With a hat-trick to his name, Fadhillah Arbi of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM is probably out of reach for the time being with a 30-point advantage from the contender in line. Rising quickly to fame though is Md Izam Ikmal of VICTOR RACING TEAM who may not have clocked in victory just yet but could benefit from the RPM cut in the Asia Production 250cc race category of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship in the coming rounds. But first, he may have to outsmart the challenges of Round 3 at Mobility Resort Motegi and does he have what it takes?
Izam may be new to the team and may have quietly defended his game from the lower end during the season opener however, the rider who has been racing from childhood years flaunted his other side on Sepang grounds when he finished podium twice over the weekend. Of course, the debate was weighted heavily on the home-ground prowess although it is arguable that Izam has also been recognised as a risk-taker with an aggressive riding style, necessary in keeping up with the competitive stride and making bold cuts at the right time. Could his leap up to the podium be the much-needed boost for bigger goals in the coming rounds?
It is not as easy to predict as it may seem, more so with a number of strong contenders like Irfan of MAEZTRO NWN SCK HONDA RACING TEAM, Galang of YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA MBKW2 RACING and Krittapat of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM who are all equally ambitious in their endeavours to adorn the top spot. Will Izam be able to take the heat from the rivalry and strike off the equivalent? With four more rounds and eight races, the battle is just beginning for the racing troop and for Izam who currently sits fifth, it’s no longer a watch-and-learn phase but rather a strike-and-leap period. But surely, his first two podium-finish was all that was needed to keep his enthusiasm flowing throughout the season.
Commenting on the race, Izam said, “The podium-finish at Sepang circuit was basically a small gift to my boss who has helped me achieve whatever I have achieved so far. Of course, it was also my home race which made the achievement really meaningful especially knowing that I had a better hand at it compared to the other riders from the other countries. For me, key to a greater outcome is consistency in terms of performance and continuous improvement that would enable me to compete competitively with those higher in the overall charts. It is not going to be easy considering the different considerations on different circuit grounds but I will definitely do my best to ensure that I progress throughout the season for the better.”
“Motegi race will be my second time since 2016. I raced there last for the Asia Talent Cup and the track is definitely one that requires tactical moves. It is technical and at the same time, requires a high-speed machine on the long-straight. The team has done a great job so far with the machine and I have no problems so far riding aboard it. The Japan factory has also given use some expert views on strengthening the performance of the machine on Japan soil so, I think it would work out well for us this time around. While everything else is good, the entry list for me is something that I am pretty familiar with especially with the rivalry of those coming from different international experiences. The riders are very good which is a boost that keeps me going. For the coming round, I know it will be a tough bet but I am rooting for myself for a shot on the podium.”