Zulfahmi Praises Danish's Maturity "I'm incredibly proud"
The ZK Racing manager highlights the youngster's emotional control and outlines a "race-by-race" strategy for the remainder of his rookie season.
ZK Racing manager Zulfahmi Khairuddin has expressed immense pride in Hakim Danish’s fourth-place (P4) finish at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia, praising the rookie's maturity and emotional control during a high-pressure home weekend.
Despite narrowly missing out on the podium following a fierce last-lap battle, Zulfahmi emphasized that the young rider's overall performance was a massive step forward, particularly when compared to his struggles in Australia just a week prior.
"Overall this week, Danish controlled his emotions and performance exceptionally well. From the start right to the end of the race, he was in a competitive position. That is why I was so confident yesterday that he could fight for the podium," Zulfahmi stated following the race.
The Moto3 sprint to the finish line saw Danish attempt a daring final-corner overtake, which ultimately forced him to settle for P4.
"Of course, the last lap is the last lap. We really wanted that podium, but it slipped away because we couldn't execute the final pass," Zulfahmi explained. "Regardless, I am incredibly proud of his performance. I believe everyone who came today thoroughly enjoyed the race and shares that exact same feeling."
Zulfahmi highlighted the stark contrast in Danish's form, noting the resilience required to bounce back from a tough outing at Phillip Island seven days ago to fighting at the sharp end in Sepang. Moving forward, the team manager plans to alleviate championship pressure as they tackle the final three rounds of the season, starting with Qatar.
"I believe now is the time to focus race by race. When we focus too heavily on the championship and points standings, it puts unnecessary pressure on him," Zulfahmi revealed. "When we approach it race by race, like we did here in Sepang, his focus improves drastically, and the results naturally follow."
Addressing the broader context of Danish's debut season, Zulfahmi acknowledged the inherent hurdles of adapting to the world stage.
"As a rookie, it is genuinely difficult to be consistent. There are tracks we have never visited where we are suddenly fast, and others where we unexpectedly struggle. It is a process of managing expectations. But honestly, the team is very satisfied with Danish, and I believe there is still plenty of room for him to refine his racecraft and improve," he concluded.
Credit Photo : Sorawit/SNE Sports
