Danish Does It Again in Race 2 Duel
The Malaysian defeats Mie, with Ezawa third after a closer fight for victory on Sunday.
Hakim Danish completed the double on Sunday at Mandalika, taking his second Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup win after a race-long battle on take two. The Malaysian defeated Gun Mie by a couple of tenths by the flag, with Shinya Ezawa in the fight at the front throughout before a late mistake relegated the Japanese rookie to third.
Off the line this time it was Danish immediately into the lead, with polesitter Amon Odaki slotting into second. But early on it because a three-way fight between Danish, Mie and Ezawa, with Odaki relegated to the front of the fight for fourth.
That was how it remained for much of the race, with Danish making a few small errors earlier on but staying well in contention and Ezawa the first to forfeit the chance to fight for it to the flag. Mie then made an error and it seemed a mountain to climb for the 2021 podium finisher to get back on terms with Danish, but it was close over the line. Just 0.272 was the Malaysian's advantage as he completed the double, with the number 5 pushing him all the way on the last lap.
Odaki won that fight for fourth ahead of Rei Wakamatsu, with Carter Thompson taking sixth a little further back. Race 1 podium finisher Reykat Fadillah had a Long Lap penalty for a shortcut and came home seventh, with Hamad al-Sahouti a few tenths behind the Indonesian after another solid performance for the Qatari rider. Diandra Trihardika was hot on his heels in P9, with Jakkreephat Puettisan completing the top ten after a late penalty relegated Farish Hafiy to P13.
That's a wrap on Lombok - for now! Now it's time for the grids to reset and recharge, with a break before we get back underway later in the season.