ADAM EYES TO TURN POTENTIAL INTO PODIUMS

Progress rather than outright results has become the driving force behind AMI SUZUKI MOTORSPORT as Muhamad Adam Mohd Norrodin heads into Round 2 of the MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship 2026, determined to capitalise on the valuable lessons learned during the season opener and take another step towards the front of the MSBK1000 A category at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit this weekend.

Although he narrowly missed the podium with two fourth-place finishes in Round 1, Adam demonstrated encouraging pace and consistency throughout the opening weekend, remaining in contention for the top three until the closing laps of both races. More importantly, the season opener provided the team with valuable technical data that has strengthened its ongoing development programme, giving Adam confidence that both he and the team are moving in the right direction ahead of the second round.

A key factor behind AMI SUZUKI MOTORSPORT’s progress this season has been the involvement of experienced Malaysian rider Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, who has joined the team to strengthen its technical development efforts. Beyond his role as a rider, Azlan Shah has contributed his extensive racing experience by providing important feedback on the motorcycle’s setup, performance and overall direction.

For Adam, the collaboration has already produced positive results, with the team making meaningful improvements after gathering crucial information during the opening round, particularly in challenging wet track conditions.

“This season has been a new challenge for us, but having Azlan Shah join the team has been a big advantage because he brings a lot of experience and knowledge, especially when it comes to motorcycle development. His feedback has helped the team understand the bike better and identify areas where we can continue improving,” said Adam.

“During Round 1, we collected a lot of valuable data, especially from the wet sessions where the conditions were difficult and unpredictable. Those experiences allowed the team to learn more about the motorcycle’s behaviour and find better solutions for the setup. To see the team secure two podium finishes during the opening round was a very positive result, and it gave everyone extra confidence that we are heading in the right direction. There is still a lot of work to be done, but the progress we have made so far has been very encouraging.”

Reflecting on his own performance in Round 1, Adam admitted that while finishing fourth in both races showed strong competitiveness, there was also a sense of disappointment knowing that he had the pace to fight for a podium result.

“Looking back at Round 1, I would say it was a positive weekend overall because I was able to stay competitive and fight for a podium position in both races until the end. That gave me confidence because it showed that we have the speed and potential to challenge the riders at the front.”

“Of course, finishing fourth twice was not exactly the result I was hoping for because the podium was within reach. Unfortunately, luck was not on my side during that round, and sometimes small moments can make a big difference in racing. However, I don’t want to focus too much on what we missed. Instead, I want to take the positives from that experience, continue improving and use it as motivation to come back stronger in Round 2.”

Heading into the second round, Adam and the AMI SUZUKI MOTORSPORT crew have continued working on improving the motorcycle package, with a particular focus on finding a stronger setup for dry track conditions.

“Since Round 1, the team has been working very hard to analyse the data and improve the motorcycle setup. Our main focus for Round 2 is to be better prepared for dry conditions because we want to have a more complete package that allows us to perform consistently throughout the weekend.”

“Every member of the team has been putting in a lot of effort behind the scenes, and I really appreciate their commitment. The development process is not always easy, but everyone is motivated because we know there is still more potential that we can unlock.”

While the team has made progress, Adam acknowledged that there are still areas that require further improvement, particularly in terms of electronics and top-speed performance.

“We are still facing some challenges with top speed, but our biggest focus remains the electronics package because we believe there is still significant room for improvement in that area. The electronics play an important role in helping us maximise the motorcycle’s performance, especially when fighting against strong competition,” Adam explained.

“We know what areas we need to work on, and the team is continuing to search for the best solutions. Step by step, we are improving, and I believe the hard work will eventually translate into stronger results on track.”

With the lessons from Round 1 and continued development behind them, Adam remains confident that AMI SUZUKI MOTORSPORT can once again challenge for podium positions in Round 2.

“If everything comes together according to plan, Azlan Shah and I will once again aim to fight for podium positions, just like we did in Round 1. That is our target, and we believe we have the potential to achieve it,” said Adam.

“The competition in MSBK1000 A is always very strong, so we know it will not be easy. But we are coming into this weekend with confidence, determination and a clear goal. I want to give my best for the team, continue improving with every session and hopefully reward everyone’s hard work with a strong result.”