Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia has a new reason to celebrate in the world of international motorcycle racing, as Aldi Satya Mahendra has secured the WorldSSP 300 championship title. The young rider from Yogyakarta achieved this remarkable feat in his debut season in the WorldSSP 300, the entry-level class of the World Superbike Championship (WSBK) series.
Aldi’s exceptional performance throughout the season, marked by consistent podium finishes, propelled him to the top of the championship standings. The WorldSSP 300, often compared to Moto3 in MotoGP, serves as a proving ground for young riders before advancing to higher levels of competition.
Over the course of 15 races in eight rounds, Aldi managed to secure top-three finishes in eight races. His first victory came in the second race at Misano, setting the tone for his championship campaign.
In the season’s final round held in Jerez, Spain, on Saturday, October 20, 2024, Aldi finished third in the first race. This result solidified his lead in the standings, with a total of 211 points, placing him 22 points ahead of his closest competitor, Loris Veneman of the MTM Kawasaki team. Veneman, who finished sixth after receiving a penalty for reckless riding, could no longer threaten Aldi’s lead, even with one race remaining.
With a maximum of 25 points still available, Aldi only needed to finish 12th or better in the second race to secure the world title. This gave him ample room to race strategically and clinch the championship with minimal pressure.
Riding a Yamaha YZF-R3 for Team BrCorse Yamaha, Aldi couldn’t hide his joy after securing the title. In a post-race interview, he expressed his gratitude, saying, “This is incredible for me, as it’s been my dream to become a world champion. I gave my best in this race. Thanks to my team for their hard work, and I’ll try to play it safe in the next race. I’m also grateful to my family and girlfriend for their support.”
Aldi’s historic victory makes him the first Indonesian rider to win an international motorcycle racing world championship, a dream come true for many young racers in the country. His success brings renewed hope and attention to Indonesia’s burgeoning motorsport scene.
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Aldi, the younger brother of Galang Hendra Pratama, another Indonesian international racer, has now paved the way for the next generation of Indonesian riders. He has shown that with hard work, determination, and strong support, becoming a world champion is an achievable goal.
The second and final race of the WorldSSP 300 season at Jerez, scheduled for Sunday, October 20, 2024, will provide Aldi the chance to cap off his championship-winning season in style.
(Becky)
