Ahmad Nashrul Moves Closer To Second Malaysian Super Series Crown

Malaysian Super Series - Round 4 - Bikes

Defending champion Ahmad Nashrul Baharuddin extended his lead in the Malaysian Super Series after winning the opening race of the 135cc Production Bike Championship despite finishing second to Mohd Rizal Jantan at Sepang Circuit today.

Now with 129 points, Ahmad Nashrul took advantage on the misfortune of his closest rival and friend Ahmad Azhar Abdul Hamid, who had to retire after only three laps of the 10-lap race with mechanical problems. Ahmad Azhar,
overall champion in 2005 and 2006, remained second with 100 points.

Race 2, which would carry a maximum of 25 points, will be held tomorrow and the final round with 50 points for grab would be held as support races at the Malaysian World Motorcycle Grand Prix at Sepang Circuit in October.

"The championship battle remains open. There's still the second race tomorrow and the final round. I just need to stay focus; do my very best and hope for the best. It's still an open battle between Azhar, Rizal, R.
Karigalan and myself," said the 25-year old Ahmad Nashrul.

The win and an additional 25 points had elevated Rizal to fourth place with 87 points - 10 points behind the third-place Karigalan, who has 97 points.

Ahmad Nashrul is even closer in clinching the Kawasaki Cup overall title after winning Race 1 to take his total haul to 172 points. Ahmad Azhar finished a close second to collect 20 points; bringing his total points to 115 points and third in the overall point standings.

Mohd Fairuz, who finished fourth in the race, is second overall with 136 points and would need to beat Ahmad Nashrul in Race 2 tomorrow to take the championship battle to the final round.

The Superbike Championship would be running both races tomorrow with Ahmad Zamani Baharuddin of Kawasaki AFY Racing to start from pole position for the opening race after clocking the best time in qualifying today with a
time of 1 minute 7.633 seconds around the 2.706-km Sepang Circuit North Track.

Asian Grand Prix rider Sudarmono of Yamaha Petronas Sprinta Indonesia was fastest in the Supersports Championship with a time of 1 minute 9.111 seconds. He will share the front row with championship leader Mohd Syahnas Shahidan, who lapped 1 minute 9.159 seconds.

Apart from the remaining bike races, tomorrow' session would also feature the free practice and qualifying sessions for the car categories, which would include the Aston Martin Asia Cup.

Malaysian Super Series (Bikes)

Round 4 - Sepang Circuit North Track - 2.706km

For details, contact the Press Officer Azhar Ghazali at 019 383 7865.