The first ever outing on the Yamaha M1 for Hafizh Syahrin proved to be quite a progress in the first day of the MotoGP Buriram Test 2018.
Despite finishing last, the Monster Yamaha Tech3 rider was only 0.4 seconds behind another rookie, Tom Luthi (Marc VDS).
Hafizh Syahrin is the first Malaysian ever to ride a modern day MotoGP bike.
The last minute replacement for the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team that is our very own Hafizh Syahrin seems quite happy with his performance in the first day of the Thailand pre-season testing. Held at the Buriram International Circuit, Hafizh has become the first South East Asian rider to ride a modern day MotoGP bike.
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Despite finishing dead last in the timesheets of the first day, the 23 year old rider was not too far off the marks compared to other rookie riders who have had more time and riding hours on their respective MotoGP machines. At the end of the first day, he was only 0.4 seconds behind Tom Luthi (Marc VDS).
According to Hafizh when asked about the Yamaha M1, “The first thing it’s an amazing bike, so much faster…every time I go it’s like a jet down the straight! There’s a lot of difference in the tyres, we have launch and traction control…for me it helps a lot on the exit, when you open the gas the bike is calm. I’m looking forward to understanding it more.”
“I feel good with the bike and with the team. They understand me because it’s my first time here. It’s not bad, I improved every session I went out and for my first day I think it was very positive. I’m not so far from the front, I’m not so far from Lüthi. But I’m trying to get closer step by step.”
Hafizh completed a total of 70 laps yesterday on the Yamaha M1 descended from the bike used by the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP outfit last year. Stay tuned to Bikes Republic for more updates on Day 2.
Source: MotoGP
