Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin from the Yamaha Racing Team ASEAN looks to have taken to 1000cc racing like a duck to water. Racing in his maiden MSBK 1000 class in the 2021 Malaysia Superbike Championship, Kasma’s performance to date has been particularly impressive, especially when he secured the right to park his bike on pole position with a quickest lap of 2’07.881s. Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi was noticeably absent from the grid. A prior engagement to film a launch video for Honda meant that Zaqhwan had had to skip the qualifying and Race 1. Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman clocked second fastest with 2’08.423s while MME Racing Team Malaysia’s Ahmad Danial Haiqal grabbed the last spot on the front row with 2’08.529s. Mohd Ramdan Rosli, Azlan’s TKKR team mate, was fourth quickest in the session followed by Nik Hadi Nik Mahmood in fifth with 2’16.112s. Nik’s entry was particularly note-worthy. He is the first Malaysian rider to race the Ducati Panigale V4R. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us.
Racing astride a stock standard Honda CBR1000RR is no hassle for Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi. At Round 1 of the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) underway this weekend, the 26-year-old even clocked a new MSBK 1000 lap record during the first day of free practice with 2’07.317s. “I am riding a stock standard bike, direct from the factory. The only major difference is, of course, the suspension system. Creating a new laptime came as a complete surprise to me too!” Zaqhwan joked. Nevertheless, Zaqhwan revealed that he will not be taking part in Race 1 on Saturday. “Honda had made prior arrangement to film a launch video with me. Since there was no way to change the studio time, I have no choice but to absent myself from the grid tomorrow. I’ll be back for Race 2 and Race 3 on Sunday. But having missed the all-important qualifying session, this means that I will start both races from the back of the grid… on a stock standard bike.” Elsewhere, MSBK 1000 rookie Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin gave good account for himself in his maiden ride astride the Yamaha YZF-R1M. Kasma ended the day half a second adrift of Zaqhwan’s pace, second quickest in class with 2’07.742s. Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman clocked third fastest with 2’08.134s. The 2019 FIM Asian Superbike champion was having trouble getting back into the grove and crashed out in the closing minutes of the second free practice. MSBK 1000 COMBINED FREE PRACTICE RESULTS Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi (Honda, Boon Siew Honda Racing Team), 2’07.317s Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin (Yamaha, Yamaha Racing Team ASEAN), 2’07.742s Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (BMW, ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team), 2’08.134s Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us.
After a year-long hiatus, the Malaysian superbike riders finally have the chance to get back on the track. The announcement that the 2021 season of the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) will be held at the Sepang Circuit this weekend has brought out some of the biggest names in the Malaysian motorcycle racing fraternity. The MSBK1000 will most likely be the battleground between Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman and Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi. Both riders are acknowledged as among the best superbike riders in this region. Things are even more interesting in the MSBK600 class where Khairul Idham Pawi is making his racing comeback with the ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team. Mohd Syarifuddin Azman, who is slated to make his full season GP debut next year, will also arrive on the grid with the ZK Racing Team. From the Honda camp, Azroy Hakeem Anuar and Mohd Helmi Azman will finally get to put their brand new Honda CBR600RR through its paces. The bike that was launched in 2020 has yet to strut its stuff on the track. And for the first time in two years, spectators are finally welcome back to the grandstand. Entry to the grandstand is free, but limited only to adults above 18 years old, and must be fully vaccinated. Fans can expect to witness race battles in three classes – the MSBK1000, MSBK600 and MSBK250. In total, three races will be held over the weekend. “The last two years has been quite challenging for the motorcycle racing industry. We are grateful to be back and looking forward to the day when our foreign friends can also join in the race. Meanwhile, the entries for Round 1 is looking to be very promising with all our top riders competing,” said Ron Hogg, Director of Two Wheels Motor Racing, the race promoters of the MSBK. Round 1 of the 2021 Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) is taking place at the Sepang International Circuit from October 15 to 17, 2021. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us.
BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM The Boon Siew Honda Racing Team expanded its 2020 Malaysia Superbike Championship presence this year with Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi in the MSBK1000, Azroy Hakeem Anuar in the MSBK600 and Mohd Idlan Haqimi Raduan in the MSBK250 classes. Zaqhwan was absent from the team’s MSBK line-up in 2019, as he was away most of the year racing in the All Japan and the Asia Road Racing Championship. Zaqhwan’s racing plans were iced when the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic brought international travel to a grinding halt. The announcement that the 2020 Malaysia Superbike Championship would be re-started, albeit with a shortened season, was the perfect opportunity for the team and Zaqhwan to keep their superbikes race craft in shape. Months of slumber had not affected the team’s competitive edge as Zaqhwan topped the timesheets from the free practice sessions, the qualifier, and the three races in the season opener. The 21-year-old walked away from Round 1 with the maximum However, the team believes that there is still room for improvement. “We have not been racing for far too long and we think Zaqhwan’s condition is not yet at 100%. It’s not so much about winning the title as opposed to using this extra mileage for Zaqhwan to prepare for the resumption of the 2021 season in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship,” said Boon Siew Honda Racing Team manager, Zulhelmi Ahmad. HORIZON RACING TEAM Sponsorship complications delayed Mohd Farid Badrul Hisam’s confirmation for the 2020 MSBK1000 season. The defending champion’s entry was only announced at the eleventh hour. Consequently, the Horizon Racing Team engineers had their work cut out for them as they raced against the clock to prepare his 2012 BMW S1000 RR in time for the race weekend. The team’s problems were compounded by the change of tyre from Pirelli to Dunlop in the MSBK this season. The first day of practice was centred primarily around suspension setup to suit the new Dunlop slicks. Farid ended the day as the second quickest rider in the MSBK1000, but was a little more than two seconds off Zaqhwan Zaidi’s pace. 2’11.346s was Farid’s best time during the free practice sessions Farid clocked below 2’10 during the qualifier to start the weekend’s races from P2. He would then go on to finish second in all three races in Round 1. The 27-year-old’s laptimes improved steadily throughout the weekend, culminating with his best lap of the weekend, 2’08.890s clocked in Race 2. However, Farid has yet to improve on his personal best time, 2’08.304s, clocked in 2019 when he was fighting against yet another high-profile rider, Zulfahmi Khairuddin. “I think Farid did really well last weekend, but it was obvious that he will need a more competitive bike in order to race at Zaqhwan’s pace. We have three weeks to the next round and we are hoping to have our second bike prepared for him by then,” said Mohamad Yusaini, team principal of the Horizon Racing Team. Farid’s second bike is a 2015 model BMW S1000 RR. MME RACING TEAM MALAYSIA The best performance of the weekend in the MSBK1000 class was delivered by 18-year-old Ahmad Daniel Haiqal from the MME Racing Team Malaysia. The young rider came into the MSBK from an unusual route. Daniel began his career as a motocross rider before making the jump straight into the litre class in 2019 when he won the MSBK1000 Superstock B title. Daniel had obviously been training hard even through the nine months of enforced inactivity. As Round 1 commenced, armed with a 2020 model BMW S1000 RR, the MME Racing Team rider was able to immediately better his personal best time at the Sepang International Circuit. Daniel’s best in 2019 was clocked at 2’13.486s. In 2020, his new baseline was 2’12.051s. His laptimes improved dramatically from one practice session to another until Race 3 when he finally achieved his personal best so far, 2’09.159s. “We tried lots of different setups this weekend. I virtually had a different bike from Race 1 to Race 2 and finally to Race 3. The bike felt really good in Race 3, but the front brake seemed to be malfunctioning. However, I was still determined to have a go at overtaking Farid Badrul, which was how I low-sided at Turn 1 on the last lap in the third race,” said Daniel. Nevertheless, the MME Racing Team Malaysia rider picked up three third place finishes from Round 1, placing him in a solid third overall in the MSBK1000 rankings. TEAM HIAP AIK SUZUKI RACING Team Hiap Aik Suzuki Racing’s lead rider CY Khoo also displayed marked improvement over the course of the weekend. The team and riders clearly needed time to get a grip on the new Dunlop tyres. CY clocked his best time of the weekend, 2’15.942s, in Race 3. However, the determined rider has yet to better his personal best in 2019, a time of 2’14.475s clocked in Round 1. “Finally we get back to the track after a long break. My goal for Round 1 is to get my race rhythm back, and understand more about this new Dunlop tyre. Overall my team and I are quite happy with our results. We collected a lot of valuable data from the new tyres and we tried some different setup on the bike to suit the tyres,” said CY. “Thanks to organizers and team for a good event, putting us on a track in these difficult times. Hope everyone stays safe. See you in Round 2.”
Boon Siew Honda Racing Team’s Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi is easing back into race-mode as he headlines the belated season opener of the 2020 Malaysia Superbike Championship at the Sepang International Circuit this weekend. The experienced Superbike rider laid down the benchmark for the MSBK1000 class with the quickest lap of 2’09.153s However, this is a far cry from his personal best at the 5.542km Sepang circuit, 2’06.023s. While Zaqhwan enjoyed his first day back on the track, the rest of the MSBK1000 field were primarily focused on suspension setup. Here are some quotes from the riders after the first day of practice: Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi (Honda) (Boon Siew Honda Racing Team) “Today, I’m just focused on getting back in sync with the bike. Even though I’ve not been racing, I have never stopped training. The stamina and power is still there. I just need to shake off the rust and settle down to enjoy my first race.” “We were not pushing for time today because the weather was too unpredictable. It was dry in the morning and then we had a heavy drizzle and cooler temperatures in the afternoon. It would have been foolhardy to risk pushing for lap records under these circumstances.” Mohd Farid Badrul Hisam (BMW) (Horizon Racing Team) “Suspension setup was top on our list today. The switch to Dunlop means we need brand new suspension strategy to retain our competitive edge this season. CY Khoo (Suzuki) (Team Hiap Aik Suzuki Racing) “We like that we have more compound options to choose from as this means we now have more ways to set up for the race. This is a good development, considering our changing Malaysian weather.” Joey Teoh (Suzuki) “I’ve enjoyed my first day back on the track so far. The leg’s holding up, although a little stiff. I’m looking forward to the rest of the weekend.”