Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin was clearly racing in a league of his own as the
curtains came down on the 2017 season of the PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub
Prix Championship at the Dataran Bandar Penawar in Johor on November 19,
2017.
The young Johorian, who had won three consecutive titles in three different
race classes, was hoping to end the season with a flourish in front of his
home crowd.
Unfortunately, things did not go according to script for the maverick rider
with the nickname ‘Dragon Boy’. Despite starting from pole position,
Kasma’s charge to the front of the leading group was checked by Izzat
Zaidi. Situations got worse when Izzat crashed in front of Kasma, taking
the 2017 CP150 Champion along with him.
Kasma managed to get back on the bike and rejoined the race in 12th
position. The chase was on as the PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor rider
tried to beat the odds to make it to the podium. By Lap 6, Kasma was
already jostling for the top-five position, only to spin out a second time.
However, the determined young rider was not one to give up easily.
Undaunted, he resumed the race with a succession of quick laps. By the
closing laps, Kasma was challenging Mohd Helmi Azman of Onexox TKKR Racing
for third place.
While Kasma and Helmi’s battle royale stole the attention, Mohd Ramdan
Rosli put in an inch-perfect race at the front to win with a time of
19’42.832s. Team Motul Zeneos Yamaha YY Pang’s Mohd Azhar Abdul Jalil
finished second with 19’43.972s. Finally, Mohd Helmi Azman pipped Kasma to
the finish line to deny the CP150 Champion of a much-desired home podium.
Kasma was crowned CP150 champion with a total of 138 points. Ahmad Afif
Amran was second overall with 107 points and Mohd Ramdan Rosli was third
overall with 95 points.
“I am experiencing a whole spectrum of emotions right now. Even though I am
happy to have won the title, I was really disappointed that I could not win
in front of my family and home fans,” said Kasma.
“But in all, I am satisfied with what I have achieved this year. It’s not
easy to win three different categories in three successive years. My hard
work had paid off and I am looking forward to more challenges in the
future.”
The prize presentation ceremony in the CP150 category was presented by
Guest of Honour, Tunku Temenggong Johor, Tunku Idris Iskandar Sultan
Ibrahim.
Elsewhere in the CP115 class, 2017 champion Mohd Akid Aziz picked up his
sixth win of the season with a time of 15’29.993s Team PETRONAS Sprinta
Yamaha-CKJ’s Ahmad Syukran Aizat finished the race in second place with
15’30.301s and Mohd Haziq Mohd Fairues was third with 15’31.807s.
Akid brought his points-haul to a total of 180 as he lifted the second
CP115 title of his career. His team mate Haziq Fairues was second overall
with 123 points while Ahmad Syukran ended the season third overall with 114
points.
*RESULTS*CP150
1 Md Ramdan Rosli (SGR) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor 19:42.832s
2 Md Azhar Abd Jalil (SGR) Motul Zeneos Yamaha YY Pang Racing 19:43.972s
3 Md Helmi Azman (SGR) Onexox TKKR Racing Team 19:48.798s
4 Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin (JHR) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor
19:48.809s
5 Md Fitri Ashraff Razali (SGR) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – CKJ 20:02.221s
Overall Standings
1 Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin (JHR) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor 138pts
2 Ahmad Afif Amran (TRG) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – CKJ 107pts
3 Md Ramdan Rosli (SGR) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor 95pts
4 Ahmad Fazli Sham (PRK) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor 84pts
5 Md Azhar Abd Jalil (SGR) Motul Zeneos Yamaha YY Pang Racing 77pts
CP115
1 Md Akid Aziz (KUL) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor 15:29.993s
2 Ahmad Syukran Aizat (TRG) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – CKJ 15:30.301s
3 Md Haziq Md Fairues (SGR) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor 15:31.807s
4 Md Syafiq Rosli (PRK) M-Seki Liberty Honda Racing 15:38.655s
5 Azroy Hakeem Anuar (KUL) GiVi Honda Yuzy Racing Team 15:42.116s
Overall Standings
1 Md Akid Aziz (KUL) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor 180pts
2 Md Haziq Md Fairues (SGR) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor 123pts
3 Ahmad Syukran Aizat (TRG) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – CKJ 114pts
4 Tengku Amirul Haffirudin (TRG) Motul Zeneos Yamaha YY Pang Racing 78pts
5 Nazirul Izzat Md Bahauddin (MLK) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – CKJ 70pts
*2nd*
*AIMAN LIFTS WIRA CROWN AFTER DRAMATIC FINAL*
The hunt for the 2017 Wira title in the PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix
Championship came to an explosive end with Mohd Aiman Tahiruddin finally
confirmed as champion on the heels of an emotional weekend at the Dataran
Bandar Penawar in Johor.
The PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – AFB Tech rider missed the final race. A
severe malfunction during the qualifying effectively negated Aiman’s spot
in the final race. The AFB Tech rider had to sit out an agonizing 12-lap
race while praying that his closest rival, Mohd Syafieq Aiman of Elf Koyoko
KC Racing would fail to win the last race of the season.
Syafieq Aiman got off to a strong start but was held in check by Idemitsu
Kozi Yam Honda Racing duo Saiful Azhary Muhammad and Mohd Syarifuddin
Azman. Ironically, Syafieq Azman’s bike also malfunctioned on the last lap
of the Wira race which effectively ended his chances of stealing the title
from Aiman Tahiruddin.
The race was won by Saiful Azhary with 12’00.163s, followed by Mohd
Syarifuddin Azman in second place with 12’00.304s and Mohd Danial Syahmi in
third with 12’00.357s.
Aiman Tahiruddin was confirmed as champion with a total of 132 points.
Johor winner Saiful Azhary was promoted to second overall with 128 points
while a disappointed Syafieq Aiman dropped to third overall with 110 points.
“This was the hardest race for me. I would rather be out there fighting
than sitting in the paddock and hoping for things to go my way.
Nevertheless, I am really grateful for how everything had worked out well.
My thanks to my team, our sponsors, my family and everyone who had
supported my journey as a rider so far,” said Aiman.
RESULTS
WIRA
Final
1 Saiful Azhary Muhamad (JHR) Idemitsu Kozi Yam Honda Racing 12:00.163s
2 Md Syarifuddin Azman (SGR) Idemitsu Kozi Yam Honda Racing 12:00.304s
3 Md Danial Syahmi (PRK) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – AFB Tech 12:00.357s
4 Md Fadlyshah Redzuan (SGR) Idemitsu Kozi Yam Honda Racing 12:06.759s
5 Md Khairi Asyraf Mahmood (JHR) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – AFB Tech
12:10.009s
Overall Standings
1 Md Aiman Tahiruddin (KUL) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – AFB Tech 132pts
2 Saiful Azhary Muhamad (JHR) Idemitsu Kozi Yam Honda Racing 128pts
3 Md Syafieq Aiman (JHR) Elf Koyoko KC Racing Team 110pts
4 Md Syarifuddin Azman (SGR) Idemitsu Kozi Yam Honda Racing 107pts
5 Md Danial Syahmi (TRG) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – AFB Tech 85pts
