Menang di Qatar Bantu Gupita Pertahan Gelaran

Juara bertahan, Gupita Kresna mengetepikan andaian untuk mempertahankan gelaran juara keseluruhan Underbone 130cc lebih awal menjelang saingan Pusingan 5 Kejuaraan Motosikal Asia FIM di Litar Losail, Doha, Qatar minggu ini tanpa perlu menunggu sehingga ke pusingan terakhir, Disember nanti.

Selepas empat pusingan, pelumba Manual Tech KYT Rextor itu kini mengumpul 151 mata dan menegaskan pertarungan sebenar baharu sahaja bermula meskipun ketika ini sedang berkelebihan 33 mata ke atas pencabar terdekat, Norizman Ismail (Harian Metro Y-TEQ SCK Honda Racing) memandangkan masih ada baki 100 mata kejuaraan yang dipertaruhkan sebelum saingan musim 2015 berakhir.

Secara matematik, Gupita mampu ditabalkan selaku juara keseluruhan seandainya muncul juara pada kedua-dua perlumbaan di Litar Antarabangsa Losail manakala Norizman pula sekadar di tempat ketiga dalam kedua-dua perlumbaan namun jika sebaliknya berlaku, penentuan juara hanya akan ditentukan pada pusingan terakhir di Thailand, Disember nanti.

Turut mengintai peluang untuk merampas gelaran juara ialah Fernando Herdian (BKMS Indonesia Racing Team) yang berada di tangga ketiga dengan 107 mata.

“Secara matematik, memang ada peluang untuk memenangi gelaran minggu ini namun hakikatnya ia bukan tugas mudah. Apa sahaja boleh berlaku sewaktu perlumbaan nanti,” jelas Gupita.

Tambahnya, “Memang saya meletakkan sasaran untuk mempertahankan gelaran juara pada musim ini namun bukan seawal pusingan di Qatar. Apa yang penting saya perlu terus menjarakkan diri dari Norizman kerana perbezaan 33 mata ketika ini tidak memberikan banyak kelebihan,” jelasnya.

Bercakap tentang persediaan menghadapi perlumbaan minggu ini, Gupita berkata, “Kami hadir ke Qatar dengan keyakinan yang cukup tinggi selepas persembahan cemerlang di Thailand. Kami mempunyai kelebihan untuk bersaing merebut gelaran juara sehingga ke penghujung musim.”

“Cuma saya berharap tidak terlibat dengan sebarang kemalangan sewaktu perlumbaan. Tahun lepas saya terlibat kemalangan ketika menuju ke garisan penamat. Pengalaman tersebut sedikit membimbangkan saya jadi saya berharap dapat mengelak dari kejadian serupa berulang,” jelasnya.

GUPITA NOT LOOKING TO SECURE UNDERBONE TITLE EARLY

Reigning champion, Gupita Kresna has played down possibilities of lifting his second successive Asian Underbone 130cc crown early as the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship heads to Qatar for the penultimate round this weekend.

Despite having collected 151 points under his belt, the Manual Tech KYT Rextor rider stressed that the ‘real battle’ had only just begun and believes the 33 points he holds over closest challenger, Norizman Ismail (Harian Metro Y-TEQ SCK Honda Racing) means nothing with 100 points still left to play in the remaining two rounds.

To win the championship, Gupita must win both races at the Losail International Circuit and hope that Norizman finishes no higher than third. If his Malaysian rival manages to win or finish at least one race in second place, the title battle will most certainly be decided at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand in December.

Also in the running to fight for the title would be Ferlando Herdian (BKMS Indonesia Racing Team) who is currently ranked third overall with 107 points.

“Mathematically, we can take the title this weekend but it is highly unlikely. But anything can happen during a race,” said Gupita.

“In fact I’m not thinking about winning the championship at Qatar. Yes, that is the objective but when doesn’t matter. The priority is to extend our championship lead beyond Norizman’s reach. Right now 33-points is too little to make a difference,” he added.

Speaking about his form ahead of the night race this weekend, Gupita commented, “We arrive at Qatar confident, strong and competitive after Thailand. We have all the cards to fight for the championship until the very last race.”

“I just hope we can have an incident-free race. Last year I suffered a huge crash during the sprint to the finish line. It was a traumatizing experience and I intend to avoid getting caught in situations like that ever again,” he said.

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