Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM may be excellent with his manoeuvring techniques on a wet circuit ground and Kasma Daniel of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING may have the wit and grit on a dry surface. What would the odds be for Round 2 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship that will be held at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, known for its deceiving weather forecast?
It was unfortunate for many riders during Race 1 when the storm took the grounds by surprise. The wet tires may have been an advantage to many, coupled with the robust moves as displayed by risk-taker Adenanta which earned him the top spot on the podium but for the others, it was a test of patience and a wasted opportunity that clipped their wings including the likes of Kasma who rather play it safe. It’s the balance of the bright and dark side that makes up for an interesting twist in motorsport and for Adenanta, it was a brilliant moment to strike. He flaunted his capacities and defeated the slacking troop to take one for the Honda team.
In Race 2, the sun was up and burnt the grounds with no mercy, adding on strain to the already tough and highly competitive stride. But for Yamaha rider, Kasma, it was a matter of breaking or making. While a handful of riders battled the agony of speed versus tire management, Kasma made a bold stance as he circled the circuit ground with full force, leaving a gap of 4.4s from the chart-topper. He definitely earned the spot especially with the training and experience gained from his time in the ASB1000. The question arises: Will Adenanta be able to ward off the pressure from Kasma, more so on the Malaysian’s home-ground?
Adenanta said, “It is no doubt that Kasma would be really good at Sepang. Not only will he be fast but the fact that he has more experience on the circuit ground reflects his added advantage. I will try to do my best to keep trailing him and maybe take the opportunity when it arises. I like the Sepang circuit because it has a slope that goes up and down. That is challenging yet interesting. Most importantly though is consistency and making sure that I stand a chance to collect as many points as possible. The championship standing is crucial so I have to play my cards well. I will definitely have to adapt quickly and find the best setting for my machine. I am pretty comfortable with the handling which I think would help me score some points there. So, let’s see how it goes. The goal is to make it to the podium in each race and eventually be the champion, fingers crossed!”
Kasma on the other hand said, “Round 1 was a challenge but the outcome was a sweet success especially after loosing out on the momentum for a long time in a different race category. The win in Race 2 is definitely the much-needed boost for me and I am fully amped at the moment for the coming round. Of course, the setbacks persist especially with the inclusion of highly competitive riders who have set their foots firm on the grounds of SS600 race category but Sepang circuit is my home-ground which I would like to consider a plus point for me that I aim at optimising. Another challenge is the unpredictable weather which doesn’t come as a surprise but what remains important is being fully prepared for the situation regardless. I want to win at my home circuit. Will it be tough? Yes, it will surely be but that’s the beauty of racing because within the struggles, there is a sense of accomplishment.”