“My father wanted to be a racer but didn’t make it. Hence, the seed of racing was sown in my mind during my childhood itself,” says Ke Huan Ni of the Lady Boss Racing Team, who is currently making strides in category 250B in The Malaysia Superbike Championship Seasons 2023. This 13-year-old lad from China fulfilled his father’s dream of becoming a racer. The father had to quit racing due to lack of funds but the son made it happen! A father who struggled to live his dream due to a financial crisis and got a son who had a similar spark to his passion at a young age, the father supports his son with whatever it takes to make it happen – everything you all read sounds so dramatic right? But no it’s a real story. Huan Ni is not one of those baby phenomena who started riding a motorcycle before knowing how to walk, only at the age of 9 did he start to think of himself as a rider. “Who said that dreams cannot come true? Before falling asleep each and every night since I was 9, I closed my eyes and tried to imagine the moment when I would cross the finish line and celebrate the victory on the podium. Then I said to myself, we’ll see if it happens”. It happened and was probably even better than how he imagined it to be. “ First it was my father’s dream, without realizing it became mine too. My father’s dream was to be a racer. Due to financial status back then he was unable to compete in various competitions and it is the biggest regret of his life to date. Moreover, his family and society were not supportive of risky-affairs with bike racing. But as it’s always said when there is a will there is a way. That’s what happened” “My dad got me a 50cc mini motorbike when I was 6 years old. But it never began there, though. Before I even realized I was into two wheels and speed, my dad enrolled me in various classes such as art, music, and roller skating and honestly, none of this really aroused my interest until the entrance of this lil bike in my life. “There begins my journey into the motorsport scene. My father formulated a training plan according to our situation and sent me to various competitions in which we afford to participate. He was my coach cum sponsor and most of all my backbone! When I first started my racing journey, I fell several times and it gets extremely scary sometimes. It’s only my father who always comes to my rescue and motivates me when I feel super low, to date, he never fails to push me further.” said Huan Ni. His success journey included the passion and dream of his father! The rider who is new to the MSBK scene has definitely showcased great potential in the season opener when grabbed a podium slot in both Race 1 and 2. Nevertheless, it wasn’t an easy task for the young lad. “The biggest challenge for me at the moment is my machine configuration, which there’s a huge difference when compared to machines from the professional teams. Riding alongside riders from MSBK250 A, I could really observe the difference between my machine and theirs. They are super fast, definitely, because of the specs… and I think that’s one of the reasons they can be at the front easily. “Regardless, my baby (machine) isn’t any lesser, I just have to improve by rounds. I have to read fast and figure out what can be done for upcoming races. So far, I am satisfied with my performance in Round 1, there is much room for improvement, but yeah, it wasn’t a bad one! “I’m rooting for the championship title for this season. It can be my debut year and I shouldn’t be expecting much, but I would love to make it a memorable one! A title in the debut season, I would cherish this memory forever! “At the moment, Rakshit Dave from CRA Motorsports India is my main contender. However, I am not putting much pressure on myself by thinking about the strength of my competitor, but I’m focusing on improving my pace and setting up my vehicle. Round 1 went well, and Round 2, fingers crossed. I’m confident I can do better, let’s see what happens this weekend,” Huan Ni all geared up for the 2nd Round of MSBK in International Sepang Circuit this weekend. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Race 2, Round 1 of Malaysia Superbike Championship was held at the Sepang International Circuit today. Md Irfan Hakyal of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team took home the win today in the MSBK250 race category. Irfan was off to a fantastic start and for the next 10-lap race, he dominated the circuit with his teammate, Farid trailing behind. Third lap onwards, Irfan was gliding smoothly with a gap that was impossible to close. At P3, Geoffrey took control of his position and stayed on a consistent pace before concluding the race at third spot. For today’s race, Irfan was seen taking the lead once again with Farid Hakimi trailing closely behind. By the end of lap 2, Irfan pulled away from Farid and began drawing a gap. Geoffrey was overtaken by Muzakkir. By mid-race, Irfan was once again far ahead of the troop with Farid at P2 and Muzakkir at P3. Geoffrey was at P4 trying to inch closer to Muzakkir. With two more laps to go, Irfan was 7.908s away from Farid. But Muzakkir who was trying to close the gaps with Farid succeeded before the final lap. Nevertheless, Farid did not give up, he overtook Muzakkir and sped ahead. Muzakkir began slowing down which gave Geoffrey the upper hand to move ahead into P3. By then, Irfan was on his way towards celebrating his double-win for the weekend clocking in at 19’46:542s. Commenting on his win, Irfan said, “It was an incredible race. Like yesterday, I was able to At second spot was Md Farid Hakimi of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team at 19’57:926s. Taking the third spot for the day was Geoffrey Reviven Emmanuel of Gusto Racing Team at 20’11:915. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Race 2, Round 1 of Malaysia Superbike Championship was held at the Sepang International Circuit today. Rakshith Dave of CRA Motorsports India bagged the weekend warrior trophy today in the MSBK250 B race category. Rakshith was steady in his position and managed his pace throughout the race. Behind him was Izrul and Huan Ni who tried to close the gaps but the Indian rider was in full control of his game as he led towards charting fastest in the race. Today was once again a good day for Rakshith who took the lead with Izrul and Huan Ni next in line. As the momentum picked up, Izrul picked up speed and overtook Rakshith before Huan Ni followed suit. Unfortunately, Izrul had a fall and Rakshith was back at the lead position. Huan Ni managed his pace behind him with Ezrix trying to close the gap. At the second last lap, Kuan Ni moved ahead of Rakshith for a moment before Rakshith took back his position. The Indian rider went on to complete the race first at 20’52:611s. Commenting on the race, Rakshith said, “It was a really good race although the start was that great. But I managed to put on a good fight to stay in the momentum. I thank my team and crew who have worked really hard for this weekend and I hope to achieve many more results like this and even better in time to come.” At second spot was He Kuan Ni of Lady Boss Racing Team at 20’53:833s. Md Nur Haikal of HJ Racing Team clocked in third at 21’03:022s. With the combined results, Rakshith celebrated the number one place followed by He Kuan Ni and Md Zakwan Anas Azizul at third place. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Race 1, Round 1 of the Malaysia Superbike Championship was off to a fantastic start today at the Sepang International Circuit. Md Irfan Haykal of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team took his first win for the season in the MSBK250 A race category. During the qualifying session earlier today, Irfan Haykal of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team clocked in the fastest lap time at 2’27:983s, taking the pole-position for the weekend and adding on to his advantage at the circuit. Second fastest was teammate Farid Hakimi at 2’28:116s. Geoffrey Revivan Emmanuel of Gusto Racing India logged third fastest at 2’30:956s. Irfan was seen fleeing ahead from his pole-position as soon as the race flagged off. He immediately dominated the circuit followed by his teammate Farid at P2. By the end of lap 2, Geoffrey who was at P4 pushed ahead into P3. By the end of lap 3, Irfan had drawn a gap of 8.810s away from Farid. The trio seemed comfortable with their positions and their momentum as Irfan went on to draw a wider gap. With another two more laps to go, Geoffrey went on to try his luck to close the gaps with Farid but Farid kept his composure as he went on with the final lap. Before the lap ended, Geoffrey struck and took P2. Meanwhile, Irfan was on his way to his first victory for the season. At the final lap, the battle between Farid and Geoffrey heated up. The duo entangled in an exchange of positions but Geoffrey kept his composure. At the final turn however, Farid took a slide from the outside and overtook Geoffrey before one last push towards the finish line. Irfan clocked in at 19’52:243s with a gap of 15.329s. Commenting on the race, Irfan said, “The machine has been really good for the race today. On my part, I tried to stay consistent and progressively drew a gap with my rider behind me. I must say that it was a great race and I have been really comfortable riding the machine. I am grateful for the win today.” Teammate Md Farid Hakimi took the second spot at 20’08:730s. Geoffrey made it third at 20’08:769s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Race 1, Round 1 of the Malaysia Superbike Championship got off to a great start today at the Sepang International Circuit today. Clocking in fastest was Rakshith Dave of CRA Motorsports India in the MSBK250 B race category. Earlier during the qualifying session, Ke Huan Ni went on to clock in fastest at 2’35:165s. At the second fastest was Rakshith Dave of CRA Motorsports India with his best at 2’35:169s. Nur Haikal Fikri of HJ Racing Team made the third fastest lap time at 2’35:172s. The battle between the riders began with Rakshith taking the lead followed by Izrul and Ezrix. The Indian rider was steady in his position as he went on to take charge. At P4, Ke Huan Ni was trying to move ahead but the riders remained consistent with their pace. Throughout the 8-lap race, the riders guarded their positions well. Rakshith went on to complete the race fastest at 1’10:190s. Commenting on the race, Rakshith said, “It was a good race today. I managed to stay among the group A riders. I was able to fight for a moment with them before they fled ahead. So then, I began the battle with the CBR250 Challenge Cup riders. To me, the layout is a good one and racing here has been challenging yet interesting. We did not expect it to rain though, although we were amazed at how fast it dried up. So, we were happy about that. For tomorrow, we will maintain the strategy as today and hope to take the win.” At the second fastest spot was Md Izrul Huzaimi of Horizon Racing Team, clocking in at 1’12:742s. Third fastest went to Ke Huan Ni of Lady Boss Racing Team at 1’23:733s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Round 1 of The Malaysia Superbike Championship Season 2023 revved off today at the Sepang International Circuit. Irfan Haykal of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team logged in fastest in the practice sessions combined for the MSBK250 A race category. Earlier this morning during practice session 1, Md Irfan Haykal Amidi of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team clocked in fastest at 2’27:632s followed by his teammate Md Farid Hakimi 2’30:737. At the third fastest was Louis Abelhard of 2’35:318s. In practice session 2 which was held in the afternoon, Irfan once again emerged fastest at 2’28:967s followed by Md Muzakkir Mohamed of Horizon Racing Team at 2’30:858s. Coming in third fastest was Farid Hakimi at 2’31:192s. With that, the fastest for the day in the practice sessions combined was Irfan Haykal with his best time at 2’27:632s. Last season, Irfan took home the championship title with seven podiums including four wins. Irfan has definitely showcased confidence in the race category and has seemed to have mastered the circuit layout to his advantage. Commenting on the session, Irfan said, “In FP1, I was able to maximise speed and achieve a better time however in FP2, it was a little difficult to manage the tires that have already been worn out. But today’s session was a good start. I managed to secure good timing. This season’s entry list may be a little challenging but, on my part, it is manageable and I hope to repeat my successes during the race tomorrow and on Sunday.” At second fastest combined was teammate Farid Hakimi at 2’30:737s followed by Muzakkir at 2’30:858s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Round 1 of The Malaysia Superbike Championship Seasons 2023 went on a great start this morning at the Sepang International Circuit. Ke Huan Ni of Lady Boss Racing Team clocked in fastest in the practice sessions, combined in the MSBK250 B. During the practice session 1, Huan Ni clocked in the fastest lap time at 2’32:820s followed by Rakshith Dave of CRA Motorsports India at 2’36:197s. At the third fastest was Md Ezrix Shayriz at 2’37:273s. Later in the noon during practice session 2, Huan Ni once again logged in fastest at 2’35:283s followed by Rakshith with his best at 2’35:736s and Md Izrul Huzaimi of Horizon Racing Team at 2’36:229s. Ke Huan Ni concluded the evening as the fastest rider in the practice sessions, combined with his best time at 2’32:820s. The rider who is new to the MSBK scene has definitely showcased great potential today and looks forward to the race tomorrow. Commenting on the session today, 13-year-old Huan Ni from China said, “It was an exhilarating session today and I had a good time riding. In FP1, I was able to get better lap time but in FP2, I pushed too much and I had a fall. Overall, the feel of being here, racing alongside professional riders is a good one and I hope to do my best tomorrow.” At second best combined was Rakshith with his best lap time at 2’35:736s followed by Izrul Huzaimi at 2’36:229s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
There’s no escaping the reality: Motorsport still has a major diversity problem. Have things improved? Almost certainly. But enough? Far from it. All of motorsport is guilty of it and every series and discipline must do better. That’s no small task. It requires a lot of time, money, and resources to be dedicated to the problem, and finding a person or an organization with all three isn’t easy right now. Yet, there is a lot of work going on in the background to improve diversity. The number of female motorcycle riders that make it to the prestigious Asia-level competitions or even national tournaments is already tiny, so female participation at all levels needs a substantial boost if we are to see a high-profile, female riders in the future. They say “Go the extra mile to move mountains, even if it’s a tiny step!” Taking a leap of faith, a 16-year-old two wheels rider, Saidatul Zakirah Zairin determined to start nurturing young female talent in a bid to genuinely improve gender diversity in motorcycle racing through setting up her own team. Kirah, who will be competing in the MSBK250cc category at the season opener this weekend at the Sepang International Circuit, representing her very own team, LADY BOSS RACING TEAM, jumping into the hoops with strong optimism. “What I’d like to do is actually give more opportunities to girls, females in racing, or even younger riders, and get them to have a good platform where they feel they are supported, where they are being seen.” “The team is not gonna be specifically for females but also young riders regardless of gender, but our aim is to groom more female riders. Setting up a team is not a one-person interest. My dad and I have been planning to create our own team, motivated by the desire to be independent and increase our exposure. Alongside my dad and my family, I believe I can make this work!” “This is only the beginning. We intend to develop future riders and inspire others, especially females. However, we understand that this is not an easy challenge and I am sure there is gonna be many hiccups in the process, but it has to begin somewhere, no? So we don’t expect it to happen quickly. This will be a long-term plan of ours.” When she blazes a trail, she hopes more women will follow. Brunei born, Zakirah who is better known, as Kirah was raised in Qatar since the age of 5. From following her father to international motor racing competitions such as MotoGP, World SuperBike Championship (WSBK), and also FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC), the young girl instantly fell in love with two wheels and entered the world of motorsports at the age of 11. “I remember as a little girl, I used to sit on the grandstands and just watch racing all day long, loving every minute of it,” she recalls. “So that’s where the passion started; the enthusiasm for racing. I was just so amazed by the riders, how they ride those bikes, and the thrill of it. And also, being able to meet some of the riders; I thought, they’re just so down to earth.” “For me going into bike racing, I know it is a bit out of the norm because I’m going to be the only female team owner in MSBK, at the moment. It’s huge and a stepping stone for me. We need to see more women involved; more female riders or more female management; that’s what I would like to see in the future. We are getting more female car racers. I think for bike racing, it will take a bit longer to change. But I think eventually we will see more female riders.” “It’s a bit of a challenge, obviously being such a male-dominated sport. And secondly, there are online comments, and people are going to say things. I think the most important thing is you just have to do what you love and focus on the end result and just enjoy it. Life is always going to be difficult. But if you are happy with what you do, and you enjoy it, you should always take on a challenge.” Acknowledging the difficult path Kirah is about to take up, she intends to equally invest her energy into her racing career. Despite the hectic schedule of her studies, Kirah believes it is possible to make waves in the motorsport scene. In her second year in MSBK, Kirah aims to improve her timing this weekend at Sepang. “My target for this season is to get better results than the last, I am not only competing against other racers but I am also competing against myself in order to improve.” Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
The Malaysia Superbike Championship is back on track once again for yet another season. The riders of the MSBK250 race category are geared up for the Round 1 which will be held at Sepang International Circuit this weekend. Irfan Haykal was fiery last season when he rode towards the championship title with a hat-trick in the MSBK250 A race category. At second spot was Zakir Naqiuddin followed by Ashish Patel at the third place. In the MSBK250 B race category, Fauzi Hassan flaunted his moves before claiming the victorious title at the top of the chart. Amir Izzat Rozali took the second spot followed by Ahmad Fariz at third. Commenting on his participation this season, Irfan said, “This season, I will continue to enhance my performance to do better. I am really happy to be back in the MSBK250 race category because I want to gain more experience with the 250cc machine and further accentuate my skills. Of course, I also want to win. Some of the preparations that I am working on would be on my fitness level. I am diligent when it comes to the weekly routine and I make sure that I optimise the opportunity given to improve myself. As for the machine, I trust that my team is working their best to ensure that there are no issues during the race weekend. My team is highly experienced and they have a track record of working on victorious machines. Therefore, I am not so worried about the machine and its setup because I am confident with the abilities of my team and its crew. While racing in MSBK may be a little different in terms of its entry list and its race format, the experience that I have gained in Cub Prix and ARRC would be an advantage in helping me adapt to the differences. This season, I foresee a tougher battle within the race category. Nevertheless, I am equipping myself with the essentials so that I can face it with greater confidence.” Season 2023 will kickstart with riders who have been accustomed to the MSBK traits with the inclusion of lady riders Norsyafiyah Alia of CHV RACING and Saidatul Zakirah of LADY BOSS RACING TEAM who have embraced equity in motorsports alongside their male counterparts. The format of the racing category will remain the same as the previous season with MSBK250 A and MSBK250 B riders racing together. Former Cub Prix rider, Alia who would be pursuing a Law Degree this September said, “I just completed my foundation studies and while waiting for enrolment into MSU, I spend my time with the team working on my physical ability and endurance. As a female rider riding alongside male riders, MSBK gives me the boost to be more competitive. I have always been passionate about motorcycle racing therefore I chose to challenge myself further through this participation. At the same time, I am also motivated by the abilities of the other riders as well as their encouraging words to do better. As this is my second year in the championship, I am determined to stay focused during the race to achieve the target that I have set for myself. It starts with enhancing self-discipline in training while monitored by my coach. My training includes strengthening my core muscles, cardio-exercise and enhanced concentration skills.” “As for the machine, the preparations are on track and are all ready to go at SIC this weekend. CHV Racing is a new team for the season and their core objective is to develop riders while accentuating the presence of female riders like myself. With CHV Racing, the riders are taught to ride and manage the machine accurately and systematically by experienced trainers for a more effective result. CHV Racing is particular about its expertise and ensures that the manpower is selected according to their credentials in the management of high-powered machines. Our team works closely with Giatmara Malaysia in the provision of expertise in motorcycle technology.” Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
It was one striking performance by the troop of MSBK250 A Class riders before the end of the Malaysia Superbike Championship season at the Sepang International Circuit. Muhd Irfan Haykal Amidi of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM bagged the fastest spot today. Irfan, as usual, went on to a great start as soon as the race flagged off. He led the team with Amirul at P2 and Alif at P3. By the end of the second lap, Irfan had left Amirul with a gap of 7.241s and an almost impossible gap to compete with. Irfan was confident, cruising down the circuit without much pressure from behind. He remained consistent, managing his pace to ensure that his rival behind him stays far away. At the end of the third lap, Amirul was approximately 10.284s behind Irfan. Meanwhile, Alif was trying to catch up at P3. By mid-race, Irfan was on his way to taking the win. All he had to do was to maintain his momentum. The same was for Amirul and Alif who were comfortably completing one lap at a time. Irfan made a striking win when he clocked in at 20’13:377s with a gap of 23.487s. With that, Irfan was made the Overall Champion. At the second spot, it was M. Amirul Affiq A. Solikhin of BUDAK KIMIA-JOND CHAIN LUBE RACING BY BRAAAP at 20’36:864s. Alif Ashraf Tahiruddin of TEGUH MOKTI’S RACING TEAM clocked in at 20’57:647s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us