Round 3 of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will be happening this weekend and this time around, the thunderous roar of the SuperSports 600cc will be heard on the grounds of Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan. Azroy Hakeem Anuar of IDEMITSU Boon Siew Honda Racing Team is ready to rev up from the dry spell.
It was a tough time for the Malaysian rider when he was defeated by multiple setbacks last season and to add salt to the wound, he began the season with a double “DNF” that one could only assume would be a motivational-strain on him and his team. However, Azroy is well aware of the norms within motorsports which thrives not only on dexterity and speed but also luck. Having said that, his luck might have just taken a turn for the better when he went on to display excellent showmanship before bagging the top spot on the podium in Round 2 that was held at Zhuhai circuit.
The rider is no stranger in the SS600 race category and has been quite exemplary in his endeavours to not only overcome the pressure of the troop but also in pulling it off with remarkable performances over the years. Last season, Azroy took two wins and one podium-finish at the third spot despite the heated rivalry between the contenders and having picked up a bag full of experience, this year may just be the much-needed one for him to flex his muscles further for a better outcome.
Commenting on the race, Azroy said, “For a long time, I have had anxiety on my performances due to the experience I’ve had last season. It has been quite a pressure for me especially with the multiple “DNF” status throughout the year. More so, with the unfortunate incidences in the season opener. But I am starting to overcome that stress and I feel much better now especially with the win that I gained in Race 1 at Zhuhai. Of course, it is not as easy as it seems but that was the much-needed boost to be honest. I am more optimistic now.”
“The upcoming race would be somewhat challenging especially with the fact that it is a new circuit ground for most of us. On my part, I need to learn the track as fast I as I can. Once I have familiarised, it would be much easier to work on the game-plan. In the meantime, I get onto the MotoGP game to know the ins and outs of the layout. So far, everything looks alright but we will never know until we are physically there, on the circuit ground and on the machine. Knowing the circuit is one thing but of course, riding on a machine at a high-speed is another thing. The goal is to ensure that I obtain as many points as possible. It is still early to determine who would be in the running as most of the riders are well-equipped with the experience and knowledge. There is still a lot of work to be done in each race. I have set my eyes on the prize. Anything that is top three is my kind of success.”