KUALA LUMPUR: Up-and-coming Malaysian rider Hakim Danish Ramli is aiming for a better outing in the Asian Talent Cup (ATC).
Last season, the 14-year-old from the SIC Racing Team finished fourth overall. He had also raced in the European Talent Cup (ETC).
Hakim is one of 20 full-time riders for the ATC this year.
Hakim is working with SIC performance coach Josiah Ng, a former national cyclist, to prepare for the ATC.
"It is going well. We had good sessions with the bike, which I will use this season," said Hakim at the KLIA before boarding the flight to Losail, Qatar, for the test round.
"I have good coaches in my team, including Olympian Josiah. We also have a nutritionist this time, so I think we are prepared.
"I do not want to talk about my target yet. I will take one step at a time... I want to see how I perform in the first round in Qatar."
The three-day pre-season test at the Losail International Circuit starts tomorrow.
The ATC comprises six rounds, with the Qatar GP on March 4-6 being the season opener.
The season ends with the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit in Indonesia on Nov 11-13. The other stops are in Japan, Thailand and Malaysia.
Hakim will be joined by teammates Farres Putra Fadhill, Emil Idzhar Ezuan and Farish Hafiy Farid Sezli in the ATC this year.