Salom arrives in Sepang as leader and Zulfahmi Khairuddin undertakes home race

09/10/2013

Red Bull KTM Ajo undertake intense final stage of the season with Salom leader of the Moto3 class. Zulfahmi Khairuddin, second last year at Sepang, to ride in front of home fans after wrist operation. Arthur Sissis, aims to take another Top 10 finish.

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The Moto3 World Championship reaches its home straight, with an intense three-week tour that will take the Red Bull KTM Ajo team to Malaysia, Australia and Japan, leaving the championship almost complete before the finale at Valencia. Luis Salom leads the overall standings and Zulfahmi Khairuddin has extra motivation this week at his home round. For Arthur Sissis, ninth two weeks ago in Aragon, the visit to the Sepang circuit will be a new opportunity to push for the top ten.

The humidity and tropical heat of the Malaysia paddock will greet the Red Bull KTM Ajo riders at the 5.5km circuit. Luis Salom is the leader of the Moto3 class going into the race, and is the rider with the most wins in the category –6. He was fourth at Sepang last year and wants to get back on the podium this weekend.

Teammate Zulfahmi Khairuddin was second at Sepang last year. In what was the best weekend of his career to date, the Malaysian took pole position and was able to delight the fans with a great performance on race day. This time around he will have to overcome the effects of surgery on his right wrist, undertaken last week in Barcelona.

Arthur Sissis was eleventh at the 2012 Malaysian GP, and is optimistic about this weekend. He made his Grand Prix debut at Sepang in 2011. The Australian placed in the top ten for the sixth time this season at Aragon and hopes to do the same at this latest round.

Circuit information – Sepang International Circuit
Length: 5.548 m / 3.447 miles
Width: 25m
Left corners: 5
Right corners: 10
Longest straight: 920 m / 0.572 miles
Constructed: 1998

Luis Salom,
“The Sepang Circuit is a very long and wide track that I have always liked, but where I have not had good results. I have really wanted to get back to Malaysia and be fighting in the leading group. I want to have a successful week, as at most rounds this year, so we will work hard from day one to compete for a place on the podium. It’s true that at this Grand Prix the weather is very important, because it can change at any time, but this circuit has very good grip in all conditions and the temperature is always good. We must strive to get the best result possible and give everything that we have. There are only few races remaining and every point is important.”

Arthur Sissis,
“The Malaysian Grand Prix is probably the most difficult of the season for me. The weather there is really hard to bear, especially with the high temperatures and humidity… It forces us to make a very big physical effort. Sepang is really nice, but also tricky. It has many corners and small level changes. I have been very lucky to have Fahmi [Zulfahmi Khairuddin] as a teammate, because he can help me out. He is very fast here.  It was here I rode my first race and went pretty fast in it. Throughout this year I have improved my times at every circuit, so hopefully this weekend will be the same.”

Zulfahmi Khairuddin,
“This is the Grand Prix I’ve been waiting for all season. It’s very special to race at home and share the moment with the fans. Hopefully the atmosphere at the Sepang Circuit is the same as last year, which was amazing –I’ll never forget it. After the crash at Aragon, this weekend will be more complicated than I had anticipated, but I’m working hard and trying to be able to do my best. I have to take advantage of the fact that this is my home race and a very tough GP for the other riders, and show that I have learned from the mistakes I made last year.”

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