Syahrin: 'Big improvement', first fall

Hafizh Syahrin cut 1.167s from this lap time during day two on the Monster Yamaha Tech3 MotoGP bike, hauling the Malaysian off the bottom of the timesheets and within 2.1s of fastest man Marc Marquez.

But for much of the day Syahrin had been just 1.7s from the top and ahead of two fellow rookies; Thomas Luthi and Xavier Simeon.

However an out-lap fall, Syahrin's first accident in the premier-class, halted his upward progress and Luthi - who has one more MotoGP test under his belt - moved back ahead (by 0.004s) at the end of the day.

"I'm okay, just a small mistake. It's normal in MotoGP," smiled Syahrin, when quizzed on his fall. "It was the first lap out of the pits [after lunch], maybe because the track conditions had changed. But it's okay. We need to learn and we continued in the correct way, got the confidence back and I think tomorrow I can do better."

LCR Honda's Cal Crutchlow believes that accidents by both Syahrin and fellow rookie Morbidelli (on Friday) were simply down to a lack of experience with how to warm-up the Michelin tyres:

"Is he alright? I heard he crashed, a big highside," Crutchlow asked the trackside media at Buriram.

"Both rookies, Syahrin and Morbidelli, have been caught out by the Michelins on their out-laps. One yesterday, one today and both in the same corner. It's just inexperience.

"I think that [Syahrin] had just had his lunch break, waited three hours and then he went back out and flew to the moon. But that's more because we have experience of the Michelins and how to warm them up better, how to understand.

"But don't get me wrong, I've also made that mistake. Last year I went out of pit lane and crashed a few times.

"All credit to Syahrin, he's doing a good job."

Syahrin admitted he was surprised to be so close to the MotoGP regulars, so soon.

"We made a big improvement in the second day. I was surprised because I learned many things with the electronics, didn't push to the limit and just tried to understand the bike.

"We improved by 1.1s and I feel quite confident with the bike. The lap time is close to the other rookies. Very interesting because I've had just two days to compare with the riders.

"It's also a bit of a surprise to me that I could close to 1.7, but then Marquez made a faster lap and finally it's two seconds. But it's not bad for my first time and I'll try to be as close as possible tomorrow, while remaining calm and going step-by-step."

Syahrin added that he hasn’t tried to follow any of the established riders, preferring to go it alone as he learns the 990cc prototype.

"No, I never followed anyone. For the moment I go alone. This was also a surprise to me because I never ride alone so much. But this time I try to learn and try to do myself and change myself and in the end it's working well. Also I think I worked hard in the winter so that's why physically I can control everything."

Other ingredients for Syahrin's swift learning curve have been his attitude and 'connection' with the team.

"I came here happy, with no stress and to learn. I never make myself think 'now I'm a MotoGP rider and can do what I want'. I just came here as a nobody, no experience and the team helped me a lot so that's why I improved very quickly.

"I think we have a connection and the way we work is very good."

Syahrin is still to be officially confirmed as keeping the seat beyond this test, but his performance over the opening days has surely removed any lingering doubts over whether he can at least battle the other rookies.

After Sunday's final day of testing in Thailand, there will be just one more pre-season outing in Qatar before the racing season begins.