KUALA LUMPUR: Moto3 rookie Hakim Danish Ramli admitted he was forced to work hard after making a slow start en route to a seventh-place finish at the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday.
Despite starting from seventh on the grid at the Lusail International Circuit, Danish found himself 13th at the end of the opening lap before working his way back up.
The Aeon Credit-MT Helmets-MSI rider, however, found strong pace at the business end of the race and was in a position to fight for a top-four finish.
But he was forced to take evasive action on the final lap and went wide before settling for a seventh place (+7.315s) finish.
Danish, 19, said he never stopped pushing.
“I started the race quite slowly and I lost quite a few positions,” said Danish.
“I tried to come back and pushed hard. There was a gap to the group ahead and I just tried to chase them down.
“I maintained my focus and was able to close the gap with the second group.
“In the final lap I tried to compete with Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) but just went off the racing line.
“Regardless, I will still keep working hard and continue preparing for my next race.”
Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP’s David Almansa claimed victory in 33:09.479s with Leopard Racing’s Adrian Fernandez (+2.516s) and CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar’s Maximo Quiles (+2.585s) completing the podium.
Honda Team Asia’s Veda Pratama (+5.653s) and Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Alvaro Carpe (+5.700s) rounded out the top-five.
Carpe’s teammate Brian Uriarte, who crashed in the opening lap, rejoined the race and finished 14th. It was enough to secure him the Rookie of the Year title.
Danish picked up another nine points in Qatar which moved him one place up to eighth in the overall Moto3 standings with 125 points to his name.
Quiles, who has already secured the title, is first with 392 points with Almansa (253 points) and Carpe (216 points) rounding out the top-three.
Moto3 will next race at the Grand Prix of Portugal on Nov 20-22.
Meanwhile in the Moto4 Asia Cup, Qabil Irfan Azlan concluded a double-podium weekend at Lusail by finishing second in race two behind Japan’s Kotaro Togashi on Sunday. Indonesia’s Muh Badly completed the podium.
Qabil had won race one on Saturday.