Nazirul Izzat Md Bahauddin of UMA Racing YAMAHA Maju Motor Asia Team has emerged as a dominant force in the UB150 category of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Following Round 3, where he secured P2 and P3 in Race 1 and Race 2 respectively, Nazirul now holds the top position in the overall standings.
Nazirul’s journey through the first half of the season has been challenging, but he remains grateful for maintaining his leadership: “Alhamdulillah. It was indeed a challenging period for me, both physically and mentally. However, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead the overall standings. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of my team and me.”
Looking ahead, Nazirul is focused on defending his overall championship title, emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum: “There’s a good chance of defending our title if my team and I can continue the momentum we’ve built so far. We are constantly refining our strategies and pushing ourselves to the limit in every race.”
Despite the emerging threat from Md Akid Aziz of PitsBike OneWay JRT Tech2 Racing Team, who is closing in on the rankings, Nazirul remains unfazed. He emphasizes his commitment to consistent performance and focuses solely on collecting points in every race: “For me, it’s crucial not to be distracted by external factors. My team and I are solely focused on maintaining our momentum and maximizing our points in each race. Every point counts in the championship race.”
To ensure he maintains his lead, Nazirul outlines comprehensive plans for continuous improvement: “My team and I are constantly evaluating and improving our motorcycle setup and race strategies. We analyze data meticulously after each race to identify areas for enhancement. Personally, I am committed to improving my physical fitness and stamina, which are crucial in maintaining peak performance throughout the season.”
Preparations for the upcoming round at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit in Indonesia are already well underway. Nazirul is actively collaborating with his team to refine strategies and enhance his physical readiness: “We are leaving no stone unturned in our preparations for Mandalika. I’ve been intensively studying the circuit and discussing race strategies with my team. On the physical side, I am rigorously following my fitness routine, focusing on strength and endurance training to ensure I’m in peak condition.”
Reflecting on his past successes in Mandalika, where he clinched P1 in Race 1 and P2 in Race 2 last year, Nazirul expresses confidence in maintaining momentum: “Inshaallah, with the continued support of my team and our persistence, I believe we can replicate or even surpass our achievements from last year. I am eager to showcase our capabilities once again.”
“We understand that the Underbone category is highly competitive, with each team employing different setups and strategies. The challenge lies in adapting quickly and effectively to changing conditions on race day, ensuring that our motorcycle setup and race strategy are finely tuned to maximize performance.”