FAHMI back with a bang as he posts 6th fastest time

• Fahmi recorded a time of 1 minute 48.4 seconds
• Friday crash did not affect confidence

MUHAMMAD Zulfahmi Khairuddin bounced back from an unfortunate crash on Friday to set sixth fastest time on the final day of the second pre-season tests in Jerez yesterday.


The AirAsia-SIC-Ajo rider was in blazing form as he posted his fifth top 10 position in 6 sessions, only missing out yesterday after being involved in a crash which saw him escape unhurt.

Fahmi recorded a time of 1 minute 48.4 seconds, following his impressive performance on day which saw him clock a time of  1’49.5.

The first three sessions in Valencia also saw him placed in the top 10, setting a best lap time of 1’42.4, 1’43.0 and ending with a 1’42.0 during the 3 day tests.

The 20 year old from Banting was obviously delighted with his performance and more importantly, showed that he was back to his best after the crash yesterday.

“I was a bit worried after the crash, but thankfully it didn’t affect me one bit today as I set out to record my fastest lap time.

“My lap times have given me confidence in facing the new season with my target being to finish regular in the top 10,” added Fahmi.

Sepang International Circuit Chief Executive, Datuk Razlan Razali was obviously delighted with Fahmi’s return to form but preached caution with a long way to go before the season starts on 8th April in Qatar.

“We should not be too over confident of the test results, the real test for Fahmi in when the season starts in April.

“No doubt that Fahmi has performed admirably during the tests, but it’s still a long way to go and I hope that Fahmi will keep focusing and pushing himself towards the goals we have set for him this season,” added Razlan.

The riders continued their adaptation to the new bikes for 2012 under the best weather conditions on the final day at the Circuito de Jerez with temperatures hovering around 20ºC air temperatures and track temperatures reaching 34°C.

Danny Kent returned to dominate the Moto3 field with a time of 1’47.1, four tenths ahead of Avintia Racing rider Maverick Viñales.

Alberto Moncayo (Bankia Aspar Team) was unaffected by yesterday’s crash that ended his day early and the rider from the nearby city of Cadiz returned to the circuit today to report the third quickest pace with a best time of 1’47.9. Team mate Hector Faubel finished fifth with a time of 1’48.4, four tenths behind Sandro Cortese who lapped fourth quickest.

Numerous crashes today included those of Japanese rider Kenta Fujii, Luis Salom, Niccolo Antonelli, Jakub Kornfeil, all without serious consequences, while the afternoon brought two red flags from crashes that resulted in a broken wrist for Giulian Pedone (Ambrogio Next Racing), and a fractured fibula for Alessandro Tonucci.

The 18 round MotoGP calendar starts on 8th April at Losail, Qatar with the Malaysian MotoGP scheduled on 23rd October at Sepang Circuit two races before the finale at Valencia, Spain at November.

Unofficial Moto3 lap times for Satruday (recorded by teams):
1. Danny Kent (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1'47.1
2. Maverick Viñales (Avintia Racing) 1'47.5
3. A. Moncayo (Bankia Aspar Team) 1'47.9
4. Sandro Cortese (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1'48.0
5. Héctor Faubel (Bankia Aspar Team) 1'48.4
6. Z.Khairuddin (AirAsia SIC Ajo) 1'48.4
7. Luís Salom (RW Racing GP) 1'48.5
8. Efrén Vázquez (Team Laglisse) 1'48.7
9. M. Oliveira (Monlau Competición) 1'48.9
10. Arthur Sissis (Red Bull KYM Ajo) 1'50.1
11. Louis Rossi (Racing Team Germ) 1'49.2
12. Niccoló Antonelli (San Carlo Gresi ni) 1'49.3
13. Niklas Ajo (TT Motion Events Racing) 1'49.4
14. A.Márquez (Monlau Competición) 1'49.6
15. Danny Webb (Mahindra Racing) 1.49.7