ANOTHER DOUBLE-VICTORY?
MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship is all set for another round of adventure in the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit this weekend. Round 2 will see Md Helmi Azman of Boon Siew Honda Racing revving up to continue his dominating spirit in the MSBK600 race category.
It is not unusual for Helmi, racing on his home-ground circuit, more so with years of experience etched to his name to bag a double victory. The rider who has been in the game aboard a 600cc machine for a long time is familiar with both the machine and the circuit ground which also means that it is all about optimising the performance and maintaining his dominance. But having said that, the entry list that is intimidating this season also means that he has to be more aware and be prepared for the possible challenges. Perhaps, what would require more of his attention is recognising the characters and riding techniques of his contenders so that he is able to work his strategies effectively.
Last season, Helmi made it first on the chart and claimed the Champion title in the race category after putting up a tough fight, taking four wins and four second-spots on the podium. The Malaysian rider may be soft-spoken but, on the battlefield, he is a raging bull, ever-ready to take down those in his way. In Round 1 that was held more than 2 months ago, Helmi showcased dexterity and braved through the challenges in both races. Would he be able to repeat the same victorious note?
Commenting on the race, Helmi said, “Round 1 was an amazing weekend for me. It was challenging and was not an easy feat especially riding with the same contender from ARRC. But the machine was great and we managed to find the right setup which gave us the ease in achieving success. To me, when it comes to riding, it is both luck and skills. The combination of both is essential in our successes. Sometimes, we have the needed skills but luck may not be on our side, the machine might give way and we can’t do anything about it. Sometimes, we have the right setup and the machine is great but we may struggle with finding out footing on the circuit ground. So, I am lucky in that sense because we raced on our home-ground that I am familiar with. Which means, I have the upper-hand in terms of skills and the only thing that would matter would be the machine and its performances.”
“I still have a lot of work to do because riding is an on-going improvement process. I have to enhance my riding skills especially for the other championships this year. Part of my preparations include physical training because strength, stamina and endurance is highly required in racing. It is part of the fundamentals in succeeding. I also hope that the machine will have extra power so that its performance is optimised. This year is not as easy as last season because the entry list includes some of the big names from ARRC therefore it is a constant battle throughout. My goal for this season is of course to fight for the championship title once again. There are not two ways about it because, this is our home-ground and it doesn’t justify if we don’t take that win.”