Thai rider Anupab Sarmoon is making his debut in the 2025 AEON CREDIT MAM MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIOSHIP (MSBK) with the YAMAHA Thailand Racing Team, bringing with him a wealth of international experience and a cheerful, humble personality that has made him one of the fan favourite across Asia. Best known for his previous stints in the Asia Road Racing Championship and WorldSBK, Anupab’s presence in the MSBK paddock adds a new layer of excitement to the already competitive grid. Speaking about his first season in this championship, Anupab said, “This is my first time racing in MSBK, so I’m really looking forward to learning. The MSBK has a strong grid, and many talented local riders. I hope to gain valuable insight about the circuit, the championship, and how the competition works here. It’s a great opportunity to improve myself and gather good data for the team. I believe racing here will help our development, and I’ll do my best in every round.” Although his main goal is to help the team gather technical information on the bike setup and race conditions, Anupab’s natural racing instincts and competitive edge remain sharp. “I joined because I want to have information on the motorbike for the team. Not only that, I want to do my best too,” he explained. The Thai rider is no stranger to the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, a track he holds close to his heart. “I really like Sepang,” he said. “Every time I come here, it reminds me of great races and great moments. The layout is fun, technical, and challenging, and I enjoy every lap. Of course, my goal is to stand on the top of the podium again which is always my dream!” Despite his extensive background on bigger stages such as WorldSBK, Anupab approaches MSBK with the same level of respect and competitiveness. “I don’t think any championship is easy. Whether it’s MSBK, ARRC, or WorldSBK, the level of competition is high because everyone lines up on the grid with the same goal – to win. I respect all my fellow riders here and know I have to fight hard for every position.” With such high stakes, staying calm under pressure is crucial, and for Anupab, that comes naturally. “For me, I always try to enjoy the moment. Racing is what I love to do, and I’m grateful to be on the track with good friends. When the pressure comes, I remind myself to have fun, stay focused, and give my 100%. That mindset helps me ride better and feel more relaxed.”
Round 1 of the Aeon Credit MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship is happening at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit this weekend. The MSBK250 A and MSBK250 B will be back on track to stimulate the racing scene with its interesting entry list. Last season saw Irfan Ardiansyah of Honda NWN SCK Racing Team breaking through to take the big sweep in the MSBK250A race category with five podiums including two wins. This season, the Indonesian lad will be back once again alongside 24 riders from 7 different countries to mark his excellence in what will be one of the most challenging race categories in the championship. The question remains: Will Irfan be able to ward off the pressure in the face of highly competitive riders? Commenting on the race, Irfan said, “My goal is the same. I want to be the challenge among the front troops and be at the top. Definitely I want to try for the championship title once again. I think this season will be more competitive compared to last season so there needs to be precision. There is certainly no room for errors. Each year, the race category seems to be getting tougher. The entry list for this season looks challenging but most importantly, I need to stay positive and always believe in myself that I can do it like last season. Sepang circuit is a complete circuit and I enjoy riding there. It has some hilly parts and a long corner which I really like.” MSBK250 B race category on the other hand will watch two ladies, Siti Norsyafiyah of FKR CHV Racing and Saidatul Zakirah of Lady Boss Racing Team competing alongside the male counterparts from Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, China and Chinese Taipei. Last season, Rakha Bima of Honda NWN SCK Racing Team marked victory with a total of 115 points however with the Indonesian rider out of the entry list for Round 1, the riders may have found a different motivation to accelerate further in their games. A total of 9 riders will make up for the MSBK250 B race category. Among the riders who have showcased excellent skills and will graduate into the MSBK250 A race category from last season are 1st runner up, Md Naqib Rifqi who will team up with Honda Racing Malaysia and 3rd runner up Kabilesh Rajni of Team RACR Castrol Power1.
Round 1 of the Aeon Credit MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship will take place at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit this weekend. Md Izam Ikmal is thrilled to keep his championship momentum from last season and fight off the highly competitive troop in the Berjaya Sompo YAMAHA R15M Race Elites race category. It is a tough feat racing in a race category with a large troop swamping in at the same time but Izam was fearless in taking risks and careful to not make any errors. That resulted in victory at the top spot for Izam last season with a total of 92 points to his name however, the race category being an unpredictable one adds on to the challenge more so with highly competitive riders in the entry list like Arash Tsunami and Abdullah Qayyum who both took the second and third place respectively with a total of 90 and 71 points. Leaving dexterity aside, the other challenge would be the type of machine which is comparatively different from the underbone machine that the riders are familiar with. The riders who are mostly an extension of the PETRONAS MAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship may be extremely skilled with the underbone machines however, it takes additional effort and capacity to adapt to a different riding technique required in this race category. Who will be the next promising rider in the race category? Izam said, “For this season, I will just be extra careful since I have other targets as well in the PETRONAS MAM Malaysian Cub Prix and IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. For MSBK, I will utilise it as a training ground to enhance my riding techniques and but at the same time train up to ensure that I am on par with the other contenders. I want to make the cut once again for sure. For me, in terms of the machine, I don’t find any difference between the underbone and tank machine. I can adapt pretty quickly. Also, since I am riding the AP250 in ARRC, this would not be much of a problem for me. I believe I have the experience that is needed for this race category but whatever said and done, it also boils down to the situation during the race. So, let’s see how it goes.” As for Arash, he said, “For me, the challenges this season may be far greater than the last but I am all out to give the fiercest competition I can to the other riders. Of course, there is also the challenge of the machine especially that I am more suited to the underbone machine. As such, racing on a tank machine means handling my riding techniques which is different especially when entering the corners because the machine gets heavier. My weakness is probably the qualifying session but again, I will do my best to get the best lap time. My strength I think are the strategies on the last lap – I am pretty good at following the front group.” Qayyum on the other hand said, “Last year was super intense and everyone brought on their A-game. This year too, I am expecting an even tighter battle especially with the new talents coming in and everyone levelling up. For me, consistency and bike setup are key and of course, handling the pressure too counts. There is a big difference between riding the underbone machine and a tank bike – it is all about agility and quick handling, also, it is faster, heavier and more demanding especially on braking. I believe that I am good at adapting. I learn the tracks and setups quickly and I am also very focused during race. There are weaknesses as well. I am still working on launching more aggressively and not losing out in the first few corners. I have to work hard on closing the gap.”
Round 1 of the Aeon Credit MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship will take place at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit this weekend. YAMAHA Y16ZR Race Masterclass returns this season with 29 riders in the entry list. Last season saw Md Adib Arsyad taking three wins and two podiums before bagging the victorious title with a total of 117 points to his name. With him taking a bold stance in the YAMAHA R15M Race Elites race category this season and out of the equation of YAMAHA Y16ZR Race Masterclass, it’s an opportunity for 1st runner up, Ahmad Iqram Danish to pull the strings in the inevitable nip and tuck of the race category and race to the top. Commenting on the upcoming race, Iqram said, “With Adib out of the equation, we have lost one contender – it could be both good and bad depending on how we see it. But I think there won’t be much of a difference in terms of competitiveness. We race on a big circuit ground which means all riders have a winning chance. The machine is a good one as it is compatible with my riding style. For us, the riders especially, who are still learning to ride on a big track, this is a good bike to learn on. The track too is a training ground that helps us work within the race line which is one of the important elements in racing. It is not that fast but not that slow too. The most important thing is optimising the machine that fits my riding techniques. To me, all riders are on par but I believe Akid and Jebat would be my main rivals as they work with very good strategies. They are also quite bold. My goal this season is to take the championship title.” While the rest of the top five riders remain the same and will be back for another season, the race category is bound to get feisty especially with new entries. The number of riders may differ from the last season with nine riders lesser but the race category which will utilise the underbone machine at 155cc will see riders optimising between slip-stream to make the cut, which makes up for its unique proposition. Jebat Zulkarnain, 2nd runner up of Season 2024 who will also be riding in the YAMAHA R15M Race Elites said, “This season will definitely be a challenging one especially with many new experienced riders with great calibre. But I am bucking up on my side especially with fitness and training sessions. Most importantly, I trust in my abilities 100%. I will give my best and make sure that there are no regrets. My goal is to be the overall champion or worse comes to worst, podium in each race.” Raiyan Khardanee on the other hand said, “While there are many experienced riders which raises the benchmark on a yearly basis, the most important thing for me is to make sure that the strategies work well with us. In terms of the machine, I know that all machines will be in its best condition, made for best optimisation. The preparations are very important. On my side, I have been doing endurance and speed training to maintain consistency. My goal is to make it on top.”
Season 2025 of the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) will commence in May with a four-round calendar. The partnership between PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit (PETRONAS SIC) and Two Wheels Motor Racing Sdn. Bhd. (TWMR) will continue in a bid to progressively transform and alleviate the standards of motorcycle racing championship for both professional and enthusiasts alike. Ron Hogg, Promotions Director of TWMR said, “Year 2024 has been quite an elaborate season for us especially with the participation of 11 nationalities which makes it the largest total number of countries participating in the championship since inception. In addition to that, we also witnessed the entry of a brand new one-make series which is the Yamaha R15M Race Elites for a full-season starting from Round 2 and a one-off participation for the season from the Ducati China Panigale Cup in Round 3. This is an exciting phase for us and also a huge milestone which I believe will serve to accelerate the progress of our championship further on the global front in terms of recognition and entry-list. Apart from that, I also am confident that it has provided a different set of experience for our riders which is much-needed and value adding especially in acquiring a well-rounded experience.” “Moving forward, the goal remains in our bid to widen the outreach. We want to see a more diversified entry-list and beyond serving as a testing ground for professional riders, we hope that the championship will also continue to spur the interest and be a motivational platform for aspiring riders. We are happy to note that we already have a number of confirmed participants coming from neighbouring countries. At TWMR, our mission is to serve the needs of the ever-evolving trends and demands of motorsports in meeting the needs of our teams and riders while retaining our unique disposition. We strive to emulate the global standards of motorsports so that our community is constantly prepped for the bigger challenges. Together with SIC, we will continue to explore the avenues for continuous advancement with the best interest of serving the industry and the community as a whole. Season 2025 will be a fantastic one!” Azhan Shafriman Hanif, Chief Executive Officer of PETRONAS SIC added, “We are proud of the progress the MSBK has made, particularly with the growing international participation in 2024. This achievement is a result of our strong partnership with TWMR, and we thank them for helping with the efforts of elevating the presence of the Championship to a global level. MSBK has become an important platform for riders and is a major boost to tourism especially in bringing fans together to a world-class circuit. We are excited for what 2025 holds, and we believe this partnership will continue to grow the racing industry, offering more opportunities for brands to connect with the sport and its audience.”