AZROY IS BACK ON TOP
Round 4 of the MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship 2026 delivered a tense and dramatic Race 1 in the MSBK1000 A category today at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit. Azroy Hakeem Anuar of HONDA RACING MALAYSIA delivered a masterclass in pace and composure, battling through terrifying visibility issues to claim an emotional and hard-fought victory.
The grid for the main event was set after a competitive Qualifying session. Muhd Zaqhwan Zaidi representing MALAYSIA secured pole position with a time of 2’06.569s. Mohammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM took second with a 2’07.018s, while Azroy lined up closely behind in third with a 2’07.181s. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING and Adam Norrodin of AMI SUZUKI MOTORSPORT completed the top five.
As the race started, Zaqhwan made a bold launch off the line to take the early lead. Azroy slotted into second, followed by Adenanta, Adam, and Kasma. However, Azroy wasted no time making his intentions clear. On Lap 2, he made a decisive move to overtake Zaqhwan and seize control of the race.
Once at the front, Azroy began an impressive display of consistent speed. On Lap 3, he set the fastest lap of the race at 2’07.576s, leading Zaqhwan and Adenanta. Adenanta responded on Lap 4, setting a 2’07.080s to close the gap on Zaqhwan, but Azroy answered right back on Lap 5 with a blistering 2’07.059s to solidify his lead.
The battle for the fastest lap continued on Lap 6, with Zaqhwan clocking a 2’06.868s, only for Azroy to top it on Lap 7 with an incredible 2’06.844s. The running order remained stable through the late stages, with Azroy leading Zaqhwan,Adenanta, Adam, and Kasma.
As the race entered its final laps, the weather took a turn. The sky darkened significantly, presenting a challenge for the riders. Despite the severe drop in visibility, Azroy maintained his nerve. On the final lap, he managed to stretch his lead to a full second over Zaqhwan, crossing the finish line to take a well-deserved victory at 21’17.681s. Zaqhwan secured second place at 21’19.007s, while Adenanta completed the podium at 21’22.140s.
Azroy shared, “I want to express my deepest gratitude to the team for giving me this incredible opportunity to compete. If I am being completely honest, there was absolutely no plan for me to even race in this final round. But the team reached out, offering their support to help me get back out on the track. It is no secret that my performance earlier this year has been a real struggle. I went through quite a difficult slump trying to master the 1000cc machine, and it weighed heavily on me. But, Alhamdulillah, stepping into this weekend, I finally felt that spark again and managed to truly rebuild my confidence.”
“The race itself was intensely nerve-wracking. The weather was perfectly fine at the start, but lap by lap, the sky just grew darker and more ominous. Toward the end, my only focus was on sheer survival and bringing the bike home. I was actually praying for the rain to finally pour down just so the stewards would throw the red flag. The track had gotten so dark that my visibility was practically zero—I couldn’t see a thing in front of me, which is genuinely terrifying when you are pushing at those speeds. But, Alhamdullillah, I managed to cross the finish line safely, and to somehow come away with the victory is just an unbelievable, overwhelming feeling. We will carry this incredible momentum into tomorrow and fight with everything we have to replicate this beautiful result.”
TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1
1. AZROY HAKEEM ANUAR – HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (21’17.681s)
2. MUHD ZAQHWAN ZAIDI – MALAYSIA (21’19.007s)
3. MOHAMMAD ADENANTA PUTRA – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (21’22.140s)
4. ADAM NORRODIN – AMI SUZUKI MOTORSPORT (21’29.061s)
5. KASMA DANIEL KASMAYUDIN – HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING (21’36.968s)