Kaito Toba set the fastest time in qualifying for the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup at the Sepang International Circuit on Friday. Toba’s fellow title rivals Ayumu Sasaki and Yuta Date were second and fourth respectively.
The inaugural Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup reaches its conclusion this weekend, with the final two races coinciding with the celebration of the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
The three Japanese riders at the top of the standings look set to battle it out to become the champion. The overall standings leader Date has 121 points, two ahead of Toba and ten in front of Sasaki.
Friday saw the 22 participants in the Cup undertaking free practice, before qualifying in the afternoon culminated with Toba taking pole, with a time of 2’18.242. He is joined on the front row by Sasaki (+0.361s) and Thai rider Nakarin Atiratphuvapat (+0.600).
Heading the second row is the leader of the general classification, Date, who is joined on row two by best Malaysian qualifier Shafiq Rasol.
The first of the final two Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup races scheduled for this weekend will take place on Saturday at 4.30pm (GMT+8), while the second race is on Sunday at 12 midday (GMT+8).
