KUMAR TAKES FIRST INDIAN VICTORY AT SENTUL SAC

2015-06-10 09:47


The second round of the SUZUKI ASIAN CHALLENGE series at Sentul International Circuit in Indonesia at the weekend once again provided close and exciting racing and a new race winner in India’s Jagan Kumar.

After giving his country its first pole position in international class racing, Kumar battled hard against five fellow Suzuki FU150 riders in the opening race as the lead changed each lap. But on the final lap of the twisting Indonesian circuit, the Indian rider took the lead and the victory; India’s first ever win in international class racing. Thailand’s Patis Chooprathet finished a close second and Malaysia’s Muhammad Zulhimi Bin Yazid took the final step of the podium.

Race two provided fierce competition, but this time, the front-row starters didn’t run away from the pack and the lead changed each lap. But on the final circuit, Chooprathet made a clean pass and finished the race on top, which was his second win of the season. Andreas Gunawan from Indonesia, who started from the last place on the grid, finished second, giving his local Indonesian fans a podium finish, while Nazirul Izzat Md Baharuddin of Malaysia, came in third.

After two rounds and four races, there has been five different podium finishers in the SUZUKI ASIAN CHALLEGE, which displays how competitive and close the riders are in this new and exciting championship series.

Jagan Kumar - #33:

"The SUZUKI FU150s are very easy to control, especially in turns, and the setting really matched the circuit. I was unable to finish in the points at Round 1, so I really wanted to win. I was only thinking about finishing on top in the last lap, and I was confident I could take the lead. I am very happy that I won."

Patis Chooprathet - #98:

"I couldn't run on Friday, due to a license problem, but I was able to confirm the best line in the short time I had. I changed my sprocket to make the machine geared towards better engine response. During the race, I made sure I didn’t crash, and was still able to get up to the front. The next race is at Suzuka and it will be my first time there. I heard that it has long straights, so I plan to lose weight and hope that I can finish well in the results"

Yukio Kagayama - General Manager:

"The riders raced cleanly in both races, both also made it a very exciting one, and I congratulate all riders for it. I can see improvement in every rider, and that is what this rider development program is all about. The next race will be at Suzuka, and I hope to show everyone what our young Asian riders can do."

Hideyuki Ogata - Rider Coach:

"I want to thank all the riders that both races in Indonesia ended without any major accidents. As a coach, I have given a lot of advice to each one, and when that advice shows improvement, I feel happy about it. There are riders that still cannot show good results, but each and every one of them are showing improvement. The fact that there were only a couple of crashes proves that. Race 2 showed a high-level of racing, and especially the battle that the top-three showed was superb. We are going to Suzuka next, and it is one of the most difficult tracks in the season. I am looking forward to witness how the young Asian riders run at Suzuka."

Source: Team Suzuki Press Office

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