Well done Yusnee! I guess my comment to you after qualifying..."wah, even Yus is in Final A", must have spurred you on!

Recollections of my race:

Qualifying 1:
After a 2 month break from karting, and doing stuff like louging in Perhentian, fasting and Hari Raya, my mind and body were not fully prepared for the day's activities!

I can safely say I was probably still half asleep at the wheel for the first few laps, and vaguely remember a bad start, and ending at the back of the pack, fighting with Lobster and theFazz.

I really only woke up when i tried an overtaking manoeuver on Lobster at the end of the long straight, overtaking on the inside going into the corner, only to realise, albeit too late, that I had to avoid Fazz on the right! This resulted in some rear-end action on Fazz, which I guess he did not appreciate.

I was to feel his wrath in the next lap, when I managed to inch past him going left into the mickey mouse corners, but instead of letting me go into the corner, Fazz held his line and pushed me out to the side of the track - a move that still traumatises me today..
I eventually won the fight against Lobster, but Fazz held his position - giving me 6th position.

Qualifying 2:
Again another bad start, I was P3 but managed to inch my way to P7 or thereabouts after the start.

Don't really remember much about this race, apart from being hounded by Danny, Hafidz and Yip Yen up in front of me. Due to feedback from Mumu, I was also being cautious on the brakes as our left back brakepads were fully worn out!

I think I saw Ashraff take out Huffiz before the long straight, and did well to avoid that incident and retain my position. However, I thought it was Lobster and was quietly chuckling in my helmet, something that Lobster did not appreciate when I related the story to him later!
Again another P6 finish.

Final B:
My performance in Qualifying landed me a safe spot in Final B, but I was surprised to find out that I qualified ahead of partner Mumu. Hence I got to keep Kart 9, but was warned to be easy on the brakes again due to freshly installed brakepads.
Again, after a disappointing start, I found myself around P6 or P7. However, several incidents allowed me to claw my way back to P4 -
- Ashraff spun off I think
- I saw Fazz hit the barriers at the beginning of the long straight
- Huffiz spun off at the long right hander

Overall a tiring race after the long break, and I was absolutely physically drained and need to do more gym time and less makan time.

hmm...i see Massa did the same move on Lewis Hamilton in the Japanese F1 today...

Got difference.... both did not drive through penalised right??!

congratulations to Round 9 winner...Yusnee

Our kart (Naza and me) 11 improve alot and very well balanced in overall. I was able to charge and keep pace of 2 qualifying heats.

Q1. Started at back of the grid. My kart 11 getting stronger after about 2 laps when heated up properly. I had very good dogfight with Brian. Knowing Brian's kart were loosing grip somewhere in the middle of the race, his kart started to drift wide almost every corners. I had a good opportunity overtook him at turn 3. Too, bit of luck few spun offs that push me to higher position.

Q2. Started at pole left. As same as in Q1, the kart was not in condition as yet when is colder. My mentor Dasmond said "whatever it is, defend your lines" and so i did.
Had tigher lines at every corners that made me kind of hard to put the power down to my rear wheel that i must did tighter and tighter corners.

At turn 4, basically had the same strategy, we both had tight corner and late brake. I had a slight touch on his bump and i got bump from the back. Therefore Shaeran had all the legacy which was double bumps that pushed him off Sorry ya...!

Faez spun at turn 1 and I was just a kart distance length behind him. I had to avoid him and went on gravel. I had fish tailed when i get my kart back on track almost lost it. I knew someone at the back of me did that same. Later know that was mumu.

Final round.

Clog behind Da Lobster for a while. I can hear his engine misfired at straight. Finish 6th on Final A overall.

Q1

Started in Group A , 2nd on grid with Danny Alongside in the inside line. Knowing our drifter danny will drift outside during an exit of the corner on the first corner i quickly take the inside line to gain 1st position away from him. With cold brakes, cold tyres and also Cold "brains" i was being very conservative with the kart until i can really get some heat into my tyres. But unfortunately i was not able to do that faster than our drifter Danny . Danny managed to gain back his position with ease . and he was unchallanged throughout the race and i finished 2nd. What a drifter he was. !!!

Q2,
This time around, i played up the temp of my tyres knowing that i need the grip in initial stages to do as many overtaking moves as early as possible. Because this time around iam starting from behind the grid . When the green flag was waived, everyone was really defending their lines tighlty leaving no room for overtaking . I accidenlty hit Naza's Kart and caused my Pod to fly off . Sorry Naza . All i can see from behind is a line of snake , creeping thru the corners like its chasing its prey. On the second lap , I think Ashraff Spun, and i managed to gain few position over his errors as i think few of them were stuck behind him.
And i was telling myself , good now the field is clear.. time to overtake !!!! followed Naza , did some overtaking moves over Fazz and Yip Yen and managed to finish 3rd with Mark and Naza infront . Well Done MARK !!!!!!! great Race !!!!!!

Final A.
Started at Pole . with Danny alongside again , haahh this guy can never leave me alone .. but this time iam having the inside line .. green flag waived !!! its all GO GO GO !!! i told myself i must win this round as i was determined to do so even before coming for the race !!!!
By the first corner, i managed to maintain 1st position and i was telling myself the grip on my kart is good everything is good so there is no excuse. !!! after a few corners a quick check behind seeing my "threat" Danny Choo is no longer behind me !!! but , Yusnee caught me by suprise and made a nice overtaking move on me at turn 4 .
But its all not over , knowing my kart handling becomes better and better towards the end of the race, i was gaining on him again. I notice Yusness has improved alot in the way he defends his lines. so i have to plan to overtake him in another turn. which requires alot of study of how he drives and time is running out !!! true enough , i only managed to spot his weakness on the second last lap and only managed to implemet it on the last lap with last 2 corners to go . Its now or never !!!! dive in the inside line and re-took back my 1st position.. chequered flag is about 100m infront and i was sprinting towards it with delight thinking Yes !!! finally !!! but all hell brake loose when my back left tyres was left with a puncture and Yusness came flying thru alongside with him taking the chequered flag with jsut leading by his Kart Pod in front !!! haahahhaah
Gosh it was indeed a great race !!!!!!!!!
Congratulations Yusnee !!!!!!!!! how i wish the chequred flag was jsut slightly towards the front !! hahahaa

Qualifying 1
Started at the back of the grid and battled with Fazz and Azlan for most of the race. After I let Azlan take the glory from me, I thought I was alone in last place and was caught off guard when Yip Yen came challenging me in the last lap and made me step up the pace to retain my position I didn't realise I had

Qualifying 2
Had a good start and saw Naza trying to take advantage of the inside line so quickly cut across to block him. Luckily for me there was a lot of battles behind me and I managed to pull away from the pack. However it wasn't long before brother gNapa, err Naza was gnapping from behind - I just hung in there and managed to make it to the flag. A historic occassion for me. It was my first ever heat that I won in all the time I have participated in the drivers series!

Final
Group A final... second time this season!! unfortunately the kart was in lousy condition after Mumu got his grubby mits on it... (think he was upset I was in Group A and he was in Group B hahahahahaha)... engine was misfiring and had lost all power exiting corners as well as top end power. After giving up my position and ending up at the back of the pack, I just cruised at my own pace to collect those very rarely collected and much needed points!

...I was chasing someone in red with a white helmet and only knew it was Mark after crossing the finish line. Well done man!...broke the jinx eh!

Q1
Started from the 2nd row and had a fairly good start For the 1st few laps I had to stay behind Mumu and couldn’t get pass him. After trailed him very closely for a couple of laps, I decided to take the chance. While under braking approaching the tight last two corners after the long right-hander, I dived in and managed to get the inside line. Mumu closed the door and I had to brake hard which I ended up spinning...what a stupid mistake!! Anyway, it was a good fight.

Q2
Had a good start and knowing some of the drivers are very quick. So I decided to make an early move and what a good day it was, I managed to get into the lead. Smiling widely in the helmet I told myself to control my emotions. It wasn’t an easy drive, as the rear tire gets very slippery and the kart went sideways ever time I approach the corner. Had a few moments where the tail was very happy under braking. Thank god, I managed to hold the line till the checked flag. Yeay!

Group A final
Having had a good qualifying round, I was determined to have a good finish. Started from the 2nd row I told myself there’s an advantage. Nevertheless, I have Desmond and Danny the two fast drivers in front of me. Had a good start but for the 1st few laps I was stuck behind Danny and couldn’t fine a gap to pass him. Tried to push him to make mistake but Danny drive very well to hold his racing line . Then came to lap 3 (if I recalled it correctly) I saw an opportunity turning into turn 3 before the straight. We went in side-by-side, late braking into the corner. Managed to squeeze into the tight corner but then my rear tire just don't have the grip. I tried to hold it tight out of the corner but it keep slipping away and we tangled out of the corner. Unfortunately, Danny ran wide off the tarmac and had a spun. I’m really sorry bro if I have spoiled your day!! Hope there's no heart felling yea..

By then Desmond has pulling away. Put my head down and start chasing him. Managed to close the gap. Decided to make my move, under braking into turn 4, caught Desmond off guard. Dived in and hold the racing line. Knowing Desmond will fight back, I tried desperately to hold the lead. Came to the last two corners Desmond make his move. We were side by side going into the corner. I had to back off a bit to avoid getting into a spin. Desmond move in fast but then left a room open. I saw the opportunity and told myself lets fight him to the finish. Fortunately, had a good speed out of the corner and managed to pass him by just a bumper crossing the finish line. Yippee!! my 1st win for the season…it was a great weekend. Thanks guys it was a great fight.

Btw, Naza. Just to highlight to you again on my two front tires which had a blister. Bob will only change it for the next race once he gets the official report from you. Can you please assist? Thanks Chief.

Fellow K1 drivers,
I received confirmation this evening (Edywn and Danny were present) from AP that all K1 karts will be fitted with new JYM medium - soft grade tyres starting with Rd 10. Some of us have experienced these new tyres performance when they were fitted to some of our private karts for the purpose of finding out its rate of wear (laps). We found that they were at least 2 seconds faster than the present hard JYMs. 58 secs were timed on our 125 karts.

I am quite certain that complains of understeering and no grip will comletely dissappear. Yes, Fazz you can now do your favourite late breaking on these tyres!

...pssst! you can bet your last sen that I will try to change the can't make it status to can make it too!