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2015.10.3
Top 10 finishes in Race 1 for both Haga and Topan at Qatar
Qualifying and Race 1 took place on Day 2 at Losail International Circuit in Round 5 of the Asia Road Racing Championship. Both #25 Rafid Topan Sucipto and #41 Noriyuki Haga were behind the leader by 2-3 seconds in the practice sessions that took place the day before.
Qualifying session started at 3 p.m., with hurting heat of 45 degrees celcius and track temperature of 64 degrees. Topan improved his time significantly from day 1, lapping at 2’06.358 to qualify 10th. Haga, concentrating on his race set-up, recorded a 2’06.909 to qualify 14th on the grid.
Although the Race 1 started at 8 p.m., after the sun set, temperature was still 35 degrees. Haga, once again, showed a great start, jumping up to 6th at the first corner from the 14th grid. Both riders stayed in the second group throughout the race, eventually finishing 8th for Haga and 10th for Topan at the chequered flag.
Race 2 will start, Saturday, October 3rd at 10:30 p.m.
Rafid Topan Sucipto | #25
“Everything went smoothly during qualifing. I may have done better, but I think 10th was the best I could do, although I did want to start more at the front. I regret that I had a trouble at start that made me drop to 14th, but I was able to finish in the top 10. I hope to do better in Race 2 tomorrow.”Noriyuki Haga | #41
“The team and I was trying to solve the chattering problem during qualifying, but I spent the qualfying session doing that, and ended without making a flying lap. I was still able to finish 8th in Race 1, but there are still many problems that were unsolved. I am betting on a complete change in my setup for Race 2 tomorrow, and I am hoping it works.”Yukio Kagayama | General Manager
“The fact that we are new team in the paddock hit us hard this week. Haga passed close to 10 riders at start, lapped in the 2’05s, so he proved that we have the potential. Topan missed the start, but made steady laps close to his qualifying time, and we were able to finish in the Top 10. I hope I can provide both riders with a better machine for the race tomorrow.”
