Malaysian rider, Md Zaqhwan Zaidi of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo faced a significant setback during Round 2 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. During the qualifying session, Zaqhwan crashed and fractured his hands, resulting in him being unable to participate in Race 1.
The incident has been a tough blow for Zaqhwan, who expressed his disappointment and frustration over the unfortunate event. “I felt so frustrated and disappointed because Zhuhai circuit is my favourite and I know that I was able to perform in the race,” Zaqhwan remarked. His passion for racing at Zhuhai, a track he holds in high regard, only added to the anguish of being sidelined.
Zaqhwan has already undergone surgery and is currently focusing on his recovery. He remains hopeful to return to racing as soon as possible, setting his sights on Round 3 at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit in Indonesia. “I hope I don’t have to skip the upcoming round because I’ve already discussed with the doctor about my injury and they said it’s possible to recover before the Motegi round,” he shared, emphasizing his eagerness to get back on track.
Reflecting on his missed opportunity, Zaqhwan stated, “Yes, I feel sad because I know I can be competitive in the race and able to give a better result. This is racing, anything can happen.” His acceptance of the inherent risks of the sport underscores his resilient spirit.
The medical team has provided a tentative recovery timeline, but Zaqhwan is realistic about the challenges ahead. “Doctor said yes, I am able to race again but it depends on my recovery time and I need to focus on physiotherapy. They estimate about one month to recover, but I think it still might not be enough. Nonetheless, I want to be competitive and try to win the race. I hope this injury doesn’t stop me from achieving my target.”
Zaqhwan remained firm with his ambition to compete in the Motegi round. He said, “Yes, I am hoping to race in Motegi. I want to join even if my hands are not 100 percent recovered.” He refuses to let his injury dampen his spirit, stating, “I don’t want to think too much about my injury. I know I might struggle more with my current hands condition, but my mental and emotions are not affected at all because my motivation is always high.”
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