2020 MSBK OPENER OFF TO A ROARING START WITH ZAQHWAN, IBRAHIM, IDLAN AND FAZRUL IN WINNING FORM
Months of inactivity had not blunted Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi’s ability to put up a commanding performance at the season opener of the 2020 Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK). The Boon Siew Honda Racing Team rider snared a lights-to-pole win from pole position in Race 1 of the MSBK1000 class.
Zaqhwan earned the right to park his bike on the coveted pole position when he posted a blistering 2’07.610s in the qualifying session on Saturday morning. The 21-year-old Honda rider led the front row with Mohd Farid Badrul Hisam (Horizon Racing Team) and Ahmad Daniel Haiqal (MME Racing Team Malaysia).
A quick start gave Zaqhwan the advantage as he dove into the holeshot and held the position for the first lap. By Lap 2, Zaqhwan had begun taking steps to distance himself from the rest of the group. An imperious 10-lap performance followed until he claimed the win with a time of 21’36.493s.
“My team and I are very pleased to find our 2019 Honda CBR1000 RR still in winning condition. This is working out to be a great weekend for us, with plenty of mileage for me on the track,” said Zaqhwan.
MSBK1000 defending champion Mohd Farid Badrul Hisam piloted his BMW S1000 RR to second place with 21’55.549s. Rookie rider Ahmad Daniel Haiqal finished fourth in the race but third in his class.
Meanwhile, SIC Racing Team’s Mohd Ibrahim Norrodin gained the early advantage in the MSBK600 class when he finished in first place with 21’59.928s. Ibrahim forced Azroy Hakeem Anuar (Boon Siew Honda Racing Team) to concede in second place while Mohd Helmi Azman finished a distant third.
The sophomore MSBK250 class delivered a stunning final lap battle between Mohd Idlan Hakimi Raduan (Boon Siew Honda Racing Team) against Mohd Danial Syahmi from the SIC Racing Team. Poleman Daniel Syahmi had the lead in the first half of the race, but found himself overtaken by Idlan on Lap 5. A close battle between the two upcoming young riders ensued but Idlan Hakimi held his advantage to cross the finish line in first place with 20’14.763s. Danial Syahmi settled for second with Izam Ikal from Hi-Rev SCK Honda Racing Team in third.
The inaugural race for the new MSBK150 class finished with seasoned campaigner Ahmad Fazrul Sham in winning form. Fazrul (Cardinals Racing Team) brought down the chequered flag with a time of 15’47.583s, and celebrated a 1-3 achievement when team mate Mohd Iqbal Amri Abdul Malek crossed the line in third place. UMA Racing Yamaha Maju Motor Asia Team’s Mohd Haziq Mohd Fairues split the two Cardinals riders in second place.