Yesterday it was still just a rumor : Hafizh Syahrin would be on the short list to replace Jonas Folger at Tech3 in 2018.
But since then, things seem to be accelerating and are all moving in the direction of an agreement with the Malaysian pilot.
- First element, Hervé Poncharal addressed Malaysian fans via a brief but meaningful Twitter video…
“Hello, I am Hervé Poncharal, the team manager of Monster Yamaha Tech3 and Johann Zarco. Last year we made a podium here in the wet and we were really happy to feel the support of the Malaysians. We know that Malaysia loves MotoGP and believe me, one day there will be a Malaysian rider in MotoGP and maybe one day there will be a Malaysian rider in MotoGP with Tech3.
So let's work on this, keep supporting us, and maybe some good news will come soon. »
🇲🇾 @ Tech3Racing #motogp 2018 #ELPescao55 pic.twitter.com/eFtcMPDeg9
— Faizal Ibrahim (@Faizal_GxnJaws) February 1, 2018
- Second element, the team Movistar Yamaha MotoGP announced a few hours ago the
signing of a partnership with RCB, a large Malaysian company online sale of motorcycle parts previously known as Racing Boy. Until now, Yamaha and RCB had already collaborated together occasionally in 2013 and 2014 during the Asian rounds. By becoming an official sponsor of the team for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 MotoGP seasons, the Malaysian brand is taking on a whole new dimension…
In theory, Hervé Poncharal is obviously the only master on board the French Tech3 team, but, in practice, working in the same direction as Yamaha seems to be simple common sense!
- Finally, during the conversations we had with the person concerned, if many names of pilots were cited along with the reasons why they would not be selected, only that of Hafizh Syahrin did not generate any comments...
From there to imagining that on the Bormes-les-Mimosas side, we are only waiting for the green light from the main American partners of the French team, there is only one step that we are about to take...
Hafiz Syahrin, aged 23, has the support of all Malaysian fans, as shown by his very recent appointment as Top motorsport personality by the Shell SIC Motorsports Association of Malaysia.
