IKRAM LED THE PACK ON DAY ONE
Round 4 of the MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship 2026 officially commenced today at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit. In the BERJAYA SOMPO YAMAHA R15M RACE ELITES category, the Combined Practice sessions showcased a massive turnaround by Muhd Ikram Dani representing BERJAYA MEGA, who overcame a quiet morning to completely dominate the afternoon session and claim the fastest overall time.
The morning session presented a tricky challenge for the young grid, as they had to navigate a wet and demanding circuit. During Free Practice 1, Ahmad Jebat Zulkarnain of BLH RACING TEAM established himself as the early pacesetter. Jebat confidently managed the slippery conditions, posting a leading time of 2’53.855s on his seventh and final lap, reaching a top speed of 114.78kph. Adam Hariz Hafiz from LKT MOTOR secured second place in the morning with a 2’55.181s, while Shahuzzaifie Adli Shafendi of POH SHUN took third with a 2’55.450s. Notably, Ikram struggled to find his maximum pace in the wet and finished the morning outside the top five.
However, as the track dried out for Free Practice 2, the true speed of the field was finally unleashed. Ikram returned to the circuit with incredible determination, immediately finding a devastating rhythm. On his fifth lap out of seven, he clocked a blistering 2’50.604s and hit a session-high top speed of 116.97kph. This massive improvement easily secured him the top spot in the Combined Practice standings, establishing a clear two-second gap ahead of the rest of the field.
Behind Ikram, Jebat also found significant speed in the dry conditions. He improved his morning time by over a second to log a 2’52.680s, comfortably securing second place overall. Muhd Farhan Naqib Mohd Faiz of FASROI M SB made a vital leap forward in the afternoon, claiming third place with a 2’53.064s. Raja Abdurraqib Raja Norfatihah from KAVIN MOTOR pushed his way into fourth with a 2’53.781s, while Muhd Amir Mohd Hafis of HENN MOTORS BROTHERS rounded out the top five with a 2’54.050s.
Ikram stated, “Today was an absolutely incredible day for us, finishing at the very top of the timing sheets. This morning, the track was drenched, and the wet conditions were incredibly tricky to navigate. Instead of letting the weather frustrate me when the times were not showing, I kept my head down and stayed laser-focused on finding the perfect setup and understanding exactly what the bike needed.”
“When Free Practice 2 finally rolled around and the track improved, I took full advantage of every single second out on the track, pushing myself and my machine to the absolute breaking point in pursuit of the ultimate lap time. To see that relentless effort rewarded and to successfully emerge as the fastest rider is a feeling I can barely describe, it fills me with so much pride and a massive surge of confidence.”
“Looking ahead to tomorrow’s race, the fire inside me is burning brighter than ever. I am going to leave my heart, soul, and absolutely everything I have out on that asphalt. I will fight with every ounce of my being to capture that championship title. This is our moment, and I am fully ready to seize it.”
TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE
1. MUHD IKRAM DANI – BERJAYA MEGA (2’50.604s)
2. AHMAD JEBAT ZULKARNAIN – BLH RACING TEAM (2’52.680s)
3. MUHD FARHAN NAQIB MOHD FAIZ – FASROI M SB (2’53.064s)
4. RAJA ABDURRAQIB RAJA NORFATIHAH – KAVIN MOTOR (2’53.781s)
5. MUHD AMIR MOHD HAFIS – HENN MOTORS BROTHERS (2’54.050s)