Farid takes a top five for the Asia Talent Team in Albacete

2017-05-01 11:39
Andi Farid began the Asia Talent Team’s 2017 with an impressive top five finish, opening his account for the season with a valuable haul of 11 points. Last year’s front row starter was battling in a group of six for a place in the top ten midway through the race before an incident further ahead on track, with the Indonesian youngster then coming home for an amazing top five in the first race of the season – coming out top in a three-way battle and drag to the line.

It was a more difficult first outing for the other members of the Asia Talent Team, with Somkiat Chantra, Ai Ogura, Kazuki Masaki and Yuki Kunii all failing to see the flag, but with some encouraging pace to build on for round two.

Somkiat Chantra got a good start from his first ever pole, keeping cool under pressure but just losing the lead to Jeremy Alcoba in Turn 1 as fellow Asia Talent Team rider Ai Ogura also then challenged, but ran a little wide. By Lap 2, Ogura was back into third and Chantra chasing in fifth.

Ogura then joined the initial breakaway group of four led by Jeremy Alcoba, before an issue for Aleix Viu just ahead of the Japanese rider saw him unable to avoid contact and slide out of contention, ending his podium charge early.

With Viu also out of the podium battle, that left Chantra in an incredible third on his rookie ride, later joined in the fight by Kazuki Masaki as the Japanese rider fought through from the latter half of the top ten. Both showed great pace in the season opener before disaster struck during the duel and a collision saw both slide off into the gravel, bringing out the yellow flags.

Yuki Kunii had a tough first experience of the Moto3™ Junior World Championship, retiring after a handful of laps and the Asia Talent Cup race winner unable to see the flag.

The next race for the FIM CEV Repsol Moto3™ Junior World Championship gets underway at historic Le Mans as they race alongside MotoGP™ at the French Grand Prix – with the race set for May 20th and the Asia Talent Team looking to get more points on the board.

Alberto Puig, Talent Team Director: “I would say it wasn’t a good day. Ogura was really unlucky because I think he was ok in that group and he a chance to fight for the podium, but the rider in front had some sort of technical problem and he couldn’t avoid the crash. That was our top rider for today so it wasn’t a good day, or not our day. Chantra and Masaki were doing good but there was a clear misunderstanding at the end of the straight…we have to analyse it but I think both riders didn’t understand the situation and it was difficult…unfortunately they crashed. So also Kunii, he crashed…so only Andi could finish so it wasn’t a good race for us but we know that we were quite fast this weekend even though the conditions were difficult in the rain, but we have to think about the next race and believe it will be better. But it seems that this year our riders will be let’s say a little bit faster than last year. Let’s wait and see!”
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Dorna Sports, who already runs the successful Asia Talent Cup to support young talented riders, has taken its commitment to the next level by creating the Asia Talent Team in order to ensure the career progression of the most talented riders participating in the Asian competition during the 2015 season. The Asia Talent Team is run by Dorna as a part of its Talent Promotion Department activities.

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