Pelumba negara, Zaqhwan Zaidi kembali menyertai saingan Suzuka 8 Hours selepas dua tahun ia tidak dianjurkan disebabkan wabak COVID-19 yang melanda dunia.
Zaqhwan yang baru selesai menjalani ujian dua hari di Litar Suzuka, Jepun berkata, dia berpuas hati dengan keputusannya, lagi-lagi ini merupakan kali pertama pasukan Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA menguji jentera.
“Selesai dua hari ujian Suzuka 8 Hours,” kata Zaqhwan. “Gembira dapat kembali ke sini selepas dua tahun tidak berlumba di Suzuka. Terima kasih Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA kerana usaha gigih dilakukan.
“Ia bukan mudah buat kami kerana ini adalah motosikal baharu yang belum pernah kami uji sebelum ini tetapi saya percaya kami boleh menjadi lebih kuat pada minggu perlumbaan 8 jam nanti.”
Perlumbaan Suzuka 8 Hours 2022 kembali berada dalam kaledar FIM EWC dari 5 hingga 7 Ogos ini.
Pertandingan ini pernah menyaksikan nama besar sukan permotoran dua roda memenanginya seperti Wayne Rainey pada 1988, Eddie Lawson (1990), Mick Doohan (1991) dan Valentino Rossi (2001).
Dalam sesi ujian, Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA yang disertai Zaqhwan dan Gerry Salim menamatkan sesi ketiga dengan berada di kedudukan ke-14 sebelum ke-18 terpantas pada sebelah malam.
Kejuaraan Motosikal Asia (ARRC) telah pun tertangguh selama dua musim setakat ini ekoran pandemik Covid-19.
Kejuaraan motosikal itu hampir pasti kembali bagi musim 2022 namun kemuncul varian Omicron sedikit sebanyak menggugat perlumbaan itu sekali lagi.
Pelumba negara, Zaqhwan Zaidi, yang beraksi dalam kateogri ASB1000 turut meluahkan kebimbangan terhadap varian baharu itu.
“Kalau diikutkan, perancangan jadual perlumbaan itu sudah ada termasuk juga di peringkat Asia (ARRC). Jadi saya harap tak ada halangan bagi tahun depan.
“Bimbang juga sebab ada varian baharu, tak tahulah kalau kita akan diberikan kelonggaran (sekatan perjalanan), harap tak ada masalah apa-apa nanti.
“Namun untuk masa ini, saya tetap melakukan persiapan untuk diri sendiri, fizikal dan sebagainya,” jelasnya.
Pada masa sama, Zaqhwan juga tidak sabar untuk beraksi dengan jentera Honda CBR1000RR-R serba baharu.
“Mengenai jentera, kami sudah memperoleh keserasian dengannya ketika MSBK (Kejuaraan Superbike Malaysia) tahun ini. Walaupun motosikal itu tidak sepenuhnya lengkap (spek perlumbaan) namun kita sudah tahu di mana kemampuan motosikal berkenaan.
“Sekarang ini, kita bersiap sedia untuk sesi ujian rasmi pada Mac ini. Masa itu akan menggunakan spesifikasi penuh untuk perlumbaan Asia. Kita mempunyai keyakinan dan boleh mencuba mana-mana bahagian yang boleh difikirkan untuk dipertingkatkan lagi,” tambahnya.
Zaqwhan tekad memperbaiki keputusan pada 2019 apabila muncul tempat ketiga keseluruhan bagi pasukan Honda Asia Dream Racing With Showa sementara juara jadi milik Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman dari pasukan ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team. – BH
It was a weekend full of racing action at the Sepang International Circuit as the first round of the Malaysia Superbike Championship 2020 (MSBK) took place. Three races were conducted and for the premier class of MSBK1000, it was Zaqhwan Zaidi from Boon Siew Honda Racing Team that took a clean sweep. CLEAN SWEEP. (more…)
Pelumba negara, Zaqhwan Zaidi menamatkan kedua-dua perlumbaan kelas JSB1000, Kejuaraan Motosikal Seluruh Jepun (AJRRC) di kedudukan kesembilan di Litar Motegi, Jepun, semalam.
Pelumba pasukan Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA itu menamatkan saingan dalam perlumbaan 2 dengan catatan keseluruhan 42 minit 41.130 saat selepas merekodkan kedudukan sama di perlumbaan 1, kelmarin.
Perlumbaan 2 menyaksikan wakil Jepun, Katsuyuki Nakasuka juara dengan catatan 41′ 36.963s diikuti Takahashi Takumi, 41’37.076s.
Tempat ketiga menjadi milik Nozane Kosuke dari pasukan Yamaha Factory Racing dengan catatan 41’48.539s.
Zaqhwan, yang menggunakan jentera Honda CBR1000 RR SP2 meluahkan rasa puas hati dengan persembahan keseluruhannya.
“Saya gembira dengan keputusan minggu ini. Berbanding tahun lalu, terdapat peningkatan daripada aspek motosikal dan perlumbaan.
“Sasaran saya tahun ini adalah menamatkan perlumbaan dalam kelompok 10 terbaik,” katanya.
Zaqhwan bakal kembali ke tanah air bagi saingan Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia di Batu Kawan, Pulau Pinang, pada 13 dan 14 April ini.
Zaqhwan Zaidi kembali merancakkan saingan Kejuaran Cub Prix Malaysia PETRONAS musim 2019 selepas namanya tersenarai dalam pasukan CP150 Idemitsu Honda Yuzy Racing.
Bekas juara kelas perdana CP130 2014 itu kembali ke litar Cub Prix tahun ini selepas membuat keputusan untuk memberikan tumpuan penuh terhadap Kejuaraan Motosikal Asia FIM (ARRC) dan Kejuaraan Seluruh Jepun musim lalu.
Pelumba berusia 24 tahun itu turut akan digandingkan bersama pelumba muda berbakat, Azroy Hakeem Anuar dan juara WIRA 2015, Harith Farhan Baharin.
“Saya sudah bersedia dan tidak sabar untuk kembali ke litar Cub Prix. Banyak yang saya rindui di sini.
“Sepatutnya hujung tahun lalu lagi saya sudah kembali tetapi saya mengalami kecederaan (tangan) di Jepun dan Thailand. Jadi saya berharap dapat memberikan aksi terbaik di Jasin nanti,”katanya.
Bagaimanapun, Zaqhwan enggan berselindung bahawa dirinya masih memerlukan masa untuk menyesuaikan diri dengan jentera Honda RS150R.
“Saya perlukan sedikit masa dengan jentera dan juga keadaan litar yang cukup teknikal. Kita tunggu dan lihat keputusan perlumbaan nanti,”tambahnya.
Untuk rekod, Zaqhwan dan Azory merupakan dua pelumba yang berjaya menghadiahkan podium buat kem Honda sejak saingan CP150 diperkenalkan pada musim 2017 dengan Zaqhwan menduduki tempat ketiga ketika saingan pembukaan tirai di Temerloh sementara Azroy juga menduduki kedudukan sama dalam pusingan kesembilan di Jempol, Negeri Sembilan musim lalu.
Zaqhwan Zahidi and his teammates steered their Honda Asia-Dream Racing Team to a well-deserved 7th place.
They finished ahead of many works factory teams.
The results meant they finished on position higher than they did in 2017.
Malaysian rider, Zaqhwan Zaidi and this Honda Asia-Dream Racing Team teammates Tory Herfoss from Australia and Andi Farid Izdihar of Indonesia achieved an incredible 7th position at the prestigious Suzuka 8-Hours endurance race over the weekend.
Troy Herfoss, Zaqwan’s teammate – Courtesy of fimewc.com
Suzuka circuit typically plays host to the final round to the FIM Endurance World Championsip (EWC). Since the circuit is Honda-owned, the Honda Asia-Dream Racing Team’s result was even sweeter.
But it was not easy as it seemed. The 5.821-km Suzuka Circuit is challenging in itself, featuring corners upon corners that lead into one another in combination with slow and fast sections, forcing the riders to be on top of their game without places to rest. Now throw in 63 other bikes into the mix.
If having to contend with that many man and machine on the track and pits wasn’t enough, the weather played tricks on the field this year by being unpredictable at best. There were top-class riders who crashed when they caught out by a rainstorm.
In fact, the circuit was lashed by a typhoon which brought 170 km/h winds with it the night before, but repair crews worked through the night to fix the damaged facilities. (Respect to the Japanese for their hardwork.)
Start of the Suzuka 8-Hours – Courtesy of fimewc.com
“It’s a lot harder this year due to unpredictable weather,” said Zaqhwan afterwards. Honda Asia-Dream Racing team manager, Zulhelmi Ahmad said he noted that the weather had impacted the team’s temperament, but it didn’t sway them from their determination of achieving a Top-10 position at the finish.
“It’s not an easy feat to get P7!” exclaimed the joyful 23-year-old Zaqhwan Zaidi. The team had started from 12th on the grid.
Into the R130 – Courtesy of fimewc.com
However, the aforementioned Zulhelmi Ahmad, who is also Boon Siew Honda’s Motor Sports manager, admitted that he has mixed feelings about the results, “I can’t say that I am delighted with the result today as we failed to reach our full potential.” The team could’ve finished on position higher if not for a botched pit stop. “But we cannot ignore the fact that the team did better this year in terms of overall timing and we finished one position above (last year’s P8),” he continued.
The Honda Asia-Dream Racing team finished the tough race with a total time of 8h00m:05.666s compared to the winner’s time of 8h00m:01.728s, with just 4 laps down. They will definitely do better next year.
The signature ferris wheel at Suzuka – courtesy of fimwec.com
Before we end, and before anyone starta slagging off the 7th place result and the Suzuka 8-Hour Endurance race, let us provide some background.
The Suzuka 8-Hours endurance race actually began in 1978 for prototype TT-F1 (Tourist Trophy Formula One) motorcycles, but as superbikes became more and more popular through the years, the FIM scrapped the TT-F1 class altogether to the benefit of a production-based race.
Also called the Suzuka 8-Hours, the race is an immense event all by itself, usually attracting between 85,000 to 100,000 race fans.
As such, motorcycle manufacturers pay lots of attention to the race and they will field top riders from MotoGP, World Superbike, All-Japan Superbike, and among other prestigious championships around the world to pair up as teams of 3 riders each. Check through the Suzuka 8-Hours history and you’ll come across great names such as Wes Cooley, Mike Baldwin, David Aldana, Fred Merkel, Wayne Gardner, Wayne Rainey, Scott Russel, Aaron Slight, Doug Polen, Noriyuki Haga, Colin Edwards, Mick Doohan, Carlos Checa, Casey Stoner, Jonathan Rea, and even Valentino Rossi (in 2001 when he partnered Colin Edwards to win the race).
Rossi at 2011 Suzuka 8-Hours – Courtesy of LAT Images
So what Zaqhwan Zaidi said is right, to come home in 7th ain’t easy, given the level of competition. The Honda Asia-Dream Racing team had actually finished behind F.C.C. TSR Honda France, who are the 2018 EWC Champion and one of the regulars in the GP scene; while finishing ahead of the Moriwaki and Yoshimura Suzuki works teams.
FCC TSR Honda France – Courtesy of www.honda.co.jp
The problem with many racing series around the world, apart from MotoGP, is due to lack of telecast in mass media, resulting in most people being misinformed. But keep in mind that it doesn’t mean the race isn’t prestigious if it isn’t televised.
Anyhow, let’s celebrate our national rider, Zaqhwan Zaidi and Honda Asia-Dream Racing team’s great result. We hope there will be more from the likable rider and team.
Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman telah mencatatkan masa terpantas semalam sewaktu ujian pra musim FIM ARRC 2018 di Buriram.
Azlan, bersama pasukan Manual Tech KYT Kawasaki Racing telah memacu jentera ZX-6Rnya mendahului penunggang dari Thailand, Decha Kraisart, dan seorang lagi penunggang negara, Zaqhwan Zaidi.
Hari ke-2 ujian akan berlangsung pada hari ini di bagi mempersiapkan para penunggang untuk pusingan pembukaan hujung minggu ini.
Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman clocked in the fastest time yesterday during the 2018 FIM ARRC pre-season testing in Buriram.
Azlan together with the Manual Tech KYT Kawasaki Racing took his ZX-6R ahead of Thai’s Decha Kraisart and Malaysia’s Zaqhwan Zaidi.
Day 2 of testing will commence today to get the riders ready for the season opener this weekend.
The FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) kicked things off yesterday as Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman stormed pass everyone in Thailand for the official 2018 ARRC pre-season testing. The two-day test session started strong for our local heroes especially for the 2017 ARRC champion and his race-bred Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R. (more…)
Pasukan Honda Asia-Dream Racing Team telah dilancarkan secara rasmi pada awal hari ini bersama dengan penunggang handalannya, Zaqhwan Zaidi.
Pasukan yang baru dibentuk itu akan memulakan persaingannya dengan menyertai All-Japan Road Race Championship 2018 dan perlumbaan ketahanan Suzuka 8-hour.
Mereka kemudiannya akan mengalihkan tumpuan mereka ke arah kelas Superbike baru dalam siri perlumbaan Asia Road Racing Championship bermula pada tahun 2019.
The Honda Asia-Dream Racing Team was officially launched earlier today with their star rider, Zaqhwan Zaidi.
The newly-formed team will start competing in the 2018 All-Japan Road Race Championship and Suzuka 8-hour endurance race.
Their focus will then shift towards the new Superbike class in the Asia Road Racing Championship beginning 2019.
To further strengthen their ever-growing presence and dominance in the world of motorcycle racing, Honda Group of Companies in Asia & Oceania has officially introduced the Honda Asia-Dream Racing team earlier today. The launch was held in Bangkok, Thailand with one of our national riders, Zaqhwan Zaidi. (more…)
The second ever Honda Asian Journey 2017 concluded its convoy at the Shell Malaysia MotoGP round last weekend at the Sepang International Circuit.
The caravan started on 26 October 2017 in Melaka where a few lucky folks got the opportunity to pilot the powerful Honda RC213V-S.
Honda Asian Journey 2017 closed last Sunday at the MotoGP round were hundreds of participants cheered for their favourite Honda riders.
Image source: MotoGP
The three MotoGP flyaway races have just ended a couple of days ago with the conclusion of the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix. The races on Sunday were all packed with mind-boggling speed, overtakes and unpredictable weather. Out of all the 95,000 plus attendees who went to the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), one of the best groups who got to experience MotoGP Malaysia at its best was none other than the Honda Asian Journey 2017 caravan. (more…)
