The summer break is a perfect time to recap on the best moments of the 2016 season so far. For the Orelac Racing VerdNatura squad which competes in the FIM Supersport World Championship, that was without doubt the Sepang race in Malaysia.

Racing three hours later than scheduled due to an earlier rainstorm and following on from Nicky Hayden’s maiden triumph in World Superbike, local hero Zulfahmi Khairuddin fought tooth and nail for the World Supersport victory, eventually missing out to rookie victor Ayrton Badovini by just five hundredths of a second.

“That was intense!” recalls Team Manager Giulio Barni in an interview with WorldSBK.com. “What to say…it was a really great day. Actually, the whole weekend went realty well. We were all very keen and trying to do well at that race for our main sponsor. It just turned out really, really, really well. Of course, when that happens, you think about the 50 thousandths of a second between us and the top step of the podium but, regardless, the race was really exciting, nice and enjoyable.

“I always thought that Fahmi could deliver some surprises. He’s a very talented rider, he’s a young rider and he has a lot of experience. He’s had to get used to riding around with 36 mad guys that he doesn’t know. I always go into racing with the goal to win. I think that is the natural way and natural approach. Realistically, I know there is going to be some growing pain associated with a rider coming in from Moto3.”

Hear more from Giulio Bardi in the full video interview on WorldSBK.com.