Syahrin leads Sepang 8 Hour practice on drying track

Mixed conditions test riders at Sepang

Following the private test dominated by F.C.C. TSR Honda France earlier in the week, Yamaha Sepang Racing got the upper hand in free practice on Wednesday afternoon on their home territory in Sepang.

On a track drying out after a storm, Hafizh Syahrin, the MotoGP rider and a star in Malaysia, clocked the fastest lap of the session, a 2:18.637, in the saddle of the Yamaha 21 with the Sepang International Circuit livery that he is riding with teammates Franco Morbidelli and Michael van der Mark.

Yamaha Sepang Racing were faster than Webike SRC Kawasaki France, who are beginning to find their feet on the 5.543-km circuit. The Kawasaki team – the 2018-2019 FIM EWC title holders – were ahead of F.C.C. TSR Honda France, who looked very comfortable on the track on this initial day of tests at the 8 Hours of Sepang. Jérémy Guarnoni, Erwan Nigon, and David Checa make up Webike SRC Kawasaki France. F.C.C. TSR Honda riders are Mike di Meglio, Freddy Foray and Australian Josh Hook.

FCC TSR Honda Sepang — F.C.C. TSR Honda riders are Mike di Meglio, Freddy Foray and Australian Josh Hook.

The top Superstock team, Tone RT Syncedge 4413 BMW, were in 4th place in free practice. The Japanese team (the Superstock class winner at the 2019 Suzuka 8 Hours) proved faster than Team 33 Coyote Louit Moto and Moto Ain in the category.

YART Yamaha claimed 5th place ahead of Tecmas BMW GMC and BMW Sepang Racing. YART consists of German rider Marvin Fritz, Italian Niccolò Canepa and Australian Broc Parkes.Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman and Adam Norrodin will be at the start of the 8 Hours of Sepang. Two Malaysian stars team up with Julien da Costa at BMW Sepang Racing Team.

Thursday – will be crucial in terms of preparing for the 8 Hours of Sepang, with the two qualifying sessions followed by the Top 10 Trial at the end of the day to reassign the top 10 spots on the grid. The fastest rider of each of the 10 best teams in qualifying will throw his hat back into the ring in the course of a flying lap.