Farid Badrul has sealed the MSBK1000 title with a double win from Race 1 and Race 2 of the season finale underway at the Sepang International Circuit this weekend. The Horizon Racing Team rider was virtually unbeatable as the second day of the MSBK Finale unfolded. Farid started the day by taking pole position away from a hopeful Liam Taylor Macdonald. Pole position in hand, Farid easily crafted a lights-to-flag victory in both Race 1 and Race 2 to cement his status as the 2019 MSBK1000 champion. MSBK1000 newcomer Liam Taylor Macdonald impressed when he finished second in Race 1 but bowed out of Race 2 due to mechanical issues. Honda rider Ian Dublin suffered the same fate – third in Race 1 and out of Race 2. Meanwhile, MSBK1000 STK B title leader Daniel Haiqal was second across the line in Race 2 followed by STK A leader Shahrulnizam Ramli.
MSBK600 championship leader Azroy Hakeem Anuar found his ambitions for a double win in Race 1 and Race checked by a rampaging Mohd Helmi Azman. Azroy, who holds a 50-point lead over fellow Honda rider Helmi, won the bid for pole position when he posted 2’11.537s in the qualifier. In spite of the coveted starting position, Azroy had no answer for Helmi’s lightning-fast start as the Hi-Rev SCK Honda Racing yellow Honda streaked into the holeshot in both Race 1 and Race 2. Helmi was able to quickly carve out a lead in Race 1 and won a solo ride at the front of the group with 22’01.624s. Azroy finished second with 22’05.392s, 3.768s behind Helmi. The two Honda riders were again the star of the show in Race 2. This second time around, Azroy was determined to stay on pace with Helmi. The Boon Siew Honda Racing Team rider made repeated overtaking attempts in the first six laps before he successfully made a bid for the lead on Lap 7. Two laps later, Azroy lost the lead when he made an unforced gearing error at the last corner. As Helmi stole into the lead, a miscalculation by the flag marshall brought out the chequered flag a lap early. The 10-lap race was shortened to 9 laps, with the win going to Helmi. Azroy had to settle for second in Race 2. However, Azroy can afford to take it easy this weekend. The double podium on Saturday has given him a 40-point advantage over Helmi. Behind the duelling Hondas, Ahmad Afif Amran ended the day by finishing third in both Race 1 and Race 2.
The Honda CBR250RR and the TVS 310RR made a big impression at the season finale of the 2019 Malaysia Superbike Championship when they made short work of the competition to dominate the MSBK250 podiums in Race 1 and Race 2. Equipped with the Honda CBR250RR that has dominated the Asian series for the past few seasons, 15-year-old Mohd Idlan Haqimi Raduan from the Boon Siew Honda Racing Team clinched pole position with 2’28.026s. The young talent’s laptime set a new MSBK250 qualifying record at the Sepang International Circuit. Riding on the momentum of his pole-performance, Idlan put in an imperious ride in Race 1 which he won virtually unchallenged with 20’00.694s. Race 2, however, turned out to be a completely different ballgame for Idlan. The Boon Siew Honda Racing Team rider faced stiff competition from Mohd Syafieq Aiman Mohd Fauzi from the ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team and 31 Racing’s Vorapong Malahuan. Unused to pressure from his more seasoned rivals, Idlan crashed out of Race 2 on the final lap. Race 2 was won by Mohd Syafieq Aiman Mohd Fauzi with 20’10.998s. The ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team rider placed fifth in Race 1 earlier in the day. Most impressive of all was the debut performance by the TVS 310RR and their developmental rider, Vorapong Malahuan. Vorapong ended the day with a double podium when he finished third in Race 1 and second in Race 2. The MSBK250 title hunt came to an end when Mohd Aiman Tahiruddin from CKJ Yamaha Racing Team finished second in both races. Aiman now holds 150 points at the top of the MSBK250 standings. Meanwhile, Mohd Arif Fadhillah Ismadi from the Horizon Racing Team took the double win in the MSBK250 B category. Similarly, AFB Tech Racing’s Muhd Zakir Naqiuddin also finished second in both Race 1 and Race 2.
Having swapped his 600cc machine for a Suzuki GSXR-1000, Liam Taylor Macdonald wasted no time showcasing his prowess in the MSBK1000. The 20-year-old rider from New Zealand has placed his marker on the MSBK1000 pole position when he emerged as the fastest rider in the first day of practice. Liam, who ranked ninth in the MSBK600 class to date, has jumped on board with Team Hiap Aik Suzuki Racing to replace injured Tee Wee Jin for the season finale. In his MSBK1000 debut, Liam posted 2’10.673s in the third practice and outpaced title contender Farid Badrul by a full second. Farid’s Horizon Racing Team BMW machine was second fastest with 2’11.985s. In the absence of Zulfahmi Khairuddin and Amirul Hafiz Azmi this weekend, Farid can expect to enjoy an easy weekend in the season finale. Ian Dublin made a strong MSBK1000 comeback when he clocked third quickest with 2’14.233s. MSBK1000 STK B leader Daniel Haiqal and team Hiap Aik Suzuki Racing’s Khoo Chee Yen rounded up the top five in the combined practice times.
Honda riders Helmi Azman and Azroy Hakeem Anuar will be facing off for the 2019 MSBK600 title at the season finale of the national superbike championship. The riders are limbering up for a weekend of intensive racing with two rounds held back-to-back on the same weekend. Team Hi-Rev SCK Honda Racing’s Helmi was consistently the fastest 600 rider during the first day of practice. The 20 year old clinched provisional pole with 2’11.750s in the combined free practice results. Championship leader Azroy Hakeem Anuar from the Boon Siew Honda Racing Team, trailed his Honda rival by half a second. Many of the top riders in the 600 class were noticeably absent from the final round due to conflicting schedules with the CEV. Absent from the grid include title contender Izam Ikmal Izmali, as well as podium regulars Adam Norrodin and Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin. Their absence would make it easier for Azroy to clinch the MSBK600 title. However, at 50 points behind and with four races to complete over the course of the final weekend, Helmi still stands a mathematical chance of staging a last-minute reversal. Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia duo Ahmad Afif Amran and Mohd Akid Aziz could possibly dole out a few surprises in the coming races. The two Yamaha riders were clocked at third and fourth fastest during the free practice with 2’13.311s and 2’15.964s respectively. Yuzy Racing Team’s Shahrol Syazras Shahrol Yuzy ended the day fifth fastest with 2’17.237s. While the local Malaysian riders locked out the top five spots on the provisional grid, Singaporean Khurana Dhiraj Tan from Worx Motorsports, Shigenaga Toranosuke (Chunetsu Racing), India’s Abijith Satya Prasad (Worx Motorsports), Deepak Ravi Kumar (RACR) and Malaysian Jamal Qayyum Aziz M Sidik completed the top 10 in the MSBK600 combined times. AFB Tech Racing’s Ganesan Murugan checked in 11th quickest followed by wildcard veteran Oh Kah Beng who posted 2’25.022s.
He may be new to the championship, but Idlan Haqimi Raduan has quickly gained the upper hand in the 37-bike strong MSBK250 grid. The 15-year-old who had recently made his international debut in the Asia Road Racing Championship, stunned his rivals when he piloted his Boon Siew Honda Racing Team Honda CBR250RR to the top of the timesheets with 2’30.116s. Idlan’s quickest time was two seconds off the 2019 qualifying record, 2’28.999s set by Nazirul Izzat Bahauddin. Nazirul will not be racing in the MSBK Finale as he has previously committed to race in the final leg of the CEV in the same weekend. Championship leader Aiman Tahiruddin posted the second fastest time of the day with 2’30.376s followed by Team One For All’s Mohd Kanafi Kamaruddin in third with 2’30.974s. 37-year-old Kanafi stands the best chance to push his way up the standings. Currently fourth after six races, the Team One For All rider has picked up 68 points. 42 points adrift of Aiman, Kanafi could challenge for the title or at the very least finish second overall. CKJ Yamaha Racing Team’s second rider Abdullah Qayyum A Razak logged fourth fastest with 2’32.359s. A surprise entry came in fifth on the combined timesheet as Thai rider Vorapong Malahuan entered the championship astride India’s TVS machine. Despite racing on a bike that is still clearly under development, the seasoned campaigner was able to clock fifth quickest with 2’32.359s.
Mohd Aiman Tahiruddin rounded up a successful weekend at Round 3 of the 2019 Malaysia Superbike Championship with a double win in the MSBK250 class. The CKJ Yamaha Racing Team rider had been dominant the entire weekend, especially with his closest rival, Nazirul Izzat Bahauddin absent from the race to focus on the Asia Road Racing Championship happening the same weekend at Sepang. Having earned the right to park his bike on pole during the qualifier, Aiman again started from pole for Race 2. A bad start pushed him down to fourth in the opening lap while Syafieq Aiman Fauzi seized the chance to take the early lead. Aiman gained the lead on Lap 3 and with the bit between his teeth, proceeded to carve a 2.9s lead at the front. The CKJ Yamaha Racing Team rider won the 8-lap race in 20’17.309s. Behind Aiman, Syafieq Aiman tangled with Abdullah Qayyum Razak for the final two spots on the podium. The duel was resolved in Syafieq’s favour. He finished second with 20’20.301s while Abdullah Qayyum delivered another podium to the CKJ Yamaha Racing Team in third with 20’20.543s. Kanafi Kamaruddin from Team One for All and Amirul Affiq Solikhin from the Horizon Racing Team rounded up the top five. Aiman Tahiruddin has now overtaken Nazirul Izzat on the championship standings. He leads with 110 points as Nazirul drops to second overall with 100 points. Shahrul Ezwan Shahril is third with 72 points.
Mohd Syafieq Aiman from the ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team has laid down the marker for the MSBK250 class as Round 3 resumed at the Sepang International Circuit in conjunction with the penultimate round of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Syafieq clocked 2’30.449s at the head of a 29-bike grid. He was the only rider to pace below the 2’31s mark. Mohd Sharul Ezwan Mohd Shahril from AFB Tech Racing posted second fastest with 2’31.341s followed by CKJ Yamaha Racing Team’s Aiman Tahirrudin in third with 2’31.389s. Interestingly, Youichi Ui’s team One For All, an ARRC regular, has now entered the MSBK grid. The team is represented by Mohd Kanafi Kamaruddin who clocked fourth fastest with 2’32.500s. Former GP rider Ui, has been involved in the Asian series for a number of years and had been instrumental especially in the success achieved by the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team.
MSBK1000 Stock A championship leader, Sharulnizam Ramli or better known to his friends and racing community as ‘Joe Sharul’ is gearing up for the biggest race of his career to date. The Malaysian rider who had been an MSBK regular for the past year, will take on the wildcard challenge in the premiere class of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, the ASB1000. Supported by FTA Liqui Moly Racing Team, Sharul and his BMW S1000 RR will join some of the best Asian riders on the ASB1000 grid. When contacted, Sharul admitted that he is nervously looking forward to the coming race. “I started racing in 2012 but it was off-and-on for several years. I only did full seasons in 2013, 2018 and 2019. This will be my first time participating in the ARRC, and it is certainly the highlight of my racing career to date,” he said.
Round 6 of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will feature yet another double-header as the Malaysia Superbike Championships (MSBK) joins the ARRC at the Sepang International Circuit. Nevertheless, Round 3 of the MSBK will see only the 250cc class in action as the 600cc and MSBK1000 classes had each completed six races in the previous two legs. Nazirul Izzat Bahauddin currently leads in the MSBK250 A category with 100 points. However, the ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team rider is scheduled to race in the ARRC’s Asia Production 250cc class and will be absent from the MSBK for Round 3. This will be the perfect opportunity for Sharul Ezwan Shahril and Aiman Tahiruddin to close the 38-point gap behind Nazirul and open up the AP250 title hunt ahead of the final round. Meanwhile, Mohd Arif Fadhilah Ismadi leads the MSBK250 B category with 91 points.