KUALA LUMPUR: Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah continued to draw praise after emerging the fastest rookie in the first free practice at the Qatar Motorcycle Grand Prix on Saturday.
But the Monster Yamaha Tech3 rider, whose credentials were doubted by many when he was being considered as a replacement for Jonas Folger, will have his work cut out if he is to realistically challenge for the Rookie of the Year title this season.
From the five rookies in MotoGP this year, the 23-year-old from Ampang is the only rider who has never won a race in Moto2 or Moto3.
On paper, EG 0,0 Marc VDS’ Franco Morbidelli and Tom Luthi are arguably the most impressive among the newcomers.
Italian Morbidelli clinched seven wins en route to securing the overall Moto2 title last year and also notched eight podium finishes in 2016.
Understandably, he has been widely tipped to be the outright favourite for the Rookie of the Year title this season and he is confident of his abilities.
"One objective this year, of course, is to be top rookie.... of course the aim is still be strongest of your classmates, so that’s an objective that comes by itself and for sure I will give everything to achieve it," said Morbidelli recently,
"Perhaps the balance between the rookies will change in MotoGP, but we have a great package, so we are ready to fight."
At 31, teammate Luthi is the most experienced among the rookies this year. The Swiss-born rider finished runner-up in the overall Moto2 standings to Morbidelli last year, scoring two wins and seven other podium finishes.
Luthi spent a total of eight seasons in Moto2 after stepping up from the lightweight 250cc class in 2010.
LCR Honda Idemitsu's Takaaki Nakagami is the only other rider from Asia in MotoGP this year besides Hafizh. The Japan born rider, who spent the last six years in Moto2, had an impressive season last year which saw him winning at Silverstone in addition to three other podium finishes. He won at Assen in 2016.
Completing the rookie lineup is Belgian Xavier Simeon who will be riding for Reale Avintia Racing this season. Like Luthi, Simeon spent the last eight seasons in Moto2.
The 27-year-old won at the Sachsenring in 2015 but has not been on the podium since then. He finished 23rd overall last season on 16 points.