifying time; with a time of 2 minutes 45.202 seconds. Like Muhammad Ammar, the siblings are also competing in the junior class, which since the opening round in July, had upstaged riders in the open class.

Winning both races in the opening round, Hilmi Affan carries a perfect record, which he aimed to defend in taking full control of the championship and enhanced his personal dream of becoming a professional racer.

Launched two months ago, the SIC Ninja 250 Cup is another initiative by the circuit to develop more Malaysian GP riders; offering the top winners an opportunity to compete on the world stage at the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix as wildcard riders.

Modeled to the MotoGP Red Bull Rookies Cup and SIC’s GP Wildcard Programme that produced Malaysian Moto3 rider Muhammad Zulfahmi Khairuddin, the programme features a comprehensive roadmap to create more world class riders. The top riders would qualify for selection to ride at the Malaysian GP as wildcard tickets, an opportunity to compete at the final round of the MotoGP World Championship next season and a full season in the following year.

Supported by Kawasaki, AGV Helmets and Dainese, the SIC Ninja 250 Cup is designed as a feeder championship; to fill the void between riders who competed on underbone 115cc machines in the Cub Prix to the 600cc machines - whether in the MSS or the Asia Road Racing Championship.

Riding identical Kawasaki Ninja 250cc machines, the riders are tested purely on the skills; making the championship highly exciting for the rider and entertaining for the spectators with its close competition. They will be competing on identical tyres provided by Pirelli, which is the Official Tyre this season’s Malaysian Super Series.

Race 1 would be held tomorrow; along with the opening races of the other bike categories in the MSS – the Superbike Championship, Superstock Championship and the Supersport Championship. Race 2 would be held on Sunday.

The weekend would also feature Round 4 of the MSS car categories – the GT class, Sport Production Class, Touring Production Class and the Malaysian Touring Car Challenge as well as a host of support races. They included the Asian Classic Car Championship, Touring Car Championship Asia, the Hong Kong Touring Car Championship, VW Scirocco Series and the Westfield Sportscar Series.

This year’s MSS is supported Iktikadraya – the distributor of alpinestars; Panta Racing Fuel; MAXIM oil lubricants, NITRON shock absorber, DID racing chain, Kawasaki, Pirelli, Michelin, DNA air filter for bikes, XAM sprocket, SBS brake and On The Road, which is the official magazine for the series.

SIC Ninja 250 Cup 2012
Sepang Circuit – 5.543km

Top 10 Qualifiers
1.Husni Aizat Abdul Malik 2:43.688s
2. Muhammad Ammar Hafiq Rauzan 2:45.2012s
3. Hilmi Affan Abdul Malik 2:45.214s
4. Has Fauzan Hassan 2:46.337s
5. Muhammad Fazli Mansuar 2:46.343
6. Muhammad Muzakkir Mohamed 2:46.612s
7. Siti Norafizah Muhamad 2:46.757s
8. Abd Wafi Hassan 2:47.279s
9. Hazlanshah Mohd Noor 2:47.521s
10. Mohd Sharil Zulkifli 2:48.071s

SIC Ninja 250
Point Standings After Round 1

Junior Class
1.Hilmi Affan Abdul Malik 50 pts
2. Has Fauzan Hassan 36
3. Husni Aizat Abdul Malik 27
4. Siti Norafizah Muhamad 24
5. Khairul Iman Ramli 23

Open Class
1.Abd Wafi Hassan 50 pts
2. Muhammad Fazli Mansuar 40
3. Mohd Sharil Zulkifli 29
4. Mohamad Radzi Saidin 27
5. Adam Muza Muhayen 24

Berita Litar - Hafizh Syahrin returns to Sepang with a Bang and Sparks GP Wildcard Talk

Malaysian Super Series Bikes – Round 3

Teenage sensation Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah, who is making waves this season at the prestigious CEV Spanish Championship, showed his class at the local arena as the 18-year old rider swept aside the Supersports grid in his return to the Malaysian Super Series at Sepang Circuit this year.

Making his first appearance at the MSS this season at Round 3 today, Hafizh, who rides for Team Petronas Sprinta Raceline Racing Team, was a class above his rivals as the Ampang-born rider ruled the free practice session on his Yamaha R6 machine, clocking 2 minutes 14.948 seconds and 1.552 seconds faster that his closest rival, Ahmad Fuad Baharuddin.

Fuad, a former MSS Supersports champion and currently fourth in the point standings with 40 points, clocked 2 minutes 16.500 seconds for his best lap around the 5.543-km MotoGP circuit on his Kawasaki ZXR machine. Fuad’s younger brother and Bike Art Racing team-mate was third fastest with a time of 2 minutes 17.735 seconds.

Australian youngster Michael Blair, who currently leads the 600cc Supersports Championship with 70 points, was fifth fastest; finishing behind Mohd Zamri Baba with a time of 2 minutes 19.210 seconds. Zamri, the Malaysian Moto2 wildcard rider for the past two Malaysian GPs, clocked 2 minutes 18.959 seconds.

Asked for comments on Hafizh’s participation for the weekend, team manager Barry Leong said that his rider was merely taking advantage of a long break in the Spanish series.

“He’s here just for keeping fit and for conditioning. His next race in the CEV Spanish Championship is in mid-November, which would be Round 7 and the final round. It just makes sense to return to Malaysia and maintain his physical conditioning here while waiting for the race,” said Barry.

He declined to comment on the possibility of Hafizh trying out again on the Moto2 wildcard ticket at the Malaysian Grand Prix; saying that the matter was not up to him to decide; though he agreed that Hafizh was ready for the challenge and better his performance last year.

Entered as wildcard riders in the Moto2 class, Hafizh finished a creditable 22nd place at the Malaysian GP with Zamri, who was making his second appearance as Moto2 wildcard rider, finishing two places ahead in 20th position.

After a long absence, Malaysia had entered wildcards riders back at the Malaysian GP since 2009 with Elly Idzlianizar Ilias and Muhammad Zulfahmi Khairuddin in the 125cc class. In the following year, Malaysia has Zamri in Moto2. Muhammad Farid Badrul Hisham was the wildcard rider in GP125cc last year as he joined Zamri and Hafizh in flying the Jalur Gemilang.

After six rounds, Hafizh now leads the Privateer Cup, which grouped all the non GP riders with a massive haul of 118 points. Of the six race, Hafizg won three of them – one in Navarra and twice in Albecete.

“Hafizh actually also won in Aragon; but was disqualified on technical grounds. It was indeed very disappointing … it could have been four wins,” Barry said, adding that the Petronas Sprinta Raceline rider is currently sixth in the overall standings with 55 points.

“I am very happy with his performance … despite competing in Europe for the first time, he showed plenty of maturity and confidence. He is very capable of great things in the future,” said Barry of the 2010 Malaysian Cub Prix expert champion.

In the Superbike Championship, Steve Martin clocked the fastest time in free practice with 2 minutes 17.028 seconds with three-time champion Yasuhiro Kuhara second on time sheet with 2 minutes 17.181 seconds. Luca Cassoni had the third fastest time for the session with 2 minutes 18.882 seconds.

In the Superstock category, defending champion and championship leader Ahmad Zamani Baharuddin, had the fastest time in free practice with a time of 2 minutes 16.973 seconds with Nizam Fairuz and Nasaruddin Mat Yusop second and third respectively with a time of 2 minutes 20.532 seconds; and 2 minutes 21.395 seconds.


MALAYSIAN SUPER SERIES BIKES – ROUND 4
Free Practice – Sepang Circuit (5.543km)
Top Three Fastest Time

Superbike Championship (Open)
1. Steve Martin (Kawasaki ZX10) 2:17.028s
2. Yasuhiro Kuhara (Honda CBR1000) 2:17.181s
3. Luca Cassoni (Honda CBR1000) 2:18.882s

Superstock Championship (Open)
1.Ahmad Zamani Baharuddin (Kawasaki ZX10R) 2:16.973s
2. Nizam Fairuz Hassan (Honda CBR 1000) 2:20.532s
3. Nasarudin Hj Mat Yusop (BMW S1000RR) 2:21.395s

Supersports Championship (Open)
1. Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah (Yamaha R6) 2:14.948s
2. Ahmad Fuad Baharudin (Kawasaki ZX6R) 2:16.500s
3. Ahmad Nashrul Baharuddin (Kawasaki ZX6R) 2:17.735s