Hong Kong's teenage riding sensation Cheung Wai-on has dusted off his boots and will try an easier race after he was outclassed in the first round of the prestigious Japan Road Racing Championship.
Asia Motor Sports (AMS) racing team member Cheung finished last out of 96 top Japanese riders in the world-class event at the new Motegi racing circuit, but that will not stop the 16-year-old from trying his luck again - this time in the opening round of the Asian Championships in Johor, Indonesia, on May 10.
'His performance in Motegi was expected because he was facing top riders from all over Japan. The Japanese 125 cc riders are the best in the world and the Japan Road Race Championship is regarded internationally as the most competitive of the Grand Prix 125 cc category in the world,' said AMS team director Michael Jean.
'The first round of the Asian Championships should suit Cheung because the standard is much lower than the Motegi,' Jean added.
The top 40 riders qualified for starting grid positions for the Motegi race, with 56 other riders, including Cheung, eliminated from the final race. A total of 113 riders entered the race and 95 took part in the pre-race qualifying sessions.
The race was won by 29-year-old Hideyuki Nakajo, ranked 10th in the world.
