MORE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THANAT

MORE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THANAT

Round 3 of the MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) will be happening at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit (SIC) this weekend. Moved up a notch in the MSBK600 after round 2 is Thanat Laoongplio of Honda Racing Thailand who will back with a renewed enthusiasm in his bid to embrace his next challenge.

It was not easy for the Thai rider to find his footing on the grounds of SIC but he certainly made quite an impression with his entry in MSBK. In round 1, the Thai-born rider bagged the podium twice for the third place which placed him third overall. In round 2, the rider may have slipped in his moves resulting in a high-sight and a “DNF” status but he definitely had the initial upper-hand to not just retain his position top three but also to move up a notch at the second spot overall.

Thanat now eagerly awaits round 3 however, would he be able to pursue a position higher than second overall? With a difference of 48 points, the chances are bleak, however considering the unpredictable nature of motorsport which relies not only on dexterity but also luck, it is definitely not impossible. The question is really more on whether or not he would be able to retain second overall throughout the remaining rounds. With his closest contender lurking from the third spot overall with a point difference of six, Thanat has definitely got to be more cautious, perhaps also improve further on his riding techniques to maintain his position.

Commenting on the championship, Thanat said, “In Race 2 of the previous round, I made a mistake climbing onto the apex at turn 12 which resulted in a nasty crash. I could have done better but that mistake taught me a valuable lesson. Right now, I know how to improve on my riding style and I am better adjusted to the machine. For the coming round, we have everything prepared in terms of the machine. Of course, there are some parts which require further adjustments and I trust that the team will do an excellent job on that part. On my part, I still think that I lack precision which is really important during racing especially when making calculated moves. Racing is all about taking risks and when we do it accurately, it’s rewarding. I believe that with these factors improved, I can be way better in terms of performance. My goal of course mainly is to maintain good pace, keep my position intact and focus on the target which is to be on the podium.”