Malaysian Super Series Crown Champions For 2008 At Round 4

Malaysian Super Series - Round 4 - Bikes

Though there was still one more round to go, the Malaysian Super Series (MSS) crowned two of their champions for 2008 at Sepang Circuit today with Australian Brent Odgers adding a third Superbike crown to the ones that he won last year and in the second edition in 2003.

Also securing the overall title at the penultimate round of the series were Mohd Syahnas Shahidan for the 600cc Supersports Championship while defending champion for the 135cc Production Bike Championship has virtually retained the crown after winning Race 2 today.

Collecting 45 points from the round and opening a 47-point advantage over closest rival Ahmad Azhar Abdul Hamid, the 25 year-old rider from Petaling Jaya virtually needed another three more points if Ahmad Azhar takes the maximum 50 points in the final round.

Round 5 of the 135cc Production Bike Championship and the other bike competitions would be run as support races for the 2008 Malaysian World Motorcycle Grand Prix, which would be held at Sepang Circuit from October 17 to 19.

Bogged by mechanical problems this weekend, Ahmad Azhar - overall winner in 2005 and 2006, managed only ninth place in Race 2 today to collect seven points. He failed to collect a single point yesterday after he forced to retire on Lap 3 when the engine of his Yamaha RXZ failed.

Scoring a sensational double victory over the weekend, Ahmad Nashrul also put himself in contention for the 150cc Kawasaki Cup as well; where he currently leads the seven-round championship with a total haul of 197 points. Mohd Fairuz Murad is second with 149 and Ahmad Azhar is third overall with 135 points.

"Unlike the Production Bike, the Kawasaki Cup has seven rounds with two of its round running at the Asian Grand Prix. Round 6 is next weekend at Pasir Gudang and that round would be crucial in championship challenge as the final round will run together with the Production Bike at the MotoGP in Sepang. I would need to seal the title in Johor if I want to do the double this season," said Ahmad Nashrul.

Winning his third MSS crown, the Melbourne-based Odgers said the victory was as important as the success in 2002 and 2007 for him and the team; and that he would have been happier if he had won the round as well.

"We always race to win. That's the target set by the team. It was unlucky for me that I have problem with the quickshifter; so I have to settle for second in Race 2," said Odgers, who had to be contended with second placing for Round 4 behind Ahmad Zamani Baharuddin of Kawasaki AFY Racing Team.

Though the crown had been sealed, Odgers, who rides for the Msportsbike Pineapple Motorsports, said that the team would be going all out in the final round; adding that he would be finally using the 2008 Honda CBR1000 machine at Round 5.

"We aim to continue our dominance and we will definitely aim for a fourth overall title next year. That's always the way we approach the championship," Odgers added.

Commenting on his victory, Mohd Syahnas Shahidan hoped that the success would open doors for him to compete at the MSS and the FIM Asian Grand Prix next year.

"I am fortunate to have friends and Chequered Motorsports to support me this year. Hopefully, I could get more sponsors and race at the Asian Grand Prix and defend the title," said Syahnas, who was overall champion in the under-21 Wira category at the Malaysian Cub Prix in 2002 and novice cub prix champion in 2003.

Malaysian Super Series (Bikes)

Round 4 - Sepang Circuit North Track - 2.706km

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