The selection process for the 2015 Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup began in earnest at the Sepang International Karting Circuit on Monday.
Day one saw a bright and clear dawn greet the 71 riders who made the shortlist for the first selection day as registration got underway, with the sun rising at 6am.
With riders from Japan, Indonesia, India, China, the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore this year being joined by young men and women from Australia and New Zealand the pressure was on to perform in front of the watchful eye of ATC Director Alberto Puig.
The riders split into six groups and were each given three sessions on track where they could try to find the limit of the race-prepared Honda Future 125 machines around the tight and twisty track. For some the bike was a familiar mount but for others it proved to be a totally new challenge, one that got harder as a brief shower halted proceedings.
In typical Malaysian style it was soon to pass and track action got back underway as the initial group was whittled down to 40 for the final run of the day.
As the wind began to blast the track the chosen riders had one last chance to try and impress the judges and the assembled crowd, which included MotoGP™ rider Hiroshi Aoyama and some of this years Asia Talent Cup riders.
And impress they did, with 33 of them having been asked back to take part in Tuesday’s second selection day where they will be joined by a group of Malaysian riders who are also hoping to make the grade for selection into the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup for 2015.
