MalaysianGP: Home Favourite Hakim Danish Qualifies Front Row at Sepang
Hakim Danish (AEON Credit - MT Helmets - MSI) will start his home Grand Prix from the front row. The Malaysian rider found his best lap on his second run in Qualifying 2, a 2'10.529 that put him third on the timesheet, just 0.133s behind pole-sitter Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) and only 0.049s behind Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in second.
Danish's morning in Free Practice 2 was built around a single 14-lap run in dry conditions. He found his best on lap 6, a 2'11.426 that included his quickest second and fourth sectors of the session, and then held times in the 2'11s and 2'12s for the rest of the stint. That was good for sixth in the session, 0.441s behind David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), and only 0.028s behind Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) in fifth.
Combining his FP1 best of 2'11.834 from Friday with his FP2 time left him sixth on the combined practice order, 0.441s from the top.
The afternoon was drier and hotter, with 33°C air, 46°C on the track. Danish opened his Qualifying 2 session with a 2'10.882 on his first flying lap, more than half a second quicker than his best from the morning, before pitting at the end of the lap.
His second run was the one that counted. After an out-lap that included his time in the garage, Danish's first flying lap, a 2'10.529, brought him personal bests in the second, third and fourth sectors, and put him third. He went on to complete another lap in 2'10.918, with his best first sector of the session (25.677), but it was the 2'10.529 that stood.
The top of the timesheet was packed. Quiles took pole with a 2'10.396, Uriarte was 0.084s behind, and Danish was 0.042s clear of Almansa in fourth, with Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) fifth, 0.208s from pole. There was then a gap of 0.240s to Matteo Bertelle (LEVEL UP - MTA) in sixth.
The official starting grid lists Danish P3, alongside Quiles(P1) and Uriarte(P2) on the first row, with no penalty listed against him. The only penalty on the grid is a long lap penalty for Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3). The race on Sunday is 15 laps, 83.145km.
Hakim Danish is the second-ever Malaysian rider has take the front row of pole-sitter in MalaysianGP after his manager, Zulfahmi Khairuddin has made it in the 2012 when he riding in Moto2.
Danish's AEON Credit teammate, Ryusei Yamanaka, qualified 15th on a 2'11.439, 0.910s behind Danish. After fifth in FP1 and fourth in Friday's Practice, Danish has now improved again to third when it mattered.
Credit Photo : ZK Racing
