October has been the month of motorsports mania in Malaysia. The heatwave began with the PETRONAS Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix at the beginning of the month which witnessed the home team winning their third consecutive world title. The momentum gains as the town of Jempol in Negeri Sembilan prepares to host Round 9 of the 2016 PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship and is expected to reach fever pitch at the end of October when the MotoGP rides into town.
Measuring in a 1.104km, the temporary Cub Prix street circuit in the Felda motorsports heartland is no different from the other race venues. A relative newcomer to the Cub Prix calendar, Jempol has only hosted two Cub Prix races so far. However, a pattern has already emerged that leant a unique slant to the upcoming race. Over the past two years, Jempol has been the battleground in which the CP130 and CP115 titles are decided.
Jempol’s Cub Prix debut in 2014 saw Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi and Mohd Izzat Zaidi clinch the CP130 and CP115 titles respectively.
In 2015, Ahmad Fazrul Sham and Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin also bagged the CP130 and CP115 titles at the same venue.
History looks set to repeat itself in 2016, especially in the CP130 class. Team PETRONAS Yamaha Maju Motor’s young maverick, Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin, needs only a top-13 finish to claim his second major national title in as many years. Kasma has accumulated a 22-point margin ahead of his team mate and closest competitor, Ahmad Fazli Sham. Barring an unexpected catastrophe, the odds are good that Kasma will become the third CP130 champion to be crowned at Jempol.
The young rider himself had professed to feeling no jitters for the upcoming race.
“It will be business as usual for the team as we approach the Jempol leg of the championship. I’m not feeling any particular nerves or pressure because I am confident that our team has got the best bike on the grid. I have good memories of this track especially because I won the CP115 title here last year, but it has no bearings on my preparation for the coming race. I will certainly do my best to win the CP130 title in style and maybe even contribute towards the continuance of the ‘legend’ of Jempol,” quipped Kasma.
Round 9 will rev off on Saturday (October 22) with free and timed practices starting from 9.30am in the morning. The two day event will culminate with the race finals on Sunday (October 23) starting from 12.00 noon onwards. Entry for spectators are free
