AFIF CLAIMS VICTORY, IRFAN CROWNED CHAMPION
The final race of the MSBK250 A category in Round 4 of the MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship delivered intense action at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit. Ahmad Afif Amran of YAMAHA TEKHNE RACING TEAM ASIA emerged victorious in Race 2, while Irfan Ardiansyah of HONDA NWN SCK RACING TEAM secured the 2024 championship title.
Afif established an early lead, closely followed by Kitsada Tanachot from HONDA RACING THAILAND and Muhd Jazil Juraimi of Singapore. However, the race dynamics shifted on Lap 4 when Kitsada clocked an impressive lap time of 2’26:587s at a top speed of 188.5 km/h, successfully overtaking Afif.
Emil Idzhar briefly claimed P3 but suffered a crash at Turn 9 on Lap 5. On Lap 6, Afif reclaimed the lead, with Mohd Haziq Mohd Fairues of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM and Kitsada chasing closely behind. Championship contender Irfan Ardiansyah held P5, just ahead of his teammate Gerry Salim.
The final lap saw dramatic changes as riders pushed aggressively for top positions. Gerry Salim’s unfortunate crash dashed his hopes of challenging for the championship. Soon after, Kitsada also fell at the last turn, missing out on a podium finish.
Afif redeemed himself by crossing the finish line first with a time of 19’39:913s, followed by Haziq at 19’40:821s and Jazil narrowly behind at 19’40:822s. Irfan’s fourth-place finish secured his championship victory for the 2024 season.
Irfan expressed his excitement: “I’m really happy to finally secure the championship. The race was tough, and I fought until the end. I saw an opportunity to overtake at Turn 9 and took it. Alhamdulillah, I’m grateful to achieve this result.”
TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2
1. Ahmad Afif Amran – YAMAHA TEKHNE RACING TEAM ASIA (19’39:913s)
2. Mohd Haziq Mohd Fairues – BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM (19’40:821s)
3. Muhd Jazil Juraimi – Singapore (19’40:822s)
4. Irfan Ardiansyah – HONDA NWN SCK RACING TEAM (19’41:200s)
5. Muhd Muzakkir Mohamed – HORIZON RACING TEAM (19’45:622s)
OVERALL STANDINGS
1. Irfan Ardiansyah – HONDA NWN SCK RACING TEAM (132 points)
2. Gerry Salim – Honda NWN SCK Racing Team (118 points)
3. Kitsada Tanachot – HONDA RACING THAILAND (94 points)
4. Muhd Muzakkir Mohamed – HORIZON RACING TEAM (87 points)
5. Md Haziq Md Fairues – BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM (86 points)