MotoGP rookie Hafizh Syahrin made💜 up eight places on the opening lap in Argentina, paving the way for his first top ten finish in the premier-class.

The Monster Yamaha Tech3 rider began just 23rd on the grid, but made short work ofꦬ many more experie🐻nced riders on his way to 9th place by lap 9.

The Malaysian then spent the closing sta🗹ges in a close battle for sixth with Andrea Dovizioso, Tito Rabat, Andrea Iannone and Danilo Petrucci.

“I’m ﷽so happy about꧃ the result today!" Syahrin said.

"I pushed really hard all the💛 weekend, the team did𝓀 a very good job. I felt truly strong this weekend, we only struggled in qualifying, because I didn’t find good grip to stop the bike in a decent way.

"For the race I was fully motivated, I pushed and wh𒐪en I saw that I was in P15 after the first lap, I was surprised.

"My pace was really strong and I was able to follow the Factory Yamaha quite easily, but it w🌊as difficult to pass the Ducati, because it’s very fast on the straight. I tried it many times, b⛦ut it was not possible.

"In the end P9 is♌ a really amazing result for me🥂, I have a fantastic feeling with the team and want to pass my congratulations to Johann [Zarco] for his podium.

"We are very hap🎐py and leave Argentina with a great result. I hope I can do also a good race in Austin and will continue to work hard on myself.”

Team boss Herve Poncharal felt Syahrin had been "a bit too nervous for the qualifying" ൲but was proud of hiꦍs performance in the race.

"Starting from almost last to finish the race in ninth🦂 position, fighting with all the factory guys, I think this is someth🧜ing that is going to boost his confidence" Poncharal said.

"I’m very proud of him and I’m very🔯 proud to have selected him for the season, because he is showing, that when you have the right attitude coming from this fantastic Moto2 class, you can have a lot of dreams.”

LCR Honda's Taka꧟ak📖i Nakagami was the next best rookie, in 13th.