Frustrating start for Zulfahmi in Qatar GP

The 23-year-old rider who rides for Drive M7 SIC Racing Team, looked in good form as he worked his way up to 23rd place but an unfortunate racing incident saw Zulfahmi crashing out on lap six.

Escaping unhurt, Zulfahmi quickly remounted his bike to complete the remaining laps of the race and gain valuable data for his crew.

"The start of the race was good and I felt really confident with the bike. We made some changes and they worked well. I am able to get into a good rhythm and catch up with riders in front of me, but then in lap six one rider knocked me from behind and I had a crash.

"Luckily, I am able to continue the race but it's very disappointing because I know I could fight for the points," he said in a statement issued by Drive M7 SIC Racing Team.

Meanwhile, his teammate from the Chezh Republic Jakub Kornfeil was working hard to close the gap and regain the time lost due the crash in front of him.

Kornfeil, who was in sixth place in the opening lap, was set to take the field by storm until the crash left him with no choice but to veer off track.

"I made a good start but unfortunately from the beginning of the second lap I was running a bit wide into the first corner and then a rider crashed in front of me. I had to go completely off the track to avoid him, which is where I lost several seconds to the leader," said Kornfeil, who was crossing the line in a hard fought 17th place.

Drive M7 SIC Racing team manager Johan Stigefelt concluded that the team had done a reasonable job in the race but was not so happy with the results and the team had to improve in the qualifying.

"This race is over, so now we have to look to Austin and do our job well. I know we can do much better than we have shown here in Qatar. We have learnt a lot and we will use this to our advantage," he added.

17. Jakub Kornfeil (CZE) 38:34.184s 28. Zulfahmi Khairuddin (MAS) 39:29.833s