Early crash for Hakim at Austrian Grand Prix

KUALA LUMPUR: Moto3 rider Hakim Danish Ramli began the Austrian Grand Prix from the 15th position on the grid following a crash that disrupted his qualifying session at the Red Bull Ring on Saturday. Racing his KTM Ajo, Hakim managed a time of 1 minute 40.984 seconds in Q2, securing a spot on the fifth row for Sunday’s race. KTM Ajo's Brian Uriarte came out on top in qualifying with a time of 1:39.544, while teammate David Almansa from Intact GP started from second place, clocking 1:39.608.

KTM Ajo's Alvaro Carpe rounded out the front row in 1:39.859. Hakim entered qualifying with optimism after strong practice sessions, claiming fourth place in the second free practice session on Saturday with a time of 1:48.584. He also had a strong performance in Friday’s practice, securing sixth place with a quicker time of 1:40.289 and earning direct entry into Q2.

However, his progress was halted almost immediately in Q2 when he crashed on his warm-up lap shortly after leaving the pits. This setback seemed to unsettle the Malaysian rider, who struggled to regain the pace he had demonstrated earlier in the weekend. Despite finishing 15th, Hakim's qualifying time was 0.695 seconds slower than his fastest effort in Friday's practice, highlighting the impact of the early mishap.

Despite the setback, Hakim remains close to the leading group in the fiercely competitive Moto3 field. A strong start will be essential if he is to climb through the ranks and compete for points in Sunday's race.