Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah has extended his contract by one year with Monster Yamaha Tech3, the French team announced on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old, who is the first Malaysian rider to compete in the sport's premier class, joined Hervé Poncharal's team at the start of the 2018 MotoGP season after seven years racing in the Moto2 category.
"I have to say thank you very much to Hervé for trusting in me and giving me this opportunity to stay with the Tech3 family and at the same time to join the KTM family," he was quoted saying to the MotoGP official website.
"I also have to express a huge thank you to my manager Dato' Razlan [Razali], who helped me to achieve this dream arriving in the MotoGP class, plus thank you to KTM for believing in Hervé and in me.
"I will work hard for 2019 and I’ll be better prepared, as this is not as surprising as this season.
"I’m incredibly happy to get this chance, I even feel close to crying with joy.
"Thanks to everybody and especially to Hervé and Dato' Razlan for always believing in me."
Poncharal was also delighted to retain Hafizh for another season.
"Since Hafizh jumped on our MotoGP bike, it’s been like a dream, every single day, because he’s been very fast and a lot faster than some people were thinking and we’ve been very proud of what he did," the Tech3 team principal said.
"He has been consistently battling for the top rookie spot and apart from that, Hafizh is a very special character."
Ahead of the upcoming Catalan GP, taking place on June 17, Hafizh is currently 16th on the overall standings and the best-performing rookie ahead of Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda), Thomas Luthi (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) and Xavier Simon (Reale Avintia Racing).
He achieved a career-best ninth-place finish at the Argentine GP in April.
Seng Foo Lee
Wed Jun 06 2018
MotoGP: Quartararo sambung bakti bersama Yamaha
Fabio Quartararo akan kekal bersama Yamaha sehingga 2026 selepas bekas juara MotoGP itu menandatangani lanjutan kontrak dua tahun, umum pengeluar jentera dari Jepun itu semalam.
MotoGP: SIC masih berurusan dengan Dorna
Liberty Media bersetuju membeli MotoGP menerusi perjanjian bernilai RM21.3 billion.
Habib kembali bergandingan dengan Hafizh Syahrin di JDT Racing Team?
Mekanik Malaysia pertama di pentas MotoGP, Habibtullah Mohd Fuad, kini sedang hangat dikaitkan untuk kembali bergandingan dengan Hafizh Syahrin di pentas Kejuaraan Motosikal Asia (ARRC) bersama pasukan baru, JDT Racing team.
Pedro Acosta malukan Marquez & Bagnaia di Portimao
Berakhirnya perlumbaan epik di GP Portugal di mana Jorge Martin raih podium pertama musim ini
MotoGP: Jorge Martin tiru lagak CR7 ketika rai kemenangan GP Portugal
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) muncul juara Grand Prix Portugal dalam perlumbaan yang menakjubkan.
Ducati ikat jelmaan Marc Marquez untuk musim 2025
Bintang Moto2, Fermin Aldeguer bakal membuat debut MotoGP pada 2025 selepas menandatangani kontrak dua tahun bersama Ducati Corse pada isnin
Marquez mula bimbang dengan hasil yang mampu dicipta bersama Ducati
Taktikal dan cara mengendalikan jentera Ducati amat jelas memiliki perbezaan yang ketara terutamanya sistem breaking yang dimiliki menjadikan ia lebih sukar untuk mengawal jentera buatan Itali itu di setiap selekoh.
MotoGP: Ducati Lenovo Team perkenal jentera baru, bakal debut di litar Sepang
Ducati Lenovo Team lalui era terbaik elepas dua tahun mengujakan buat mereka apabila penunggang mereka, Francesco Bagnaia, berjaya raih gelaran juara dunia buat dua kali berturut-turut
Litar Sepang medan kedua Marquez uji keserasian bersama Ducati
Tempoh tiga hari di Sepang menjadi indikator terbaik untuk mengukur kemampuan terkini Marquez bersama Ducati.
Saya tak suka bandingkan perbezaan motosikal secara terbuka - Marc Marquez
Agak teruja sebenarnya untuk melihat aksi tunggangan pertama juara dunia enam kali MotoGP Macr Marquez bersama Gresini Ducati bagi musim baharu MotoGP selepas berpisah dengan pasukan Honda yang berjaya menjulang namanya selama 11 tahun.
NBA: Heat get even with Celtics; Thunder roll Pelicans for 2-0 lead
The Heat sank a franchise playoff-record 23 3-pointers to tie the Celtics 1-1 and the Thunder cruised to a 2-0 lead over the Pelicans
Van Dijk: Liverpool have 'no chance' in title race after derby defeat
Van Dijk: Defeat dents title hopes
Coventry City 2-3 Hull City: Tigers win five-goal thriller to keep play-off hopes alive
Hull City boosted their play-off hopes, and all but ended those of Coventry City, with a huge win on Wednesday.
Howe: Newcastle performance in Palace defeat 'way off' Spurs win
Howe: Newcastle fell way short
Dyche challenges Everton to 'go and do it again' after crucial derby victory
Dyche asks Everton to 'go again'
Man Utd matchwinner Fernandes: Criticism part of the job
Fernandes shrugs off criticism
Atalanta 4-1 Fiorentina (4-2 aggregate): Gasperini's team into Coppa Italia final
Report: Atalanta 4-1 Fiorentina
Premier League record falls as 2023-24 becomes most goal-laden 20-team season
Harry Maguire found the net against his former club Sheffield United on Wednesday, making a piece of Premier League history in the process.
Wolves 0-1 Bournemouth: Semenyo strike decisive as Cherries leapfrog hosts
Report: Wolves 0-1 Bournemouth
PSG made to wait for Ligue 1 title after Monaco overcome Lille
Kylian Mbappe and Co. must wait for their Ligue 1 title to be confirmed after Monaco delayed PSG's top-flight celebrations.