Polamai retains lead, maiden podium finish for India's Rajini

CHENNAI, Sep 6 (UNI): Championship leader Chalermpol Polamai of Thailand retained the top spot despite losing one race and winning the second in the Super Bikes Standard PC Competition in the 2009 Asia Road Racing Championship, even as India's Krishnan Rajini earned his maiden podium finish, here today.

In his duel with fellow countryman Decha Kraishat at the Irungattukottai Track, Polamai rode a splendid second race clocking 28:26:695 secs.

Decha could not complete the race as in the penultimate lap he took a tumble.

Malaysian Mohammad Zamari Baba took the opportunity and finished second with a time of 28:48:584.

In the first race of this category, however, Decha put Polamai in second place with a time of 28:18.478.

Polamai, who was the leader after the first three rounds with 120 points, increased his tally to 145.

However, it was a big day for Indian rider Krishna Rajani who came third in the second race after finishing fifth in the first race.

It was Rajani's first podium finish in an Asian event.

Decha who had 118 points could add 25 only more.

In the 115 CC Malaysia's Mohammad Affendi Rosli remained at the top of leader board with 95 points winning the first race and finishing second in the next race.

In the second race Malaysian Mohammad Iskandar Rauduan emerged the winner in a one sided race.

Another Indian K Jagan finished third in the MRF UAM Asia Cup event to be on the Podium.

In the first race he finished ninth.

Meanwile, it was a dream come true for Krishnan Rajini of India as he secured his maiden podium finish in the second race of the Supersport 600 cc.

Riding under the colours of Red Roosters Racing Team, Rajini’s determined efforts enabled him to win valuable points to push himself higher in the ranking for the Championship with two more rounds to be completed in Zuhai, China later next month.

Rajini, who was placed 18th before the Chennai leg with 11 points, has now moved up by nine slots with a tally of 38 points.

In the first race, Rajini finished fifth with a time of 28:49.777 secs.

In the second race too Rajini displayed good assessments in this technically difficult track where the corners are flat and not flowing ones and covered the 16 lap race in 29:00.374 secs.

On the other hand, the other Indian riders (in both 600cc and 115cc categories) could not sustain themselves against higher oppositions as Preetam Moses (who is Rajini’s mate), Emmanuel Jebraj of Ten 10 Racing Team and Alisha Abdullah, the lone women to compete in championship history, failed to finish both the races.