KUALA LUMPUR: Heavy continuous rainfall put a damper on proceedings at the penultimate round of the Petronas Malaysian Cub Prix Championships, but it did not stop Adib Rosley from securing the CP125 class title today.
Adib of Ipone Yamaha YY Pang Racing Team crossed the line sixth in the round nine race at the Sepang Circuit (South layout), 3.205s adrift of teammate Fareez Afeez Abd Rahman, who won in 12 minutes and 39.734s.
Petronas Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor's Syafiq Rosli (+0.244s) and Tuneboss Pink Racing's Harith Farhan Baharin (+0.382s) came in second and third in the intermediate class race.
The result was, however, enough for Adib to secure the overall CP125 rider's title with an unassailable 160 points, as well as bag YY Pang Racing the overall team crown with 287 points.
Syafiq is currently second in the standings with 129 points while Fareez is third, two points back.
Adib, who held a 32-point advantage over his nearest rival going into the round, admitted that he took a risk-averse approach to the race.
"I just wanted to play it safe for this round as it was my title to lose. I did not want to risk it by doing something foolish," said Adib.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Afif Amran of Petronas Sprinta Yamaha CKJ Racing continued his momentum as he took his third win on the trot in the CP150 class.
Afif won in 15:53.188s, pipping second-placed Akid Aziz (Onexox TKKR Racing Team) to the line by a mere 0.023s. Petronas Sprinta Yamaha Maju Motor's Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin (+0.061s) completed the podium.
Afif heads into the final round tomorrow with 146 points, eight more than second-placed Azroy Hakeem Anuar (Honda Yuzy Idemitsu Team), who finished off the podium in fourth (+6.406s) today.
Akid is third (126 points) in the premier class standings.
The Wira KBS race witnessed Irfan Haykhal Amidi (Moto 1 Koyoko Honda KC Racing Team) taking the flag in 11:16.411s. Petronas Sprinta Yamaha 31 Racing's Syamil Amsyar Mohd Iffende came in second (+1.356s) while Castrol Power1 Honda Team's Harith Haziq Zamri settled for third (+1.425s).
Round nine of the championships got off to a challenging start as a number of teams found themselves stranded due to floods on their way to the circuit in the morning.
The organisers, as well as some teams, which had already reached the track – in a great show of racing camaraderie – subsequently came to their aid and helped transport their crew and equipment to the circuit.
Due to the delays caused by the floods, the organisers decided to forego the super pole and shoot out sessions and went straight to the warm-up sessions and races.
