Ahmad Nashrul Wins Superstock Crown After Enduring Final Round Suspense

 
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SEPANG, 4 December 2016 – Top Malaysian rider Ahmad Nashrul Baharuddin of Team Project X Racing survived a day of suspense at the final round of the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) on Sunday, narrowly holding off the challenge from Finland’s Jouni Karhu to win the Superstock Championship at Sepang International Circuit (SIC).
 
Leading the Superstock Championship by 14 points at the start of Sunday’s race, Ahmad Nashrul’s advantage was cut to seven after Karhu won the opening race in Round 5, leading from the start to the finish of the 12-lap battle.
 
Ahmad Nashrul had a poor start, and was trailing in seventh position at the end of Lap 1 before climbing the timesheet to finish third behind his Team Project X Racing teammate Mohd Radzi Omar, who took second place.
 
Race 2 saw Mohd Radzi taking an early lead before he was passed by a blazing Karhu on Lap 2. Radzi was later passed by Ahmad Nashrul, who maintained his position until the chequered flag was dropped after 29 minutes 1.527 seconds with Karhu taking first place and another 25 points.
 
Despite the maximum 50 points won today, Karhu’s total haul of 201 championship points was three points short of Ahmad Nashrul’s collection of 204 points, thus Ahmad Nashrul earned his first MSBK crown, adding to the 135cc Production Bike, 150cc Kawasaki Cup and 1000cc Superstock overall titles that he won during the days of the Malaysia Super Series.
 
“Naturally, I am very happy to win this title. It was a very hard race today as Jouni was exceptionally fast. But I knew that I did not need to beat him. So I just maintained my pace to focus on the overall championship. I would like to dedicate this championship title to the Project X Racing Team. You have been sensational,” Ahmad Nashrul said, commenting on his achievement.
 
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It was an equally close fight in the Open 250 championship with Singaporean Khairul Anwar Jamil of Razor Motorsports edging out his compatriot Muhammad Jazil Juraimi by a single point. Finishing second in both races, Khairul Anwar amassed 211 points against Jazil’s total haul of 210 points.
 
Leading the championship at the start of the final round today by 14 points, Jazil, who won Race 2, lost the title when he was disqualified for Race 1, thus opening the door for Khairul Anwar to take control of the championship.     
 
“I have always known that Jazil would be my biggest obstacle to winning the overall crown. I was second overall last year, and was determined to win the overall title this year. We were locked on the same number of points after Round 3. He had a better round yesterday, but today was my day and I am very happy to win the overall title,” said the 31-year old mechanic, who declared his intention to defend his overall crown next year.
 
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Unlike the Superstock and Open 250 championships, the 600cc Supersport Championship saw Germany’s Ismael Smajli winning the overall crown comfortably, even having the comfort of a race to spare.
 
Finishing second in the opening Race 1 behind teenager Muhammad Helmi Azman, Smalji collected 20 championship points to open an unassailable lead in the championship, which missed a number of top riders in the category in view of the ongoing Asian Road Racing Championship in Buriram, Thailand.
 
The 48-year-old Smalji, who is the General Manager for the Commercial division at a top multinational company based in Petaling Jaya, said he owed his success to the untiring work, commitment, dedication and brilliance of his team, BikeART Racing.
 
“Without them, I am nobody. I owe everything to everyone in the team. It’s unfortunate that most of them are unable to be here as they are in Buriram, Thailand to compete in the ARRC. Hopefully, they are as successful as I have been here,” said Smalji, who confirmed that he would be competing again in the Supersports category next year.
 
“Hopefully, everybody will be here for all the rounds and we can compete together. I have always loved competition at the highest level. I am happy to compete and give the young lads a challenge,” added Smalji, who ended the 2016 championship with 204 points.
 
The Superbike Championship crowned former Australian superbike champion Cameron Donald as the 2016 champion, after he garnered a total of 188 points, including the 40 points won in Sunday’s Round 5.  
 
Donald, who finished second in both Race 1 and Race 2 on Sunday, however, was totally upstaged and outpaced by Malaysian Moto2 rider Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah, who was simply in a different class against the other riders.
 
Representing Team Project X and riding a Yamaha R1M, Hafizh completed the opening 12-lap Race 1 by more than 14 seconds ahead of Donald and the second race by 16.969 seconds ahead to take the chequered flag. 
 
“It is great to finally win the overall championship. Previously, I just competed in selected rounds, so it is good to have the opportunity to participate in the whole championship this season. It is extra special because I was hurt in Round 3, but managed to come back. It is good that we have world class competition this round. Unfortunately, Hafizh was just too fast for me. But, sincerely, it is good and I hope that we will have more world class competition next season,” Donald said. 
 
Malaysia Superbike Championship – Round 5
Top Three Finishers
 
SUPERSTOCK CHAMPIONSHIP
 
Race 1 (12 laps)
1. Jouni Karhu (Kawasaki ZX10R) – 29:01.527s
2. Mohd Radzi Omar (Honda CBR1000RR) – 29:06.713s 
3. Ahmad Nashrul Baharuddin (Kawasaki ZX10RR) – 29:21.584s 
 
Race 2 (12 laps)
1. Jouni Karhu (Kawasaki ZX10R) – 27:14.316s
2. Ahmad Nashrul Baharuddin (Kawasaki ZX10RR) – 27:28.346s
3. Mohd Radzi Omar (Honda CBR1000RR) – 27:36.683s
 
SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
 
Race 1 (12 laps)
1. Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah (Yamaha R1M) – 26:31.378s
2. Cameron Donald (Kawasaki ZX10R) – 26:45.418s  
3. Jouni Karhu (Kawasaki ZX10R) – 27:06.817s 
 
Race 2 (12 laps)
1. Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah (Yamaha R1M) – 26:23.770s
2. Cameron Donald (Kawasaki ZX10R) – 26:40.739s  
3. Colin Edward Butler (BMW S1000R) – 26:45.774s
 
SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP
 
Race 1 (12 laps)
1. Muhammad Helmi Azman (Yamaha R6) – 27:52.534s
2. Ismael Smajli (Kawasaki ZX6R) – 28:05.447s 
3. Khurana Dhiraj (Honda CBR600) – 28:18.054s
 
Race 2 (12 laps)
1. Muhammad Helmi Azman (Yamaha R6) – 27.40.320s
2. Ismael Smajli (Kawasaki ZX6R) – 27:57.566s 
3. Khurana Dhiraj (Honda CBR600) – 28:14.636s
 
OPEN 250 CHAMPIONSHIP
 
Race 1 (8 laps)
1. Ammar Dhiyauddin (Kawasaki 250) – 21:31.631s
2. Khairul Anwar Jamil (Honda CBR 250R) – 21:31.789s
3. Angelo Neo (Honda CBR 250R) – 21:51.587s
 
Race 2 (8 laps)
1. Muhammad Jazil Juraimi (Kawasaki 250) – 21:13.435s  
2. Khairul Anwar Jamil (Honda CBR 250R) – 21:18.811s
3. Ammar Dhiyauddin (Kawasaki 250) – 21:19.071s
 
ENDS
 
For more information, please contact SIC National Press Officer Nor Lina Ayob at norlina.ayob@sepangcircuit.com.