AFIF AIMS TO ENHANCE HIS PERFORMANCE
Round 3 of the AEON CREDIT MAM MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP will be held at Sepang International Circuit this weekend. Ahmad Afif Amran of SUPERFAST JRT X RAPIDO will go all out to retain his position at the top spot in the MSBK250 A race category.
In Round 1, he made it to the podium twice at the second spot but in Round 2, he was unstoppable when he dominated the circuit ground and swiped a double-win. With a total of 99 points, he is 13-points away from being defeated by the next rider in line; a trick he may not possibly fall into unless he is challenged by a faulty machine and a bad luck. Afif who has been in the racing scene for a long time has proven his calibre over the years and while he may have gone out of the lime-light in the last two seasons, he is definitely making a comeback this season with a visibly enhanced performance.
Riding aboard a 250cc machine is not a new experience for the Terengganu bred rider who is famously known for his outstanding performance aboard the 150cc machine, especially in the local national championship. Afif has gained experiences previously on tank machines and while it was not his strong suit at that time, he has made some remarkable improvements since his participation in MSBK250 A this season. However, the challenges still remain and with a number of strong contenders in the entry list, it’s all about strategizing to ensure the position remains.
According to Afif, “My team has gotten a good data last season and we have been utilising it to optimise our machine performance for this season. The outcome has been good so far as we are able to hit our target progressively. I prefer the 250cc machine compared to the 150cc because the lower cc requires quick thinking and strategizing during the race whereas the 250cc has got a lot to do with the machine and the rider’s stamina during the race. I think I am more fitted for the 250cc and so far, I have been enjoying the ride.”
“My biggest challenge this season or rather rivalry comes from Irfan Ardiansyah who is quite an experienced rider compared to me. He is also very smart when racing and he knows his way around especially in managing the machine and the circuit. All riders in the MSBK250 A are excellent. So, one slight mistake can make it tough to be in the front troop. The goal right now is to touch up on my riding techniques and my performance so that I can enhance further in this race category however my main aim is to continuously compete competitively throughout the season so that I can maintain among the front troop.”