Syahrin: It was a big shock!

Friday at Buriram will probably be the biggest day in Hafizh Syahrin's career so far.

After four seasons in Moto2, Syahrin is on the verge of being confirmed as Malaysia - and South East Asia's - first ever MotoGP rider.

The 'shock' chance has emerged after Jonas Folger withdrew from the 2018 season.

Syahrin has been handed the vacant Monster Yamaha Tech3 bike for the test, in what is effectively a final audition for the race seat.

This is what Syahrin had to say in a baking hot Buriram paddock on Thursday…

You must be excited Hafizh?

Hafizh Syahrin: Very exciting to ride MotoGP and also a big shock for me because the news came when I was training in Spain. I'm looking forward to this test and I think I prepared my body quite well. I've training a lot in the winter. So we will see in the test what happens. Nothing more I can say really because it's the first time for me and I don’t have any experience with the MotoGP bike. There are a lot of things I need to learn about the electronics, the tyres and also the bike is more powerful than Moto2.

Have you had any advice from the team, or Zarco?

Hafizh Syahrin: Sure the team have tried to help me about how to ride the bike, especially Nico my engineer. With Zarco also he said' all the best' and I said to him, 'Maybe I can learn from you?' and he said 'No problem!' We will see tomorrow.

How does it feel to be the first Malaysian rider?

Hafizh Syahrin: It's good for me and was also my target for the future. I didn't have the target for this year but in the end I got this big opportunity. Maybe I'm so lucky. Thanks to god and all the people that support me and also to Tech 3 for this opportunity to test at Buriram. I'm very happy to be the first rider from South East Asia and from Malaysia. I'll try my best. It's been going crazy on social media. I tried to stay quiet until it was all confirmed. I've had a lot of positive comments, so thanks very much to all the fans.

Herve Poncharal is not here, does that make any difference?

Hafizh Syahrin: I keep in touch with Herve. He said to take things step-by-step, try to understand everything and told me 'I believe in you'. I'll try to use what experience I have to give my best.

On Morbidelli's first day with a MotoGP bike he was told, 'don't look at the lap times'. Will it be the same for you?

Hafizh Syahrin: Yes this also applies for me because if we compare with the other MotoGP riders they have already tested three times since the end of last season. This will be their fourth time and my first time. It will be tough, I'll just try to gain experience and get a feeling with the bike. I'll focus 100% on the team and bike.