Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square), is where FDA Malaysia 2011 was held at. Situated in front of Sultan Abdul Samad Building, it is as iconic as FDA Malaysia wants the event to be. During normal days, traffic would run though the wide road dividing the building and Dataran Merdeka. On 17th and 18th of December (including a few days before), the area including the immediate land masses around it were cordoned off for the event to take place. Like Saturday, it started bright and sunny for Sunday as well. Unlike Saturday, it never rained, even when gloomy sky set in during the late afternoon.
Needless to say, the crowd was a lot bigger than it was on Saturday. It was jammed pack in most prime spots - if you leave yours momentarily, good luck in trying to get it back later.
Tandem battle (round of 32) began at 12.30pm. Followed by top 16 at 4pm into the finals, ending at around 6pm.
Daigo Saito clinched the top at the podium, as well as overall champion of the season. Manabu (Max) Orido in the second position, while Kiki Sak Nana took the third. While not at the podium, Saranon Pornpatanarak (Non) still managed a second in the overall standing of the season, followed closely by Somchai Aroonrung (Ju) in the third.
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| The iconic Sultan Abdul Samad Building overlooking the track. |
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| Team Achillies cars looking ready for the day's unfolding. |
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| Looking down the stretch. Tell-tale rubber marks on the road indicative of where the cars would go during the runs. |
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| Mervyn and Ivan posing for photographs. |
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| Daigo Sato, confident as ever. |
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| Cheery Mervyn looking good. |
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| Zee with his candid and inspiring self. |
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| Ming Hui (Ah Fai), relaxed and calm. |
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| Kiki, looking awesome as per usual. |
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| Zaiham (Bullzai), the gentle giant with a friendly smile. |
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| Manabu (Max) Orido, posing his professional best despite the hot mid-day sun. |
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| The happy-go-lucky Terdthoon Ruayjaroensap (Kohkae), watch out for his awesome smoke screens! |
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| The crowd, waiting eagerly in anticipation for the tandem battle to start. |
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| Joshua vs Fai. |
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| Chanatpon vs Muhammad |
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| Saranon waiting in his seat. |
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| Zee's car being prepared. |
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| Zaiham vs Dio |
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| Ee Yoong vs Zee just starting out their run at the starting line. |
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| Orido blazing past. |
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| (Oat) and (Ju) getting ready for their turns. |
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| Chanatpon vs Muhammad |
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| Chanatpon vs Muhammad |
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| (Pond) vs Tat Wei |
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| Tat Wei crashed, but still won the battle. |
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| Dataran Merdeka from a higher ground looking towards the starting line. |
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| Max Orido, waving to the cheering crowd. |
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| Zee, again with his usual high spirits. |
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| Orido, happy and comfy in his office. |
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| Hermanwan, brimming with confidence. |
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| Dio in his AE86 |
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| Kiki, beaming away with his charismatic smile. |
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| Nakarin (Tong) sticking himself out (it's much cooler than inside anyway). |
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| Menacing looking (Mai), looking ready to start his combat (or it must be the sweltering heat inside). |
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| Chanatpon (S) |
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| (Kohkae) vs Hermanwan |
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| Hermanwan vs (Kohkae) in second run. |
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| Fai vs Daigo, seconds before Fai climbed the wall... |
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| Right after Fai came off from the wall and loosing the rear fender in the process. |
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| Mervyn vs Chanatpon |
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| Orido vs (Mai), the latter crashing into the wall. |
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| Orido stopped by to check on (Mai). |
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| Chanatpon vs Daigo |
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| Kiki vs Orido |
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| The final battle between Orido and Daigo. Daigo emerged a victor. |
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| At the podium. |
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| To the victors, the spoils! |
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| Orido, cherishing his spoils. |
