Amon Odaki and Arbi Aditama both brought home points on a rollercoaster final day for the Junior Talent Team
The Junior Talent Team took valuable championship points away from Estoril as the FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship finale gave hope and optimism for the future. Amon Odaki was looking to build on his career best Qualifying on Tuesday but contact with Rico Salmela on Lap 7 took him out of contention in Race 1. The Japanese rider showed his powers of recovery though with an excellent ride in Race 2, finishing 11th for his best result in the class, just 3.689s behind the winner.
Arbi Aditama was also chasing the top 15 once more to wrap up his 2024 season and the Indonesian delivered in Race 1. The Astra Honda Racing Team rider held off Leonardo Abruzzo for P14 in a photo finish across the line, securing back-to-back points finishes in the class. Although more points narrowly eluded him in Race 2, finishing 17th, Aditama has plenty of positives to take away from the Estoril encounter.
Meanwhile, Danial Shahril showed his fighting qualities during a pair of entertaining battles for the Malaysian. 16th place was the reward for the 22-year-old after emerging on top of a five-rider group which swapped positions all the way to the chequered flag. P18 would follow in Race 2 as Shahril finished side-by-side with Aditama, the Junior Talent Team duo split by just 0.003s at the end of 16 frantic laps.
Honda Racing Thailand’s Jakkreephat Phuettisan kept up his consistent recent form in the final round with more valuable experience to build upon next year. The Thai rider kept in touch with the group being led by Shahril in Race 1, finishing close behind him in 21st place before making steady progress up the order in Race 2 to close his season out in P23, setting his personal best lap in the closing stages. Overall, plenty of potential to build on ahead of the 2025 season.
