'This is just our second year and I would say that we do not have much experience in setting up the bikes, but we are learning all the time. We had to put the bike together after my crash in Japan and I am not very happy with the handling. We will work on the bike tonight and I am hoping that we will be able to meet our target of a top-five finish,' he said.

The other Indian in the class, Alisha Abdullah, finished 15th and last with a timing of 2:07.785 while Emmanuel Jebaraj of Ten10 Racing did not start the qualifying session as his bike was not ready following a crash in the afternoon's free practice session.

Ten10 Racing's CEO Rajeev Raju said: 'Jebaraj is fine except for some pain in the shoulders and a graze on the knee. The bike, fortunately, did not suffer much damage, but we could not get it ready before the pitlane closed for the qualifying session. Of course, we still have another qualifying session tomorrow and we hope to do well then.'

The results (first qualifying session):

SuperSports 600cc: 1. Decha Kraisat (Thailand, Yamaha) (:45.720); 2. Md Zambri Baba (Malaysia, Yamaha) (1:46.604); 3. Chalempol Plamai (Thailand, Yamaha) (1:47.294); 6. Krishnan Rajini (India, Yamaha) (1:48.137); 8. Preetham Dev Moses (India, Yamaha) (1:50.709).

Underbone 115cc: 1. Hocky Krisdianto (Indonesia, Yamaha) (2:03.340); 2. Mohd Affendi Rosli (Malaysia, Suzuki) (2:03.600); 3. Worawut Phuttho (Thailand, 2:03.622).