KUALA LUMPUR: Former World Championship rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin empathises with Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah who is struggling in Moto2.
Hafizh, who races for NTS RW Racing GP, has yet to secure a seat in Moto2 for next season, and time is running out for him.
Hafizh was roped in by RW Racing this season to help develop the NTS chassis. The team are relative newcomers to the Moto2 world championship.
The Ampang-born rider has only been able to pick up eight points so far this season.
"I understand what Hafizh is going through because I have faced the same thing in the past," said Zulfahmi.
"As a rider, you face ups and downs in your career, and this is certainly a tough situation for Hafizh to be in.
"Hafizh has tried his best this season, but I know that it is not easy for anyone to perform to their full potential on the NTS bike.
"It will be tough for him to secure a seat for next season based on the results he has achieved on the NTS bike.
"For him to continue with another team in Moto2 next year, he will have to bring in sponsorship to that team, but at the moment it does not look like that is going to happen.
"I feel sad for him because I believe Hafizh has great talent. I don't think any other rider in Malaysia is as talented as him."
On a separate note, Zulfahmi who oversees Sepang International Circuit's (SIC) rider development programme, disclosed that Syarifuddin Azman is close to securing a Moto3 World Championship seat for next season.
Syarifuddin has been impressive in the Moto3 World Junior Championship this year.
"I am not able to name the team yet because there are still a few formalities we need to complete first," said Zulfahmi.
"It's a new team to the World Championships but they do have a strong track record in CEV (Moto3 World Junior Championship)," said Zulfahmi who held a press conference today to promote the opening rounds of the FIM MiniGP Malaysia Series (160cc) and SIC Ohvale Junior Championship (110cc) which will be held at the Sepang International Karting Circuit this weekend.
The overall top three riders from the FIM MiniGP Malaysia Series, which features 15 riders aged between 11 and 13, will qualify for the FIM MiniGP World Finals in Valencia next month.
