CAN AFIF DEFLECT THE BREWING PRESSURE?

Round 4 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 is one-step ahead and may just be the next champion in the MSBK250 A race category.

At 24-point difference with his closest contender, Irfan Ardiansyah of MAEZTRO NWN SCK HONDA RACING TEAM, Afif has to plan his moves carefully, further accentuate his riding techniques and manage his machine exceptionally to avoid the possibilities of being trumped. The Malaysian rider is no stranger to the circuit ground which gives him an added advantage considering the mileage he has clocked in. The familiarity coupled with his years of experience in professional riding, Afif seemed to have it all covered.

Apart from that, Afif also has the upper-hand in terms of competency considering his performance throughout the season with three wins and two other podium-finish. Irfan is not bad himself with five podium-finish including one win. The competition between them is bound to get heated at the season finale and Afif has to definitely play his cards well to avoid Irfan’s pressure and tricks. The question is, can Afif deflect the pressure and stay focused to claim the ultimate prize?

Commenting on the race, Afif said, “It is quite hard to describe – the strategies on the race situation and the plans to overcome the mounting pressure. I prefer to be prepared in all aspects and stay cautious. There are many highly competitive riders in the race category. Irfan specifically has a very good riding technique. Perhaps the Honda machine is more stable than the Yamaha when taking the corners so I need to continuously be alert on the possible outcomes. I don’t really want to think too much of the championship points at this point of time. The aim is to keep my focus on each race and give my best.”

“I believe though that my advantage comes from my machine being faster as we have already found the right setup and the rhythm needed for Sepang. The preparations too are pretty much the same. There are no major changes in that sense. I am confident for the coming race. However, I also know that racing is not only about skills. It also takes into account the play of luck. I can only hope that the race will go on smoothly for me and my team without any major disruptions. My target for next season is to continue enhancing my skills aboard the 250cc machine and compete ARRC’s AP250 race category.”