KUALA LUMPUR: Monster Yamaha Tech3 team principal Herve Poncharal hopes to see his rookie rider Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah make a return to the top-10 at the Dutch Motorcycle Grand Prix this week.
Poncharal said it was unfortunate that Hafizh crashed out of the race at Catalunya earlier this month after a positive performance early on but admitted that such incidents are to be expected from a rookie.
Despite Hafizh's reservations about the Assen track, Poncharal is confident the former will enjoy his first race there on the Yamaha YZR-M1 as teammate Johann Zarco discovered en route to pole in qualifying at Assen last season.
"Assen is a very special and important race. Especially, because it is the first race in the Northern part of Europe (for the season)," said Poncharal.
"The track has a beautiful layout and often offers exciting races. Everybody knows how many incidents have happened in the last chicane which is Assen’s trademark. This is an exciting venue.
"Hafizh did a exceptional race in Catalunya until five laps to go, which is still in my mind. I can’t help thinking how great it would have been to finish in ninth, but this is just a part of the learning process as a rookie.
"He (Hafizh) told me he didn’t enjoy Assen (in the past) on the Moto2 bike but I said to him that it was the same for Johann on some tracks but on the Yamaha M1 he just loves it (Assen).
"Let’s see the positive side and hopefully we have Hafizh back on track like he was in Catalunya. We hope that he can stay inside top 10, which is his target."
Hafizh managed his first top-10 finish in MotoGP at the second round in Argentina but has since crashed out twice and finished 16th in Jerez and 12th at both Le Mans and Mugello.
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