IRFAN LOOKS TO EXTEND WINNING RUN
NWN CZ1 SCK RACING TEAM rider Irfan Ardiansyah arrives at Round 2 of MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship 2026 full of confidence after delivering a flawless performance in the season opener, where he claimed victory in both races to collect the maximum 50 championship points.
The Indonesian rider established himself as the early championship leader in the MSBK250 A category after showcasing impressive pace, consistency and composure throughout the opening weekend. Building on the momentum from his third-place finish in the overall standings last season, Irfan now heads into Round 2 determined to continue his strong form while remaining focused on the bigger picture.
Reflecting on his perfect start to the season, Irfan credited the achievement to the collective effort of his entire team.
“Of course, it’s a very positive way to begin the season. Winning both races and collecting the maximum 50 points is always satisfying, but this result wasn’t achieved by me alone. It was the product of everyone working together throughout the weekend. The team did an excellent job preparing the bike, making the right decisions and supporting me in every session.”
“I’m really grateful for the effort everyone has put in because success like this only comes when the rider and the team work as one. This result gives us a great foundation for the season, but we all know there’s still a long way to go.”
Although he enters Round 2 with a perfect championship tally, Irfan remains grounded and is determined not to let the early success affect his approach.
“We’ll see what happens in Round 2, but my mindset hasn’t changed. I don’t want to think too far ahead or put unnecessary pressure on myself. My focus is simply on continuing the good work we’ve already started and bringing the same level of performance that we showed in Round 1.”
“I just want to stay focused on myself, keep improving every time I go out on track and make sure we’re fully prepared for another competitive weekend. If we continue doing the right things, the results will take care of themselves.”
Round 1 presented its own challenges, with changing weather conditions testing both riders and teams throughout the weekend. Nevertheless, Irfan remained one of the most consistent performers on the grid, thanks largely to the team’s technical preparation.
“The first thing is always having a good bike setup because that gives you confidence in every condition. When the bike is working well, it’s much easier for the rider to understand what it’s needs and how to adapt when the conditions change.”
“Throughout the weekend, the team and I worked really well together to find the right setup, and that allowed me to feel comfortable and stay calm even when the weather wasn’t ideal. Once you have that confidence in the bike, you can focus completely on your riding and making the right decisions on track.”
Having finished third overall in last year’s championship, Irfan admits that his ambitions are much higher this season, even if he is taking a measured approach.
“It’s still very early in the championship, but my goal is to become the champion this year. That’s what motivates me every time I get on the bike.”
“At the same time, I know championships aren’t won in the opening round. You have to build them step by step, so my approach is to take it one round at a time and collect as many points as possible at every opportunity. If we can stay consistent throughout the season, we’ll give ourselves the best chance of achieving our goal.”
Despite enjoying a dream start, Irfan believes the championship fight is only just beginning and knows there is still plenty of work ahead.
“I believe in myself, my team and everything we’ve been working towards. The most important thing now is to stay focused on what I’m doing and not become distracted by anything else.”
“We’ve started the season well, but every new round is another challenge. I know I have what it takes to fight for the championship, but I also know that I have to keep working hard because nothing comes easily in this sport.”
With the MSBK250 A grid expected to become even more competitive as the season progresses, Irfan refuses to single out any particular rival.
“Honestly, everyone is strong this season. Every rider and every team has the ability to improve, and that’s what makes the championship exciting. I respect all of my competitors because I know they will all be pushing hard to win.”
“For me, it doesn’t really matter who my biggest challenger is because I’ll always prepare in the same way. I’ll give my maximum in every session, every qualifying and every race. That’s all I can control, and that’s exactly what I plan to do again this weekend.”