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2016.5.7
Double points for Team KAGAYAMA SUZUKI Asia
Team KAGAYAMA SUZUKI Asia opened its 2nd round of the 2016 season at Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand. After a solid first day with three practice sessions, the team met their challenge on day 2 with a qualifying session in the morning and Race 1 in the late afternoon.
Both #41 Noriyuki Haga and Thai local #98 Patis Chooprathet, showed their best laps of the week in the qualifying effort, with Haga marking a 1’40.901 and Patis marking a 1’41.573. Haga qualified 15th while Patis qualified 18th.
Race 1 started at 4p.m., with Haga jumping up to P10 at start. Patis made a small mistake at start, but gradually made pace, catching up and passing his rivals. Haga finished 12th and Patis finished 15th, both riders making points for the team.
Patis Chooprathet | #98
I made a mistake at start so that wasn’t a good thing for me. I also made a mistake in my rear tire choice, so I wasn’t able to race in my best. I would like to make sure I start good tomorrow, and hope to follow the riders in front of me.
Noriyuki Haga | #41
There are more things that we can do, but it went relatively well until qualifying. But at qualifying, chattering started on my machine, and the race ended without being able to solve it. I’m going to try something else at warm-up tomorrow morning, and see if I can solve my problem for Race 2.
Yukio Kagayama | Team Manager
Patis finished in the points, and that was his first point after stepping up from SUZUKI ASIAN CHALLENGE. Haga also finished in the points, so I must say that I am satisfied considering the problems we have. They both finished ahead of their grid position, and were able to provide the team with important data, so I am looking forward to the race tomorrow.
As for the team, we must try to improve our cornering capabilities and try to solve our problems tomorrow.
