Danial hopes to keep the momentum going this year.- NSTP file pic
Danial hopes to keep the momentum going this year.- NSTP file pic

KUALA LUMPUR: Danial Syahmi Sharil, who almost lost his leg in a horrific crash in 2018, has moved one step closer to achieving his dream of riding in MotoGP one day.

Sepang International Circuit (SIC) confirmed that the 19-year-old will be moving up to the Moto3 World Junior Championship this year with Honda Junior Talent Team.

The season is scheduled to run from May 8 to Oct 30 and will be held at circuits across Spain.

Danial had spent two years on the sidelines recovering from his injuries. He had stem cell treatment to save his lower right leg.

He achieved a commendable second place finish overall in the Asian Talent Cup (ATC) last year. It was his first full season of racing since his come back.

Danial hopes to keep the momentum going this year.

"I am really happy to be joining the Moto3 World Junior Championship because I want to keep progressing in my career," said Danial today.

"My goal is to finish in the points in every race, and hopefully, end my first season in the top 10 overall."

He will be joining Syarifuddin Azman, who has also been confirmed for the Moto3 World Junior Championship with Monlau Motorsports.

Meanwhile, SIC also confirmed that Hakim Danish Ramli will be competing as a full season rider in both the European Talent Cup (ETC), which runs alongside the Moto3 World Junior Championship as well as the ATC this year.

Hakim, 14, did well to finish fifth overall in his first full season in the ATC last year.

FIM MiniGP World Series finalists Farres Putra Fadhill, Emil Idzhar Ezuan and Farish Hafiy Farid Sezli will also compete alongside Hakim in the ATC this year.

The ATC season starts on March 4-6 at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.

All six riders are under SIC's development programme, which is managed by former World Championship rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin.