Pelumba Kejuaraan Dunia Superbike (WorldSBK), Hafizh Syahrin mensasarkan kedudukan tinggi menjelang permulaan musim 2022.
Hafizh, yang bakal membuat penampilan sulung di WorldSBK bersama MIE Racing Honda Team, tekad menggunakan pengalamannya di pentas Kejuaraan Dunia MotoGP dan Moto2 untuk beraksi lebih baik di WorldSBK.
Meskipun masih belum berpeluang menguji jentera Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, Hafizh percaya naik taraf terbaru dilaksanakan Honda terhadap motosikal itu akan memberi kelebihan.
“Pertama sekali, saya masih belum mencuba jentera itu, tetapi saya percaya bermula daripada pertengahan musim yang lalu saya lihat jentera itu semakin baik.
“Saya mahu menamatkan saingan dalam kelompok 10 teratas bagi setiap perlumbaan dan cuba memberi cabaran kepada pelumba lain,” jelas pelumba berusia 27 tahun itu.
Pada masa sama, Hafizh mahu menggunakan kesempatan yang ada untuk mempelajari ilmu dari juara WorldSBK 2021, Toprak Razgatlioglu dan enam kali juara dunia WorldSBK, Jonathan Rea.
“Saya mahu belajar dari Toprak kerana dia masih muda dan pantas dan pelumba legenda seperti Rea.
“Walaupun cabaran ini cukup besar tetapi saya akan berikan segalanya dan gunakan pengalaman di MotoGP,” tambah Hafizh.
Pusingan pertama WorldSBK akan berlangsung di Litar Motorland Aragon pada 8 hingga 10 April ini.
Dalam perkembangan sama, saingan kejuaraan kali ini akan menyaksikan Hafizh turun sebagai seorang bapa, setelah isterinya selamat melahirkan anak sulung baru-baru ini.
Hafizh juga bakal bertanding dengan mengenakan helmet KYT menggantikan jenama SHOEI yang dipakainya untuk beberapa tahun di MotoGP.
SIC and Hafizh Syahrin has confirmed the rider’s seat in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team.
Hafizh’s first outing on the Yamaha YZF-M1 during the Buriram Winter Test was positive.
There is one more Winter Test at Qatar from 1st to 3rd March before the start of the season.
21st February 2018, Petaling Jaya – There are many ways to stir the sense of patriotism amongst the citizens of a country, sports being one of them. Malaysia has long have great motorcycling talents but they’ve never seemed to capture much limelight, until recently.
The Hafizh Syahrin “Pescao 55” saga has been put to the rest as the affable Malaysian hero’s place in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team for 2018 MotoGP has been confirmed without a sliver of doubt, as of 4pm today.
Speaking at a tea-time session with Malaysian journalists, Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Razali and Hafizh Syahmin made the announcement to a boisterous cheer, as patriotism took hold on everyone present.
When questioned, Hafizh said, “I tried my best during the Winter Test at Buriram. Most new riders to the premier class (MotoGP) would record times at least 3 or 4 seconds slower than the leader.”
“While I couldn’t promise great results right away, as there’s still much to learn, what I can promise Malaysia and my fans is that I will always continue to fight for the best possible results,” he continued.
Indeed, Hafizh isn’t a rider who gives up as he had shown in his past races.
Shifting from one team to another is always difficult and that’s why certain riders suffer when they do so. “The atmosphere in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team is very supportive and relaxed. They’ve been very supportive in providing guidance and advice. Even Johann Zarco has provided some advice.”
As for further testing and development, “I had to get used to the bike quickly. In some sense, the many electronic rider aids in MotoGP helps much more than it did in Moto2. However, the team will send me out for many more laps in the coming test (Qatar). That way, the team could run race simulations, allowing to learn more how the bike handles when the tyre performance drops off and the electronics.”
There’ve been rumblings in social media as to how Hafizh got the Tech 3 seat, ahead of riders such as Moto2 Champion Franco Morbidelli, and forerunners such as Thomas Luthi, Xavier Simeon, Takaagi Nakagami. To put it succinctly, it was speculated that SIC had paid for Hafizh’s seat. Perhaps, we shouldn’t think that far, as Occam’s razor applies in this case: “When all things seems to make no sense, the simplest explanation is the simplest one.” Those riders had signed to their respective teams before Jonas Folger’s announcement to drop out of MotoGP, paving the way for Hafizh.
Dato’ Razlan explained, “The sponsorships deals for the team had been finalized, so there’s no room for SIC to insert our branding. But Insy’Allah, we could do it in 2019.”
“It has always been SIC’s dream to put a Malaysian in every class. However, Hafizh’s entry to MotoGP is one year earlier than we anticipated and that saved us the money. Right now, SIC will take care of Hafizh’s personal costs during the season.”
Hafizh will be based primarily in Spain for the year, “SIC has set up training facilities for myself, Adam Norrodin and Zulfahmi Khairuddin there. I’ve contested in the Spanish CEV before Moto2 so there’s no problem for me there.”
So, will Hafizh’s participation in MotoGP draw in the crowds to the Malaysian MotoGP? “It definitely will,” said Dato’ Razlan, “We are expecting to see a 200% increase in the number of spectators.”
“We hope that with Hafizh’s involvement in MotoGP that especially young Malaysian motorcyclists will be inspired to channel their talents appropriately. With the right focus and determination, look at where one could reach,” added Dato’ Razlan.
At the end of it, come what may, Malaysians can proudly wave the Jalur Gemilang at SIC. Let’s also hope to hear Negaraku on the TV soon.
Petronas organized a meet-and-greet session with Malaysian Moto2 star Hafizh Syahrin.
Fans were also given the opportunity to obtain Hafizh’s autograph.
Hafizh hopes to do his best this weekend and thanked both Petronas and fans.
Petronas Technology Park 2, 25th October 2017 – Fans of Malaysian Moto2 and Petronas Raceline Malaysia rider, Hafizh Syahrin received a welcomed surprise today when the Petronas organized a meet-and-greet session.
Being Hafizh Syahrin and Petronas’ home event, the fans waited eagerly for Pescao 55 to show up for the autograph session.
We also spoke to Hafizh privately about his involvement with Petronas.
Bikes Republic (BR): How has Petronas’ involvement benefitted you from when you were in pocket bikes to now? Hafizh Syahrin (HS): First and foremost, I would like to thank Petronas as they have given me big opportunities since 2009. They’ve supported me from then until now, and have continued to upgrade that support each year.
BR: Is Petronas the way for budding racers in Malaysia? HS: There are many young and talented riders in local Malaysian races, and they need to show Petronas their potential. In my opinion, there are two to three riders with lots of potential who will soon make their mark. And Petronas should continue into the future.
BR: Besides yourself, does Petronas’ involvement also pave the way for talent development for Malaysians in other areas such as the mechanics and technicians? HS: Yes, especially my mechanic, Habib, who has been following me from 2009 until today. Having him along with me in Europe is especially good as it’s quite awkward without having a friend to talk to in the same language, besides cook Malaysian and halal food together.
BR: What are you aspirations for this weekend’s Malaysian GP? HS: As always, I’ll do my best. I would like again to thank Petronas and my fans for their undying support.
Team PETRONAS RACELINE MALAYSIA has had a very successful relationship with Hafizh Syahrin, dating back to 2007, when the young rider made his debut at the PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship. Barry Leong, the Team Principal then, first discovered the budding star when he was racing in the Pocket Bike League.
“It has been a wonderful journey, seeing Hafizh progress throughout his career from racing in the PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix, moving up the different classes, and advancing on to the Asia Road Racing Championship. Hafizh, under Team PETRONAS RACELINE MALAYSIA, then participated in The Australian Formula Extreme Championship in 2011, before we moved on to race in the FIM CEV Championship in Spain” said Barry.
“It truly has been an honour and a privilege for us as a team, to have grown together with Hafizh. I have known and guided him since he was 12 years old, racing as a very talented boy, and now, a passionate young adult. However, for everything that has a beginning, there has to be an ending, and we have come to a natural and amicable one” he said.
“Malaysia still has a pool of untapped local talents that are waiting to be discovered. Moving forward, Team Raceline will continue to develop and groom these young talents in setting higher goals to fully maximize their potential” he added.
Hafizh Syahrin has scored a few podium finishes in Moto2, including two this year, one of them at Motegi last week. Syahrin picked up his “Pescao” nickname when he was contesting in the CEV Championships in Spain. According to the rider, because he had always done well in the rain, his crew called him, “Pescao,” meaning “fish” in Spanish. True to his nickname, his podium finishes were mostly from racing in wet conditions.
Since his full season debut in 2014, Hafizh has steadily improved on his overall standings – 19th in 2014, 16th in 2015, 9th in 2016, and is currently in 9th with three rounds to go.
