Round 1 of the 2026 MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit saw Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND produce a flawless performance in Race 2 of the MSBK600 category, securing a dominant lights-to-flag win to complete a perfect weekend. Thanat immediately took control from the start, launching into the lead ahead of Malaysia’s Khairul Idham Pawi and Muhd Naqib Rifqi Zulhelmi, with China’s He Jun Peng settling into fourth. From the opening laps, the Thai rider looked composed and confident, setting the rhythm of the race while Khairul remained his closest pursuer. By Lap 3, Thanat stamped his authority with the fastest lap of 2’12.865s, gradually extending his advantage while Khairul stayed within 1.066 seconds. However, as the race developed, the gap steadily increased. By Lap 7, Thanat had stretched his lead to 2.776 seconds, with Khairul struggling to maintain consistency under heavy braking into the technical sections. The decisive phase came in the closing laps, where Thanat continued to edge away from the chasing pack. By Lap 8, the gap had grown to 3.318 seconds, effectively sealing the outcome. With clear air ahead, he controlled the pace and brought the bike home comfortably to win in 22’21.178s. Behind him, Khairul Idham Pawi settled for second place in 22’25.779s after a demanding race managing tyre and braking performance, while Muhd Naqib Rifqi Zulhelmi secured third in 22’41.805s. He Jun Peng of China completed the top four, rounding out the leading group. Thanat shared, “I’m very happy with this race. We tried to pull away from Khairul and managed to win. The wind was very strong, especially in Sectors 2 and 3, so it was difficult to push because the bike could slide. But I felt confident, and I’m ready for Round 2 of ARRC. I know I’m strong, but I still need to improve further.” TOP 4 FASTEST – RACE 2 1. THANAT LAOONGPLIO – HONDA RACING THAILAND (22’21.178s) 2. KHAIRUL IDHAM PAWI – MALAYSIA (22’25.779s) 3. MUHD NAQIB RIFQI ZULHELMI – MALAYSIA (22’41.805s) 4. HE JUN PENG – CHINA (24’07.648s)
Treacherous wet conditions set the tone for a dramatic MSBK600 Race 1 at Round 1 of the 2026 MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship, as Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND delivered a controlled and commanding ride to take victory at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit. Run in heavy rain on a fully wet track, the race demanded precision and bravery from the start. Thanat quickly asserted control off the line to lead, with Malaysia’s Khairul Idham Pawi slotting into second and teammate Kitsada Tanachot in third. Muhd Naqib Rifqi Zulhelmi and China’s He Jun Peng completed the top five. By Lap 2, Khairul, known as the ‘King of Rain’, closed rapidly on Thanat, but worsening weather conditions triggered a red flag for safety. After a restart over a shortened 7-lap sprint, Thanat once again led the field into Turn 1, with Kitsada second and Khairul briefly third before reclaiming second through a decisive move at Turn 7. The battle for victory immediately intensified as Khairul stayed glued to Thanat’s rear wheel. Thanat responded with strong pace, setting a fastest lap of 2’30.213s on Lap 3 and improving to 2’28.797s on Lap 4 to stretch a small gap. Khairul, however, refused to back down, keeping the pressure high throughout. On Lap 6, Thanat delivered a standout 2’18.340s lap, and heading into the final lap, he found another gear to extend his advantage to 1.266s, enough to seal the win. Thanat crossed the line in 17’29.361s for a hard-fought victory. Khairul finished second at 17’30.711s after a relentless chase, while Kitsada secured third in 17’41.652s. Thanat shared, “Today was difficult from Qualifying, but in the wet race I felt confident. I tried to stay consistent with my lap times and pushed when I saw the opportunity, with the aim of winning the race. Overall, I feel very happy, and tomorrow we will try to win again in Race 2.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1 1. THANAT LAOONGPLIO – HONDA RACING THAILAND (17’29.361s) 2. KHAIRUL IDHAM PAWI – MALAYSIA (17’30.711s) 3. KITSADA TANACHOT – HONDA RACING THAILAND (17’41.652s) 4. MUHD NAQIB RIFQI ZULHELMI – MALAYSIA (17’48.121s) 5. HE JUN PENG – CHINA (18’52.534s)
The MSBK600 category at the opening round of the MAM MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP 2026, held today at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, saw Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND top the combined practice sessions. Thanat emerged fastest in Practice 1, setting a best lap time of 2’10.925s. His teammate, Kitsada Tanachot followed in second with a time of 2’11.444s, while Khairul Idham Pawi from Malaysia secured third place with a time of 2’12.787s. In Practice 2, Thanat once again led the pack, with his lap time of 2’11.553s, achieving a speed of 151.69km/h on lap 10. Khairul placed second with a time of 2’11.851s, just 0.298s behind Thanat, while Kitsada finished in third with a time of 2’12.670s. The combined results from both practice sessions confirmed Thanat as the fastest overall, with Kitsada in second and Khairul in third. Thanat commented, “I’m happy to finish as the fastest rider today. For Race 1 tomorrow, I will do my best. We want to win because our goal this year is to become champions, and I want to prove myself. We also aim to achieve more podiums than we did previously.” TOP 5 FASTEST – FREE PRACTICE (COMBINED) THANAT LAOONGPLIO – HONDA RACING THAILAND (2’10.925s) KITSADA TANACHOT – HONDA RACING THAILAND (2’11.444s) KHAIRUL IDHAM PAWI – MALAYSIA (2’11.851s) MUHD NAQIB RIFQI ZULHELMI – MALAYSIA (2’16.089s) KHAIRULAMIRIN YAHAYA – FKR CHV RACING (2’19.734s)
The MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship 2026 marks a bold and defining transition for Khairulamirin Yahaya, as the FKR CHV RACING rider steps up to the highly competitive MSBK600 category for the first time in his career. After competing in the MSBK250 A category last season, where he concluded the championship 11th overall, Amirin now finds himself entering unfamiliar territory. The move to Supersport machinery represents not just a progression in class, but a complete shift in performance demands, technical complexity, and race dynamics. Amirin said, “For the 2026 season, the team decided to take on a new challenge by entering the Supersport category, and they’ve entrusted me with the responsibility of racing in this class after our time together in the MSBK250 A category. As a rider, this truly feels like a first for me, as I’ve never competed in the Supersport category before. In many ways, I consider myself a newcomer at this level, and I know there is a lot for me to learn.” “On top of that, the team has chosen the Ducati Panigale V2 for this campaign, which makes this project even more exciting and unique. From what I understand, this could be the first time the Ducati Panigale V2 is being raced in the MSBK600 class, so it’s a very special debut for both the team and the bike,” He added. The introduction of the Ducati Panigale V2 adds another compelling layer to Amirin’s 2026 campaign. Known for its power and character, the machine presents a new set of challenges, especially for a rider transitioning from smaller capacity bikes. Despite the step up in horsepower, Amirin remains grounded in his approach. “There’s no real pressure placed on me this season. The team’s objective is clear—we want to focus on collecting as much data as possible, working on suspension setup, and most importantly, building my familiarity with the Ducati. This is my first time racing a bike with this level of power, so adapting will take time. That said, I do have some experience managing strong torque from my time competing in the Spanish Supermoto Championship on a 450cc Husqvarna, which I believe will help me adjust. Personally, I’m very happy with this transition. I’m excited to see how far we can push, not just in terms of my own development as a rider, but also in achieving the right balance and performance with the bike as a team.” With a fresh challenge, a unique machine, and a team committed to long-term development, the 2026 season could prove to be a pivotal turning point in his career. For Amirin, the journey into MSBK600 is not just about results. It’s about growth, discovery, and laying the foundation for something bigger.
Khairul Idham Pawi of HONDA RACING MYS once again proved why Malaysia calls him “The King of Rain.” When storms turn the circuit into a battle of balance and bravery, he thrives. While others tiptoe through uncertainty, Khairul finds traction where few can, carving racing lines invisible to the untrained eye. In the wettest moments of the 2025 AEON CREDIT MAM MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP, he didn’t just survive. He dominated. Reducing Khairul to a rain specialist would be unfair. His smooth control, perfect braking, and calm focus turn consistency into his greatest weapon. While others flare, he endures. Challenges came fast, but Khairul’s resilience never wavered. Every test, every rival, every doubt was met with results on the track. His success in the 2025 AEON CREDIT MAM MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP is also a culmination of years on the world stage. From Moto3 to Moto2, and across regional circuits, Khairul gained not just speed, but perspective, intelligence, and a veteran understanding of race psychology. This showed in every start, every overtake, and every finish line crossed in MSBK600. By season’s end, Khairul Idham Pawi was the rightful MSBK600 Champion. Not by accident. Not by luck. But by craft, courage, and quiet brilliance. Rain or shine, Khairul is unstoppable. The 2025 crown wasn’t handed to him. He conquered it.
Round 4 of the 2025 AEON CREDIT MAM MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit witnessed a spectacular showdown in the MSBK600 category, as Md Izam Ikmal Izamli of HONG LEONG YAMAHA MALAYSIA claimed victory in Race 2. Despite Izam’s win, Khairul Idham Pawi of HONDA RACING MYS secured the MSBK600 Overall Champion title for the 2025 season. From the outset, Izam had a strong start, but Farres Putra Md Fadhil of HONG LEONG YAMAHA MALAYSIA capitalized on an open line to take the early lead, with Khairul slotting into second. Izam quickly settled into third, closely followed by Cao Viet Nam and Md Irfan Haykhal Amidi of HONDA RACING MYS. The early laps saw relentless action at the front. Izam and Khairul swapped positions repeatedly, with both riders setting fastest laps and keeping the crowd on edge. By Lap 4, light rain added an extra layer of challenge, but the duo maintained a gap over Farres, who held third position. Lap 5 brought more drama as Izam set the fastest lap of 2’11.705s to take the lead, only for Khairul to reclaim it at Turn 6. The battle continued through multiple laps with both riders overtaking each other at nearly every turn, while Cao Viet Nam and Farres fought fiercely for third. Lap 9 saw Viet Nam crash but rejoin the race, leaving Farres unchallenged in third. The final lap saw both Izam and Khairul pushing every corner, Khairul attempted a last-moment overtake at the final turn. Izam skilfully blocked him, using his momentum on the straight to cross the finish line first in 22’15.716s, just 0.063s ahead of Khairul, who finished second at 22’15.779s. Farres completed the podium in third at 22’24.475s. Izam said, “Today’s race was insane. I knew I had a very good start, and this weekend, Khairul was much faster compared to the previous round. He tried to maintain his pace and was very aggressive, especially with Race 2 in mind. I stayed with him in the early stages, and it became an intense battle, especially through many of the corners. On the last lap, I knew Khairul was strong on the brakes, so I had to block him into Turn 14 to prevent the overtake, and it worked. Into Turn 15, I held the inside line, and at the corner exit, I knew that was my moment. This win is a blessing from the prayers and support of everyone around me.” Overall, as announced yesterday, Khairul is crowned MSBK600 Overall Champion, with 147 points, ahead of Farres with 114 points and Cao Viet Nam with 109 points. SIC AND TWMR WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO AEON CREDIT (M) BERHAD FOR THE SUPPORT RENDERED THIS WEEKEND DURING AEON CREDIT MAM MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP. TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2 1. MUHD IZAM IKMAL IZAMLI – HONG LEONG YAMAHA MYS (22’15.716s) 2. KHAIRUL IDHAM PAWI – HONDA RACING MYS (22’15.779s) 3. FARRES PUTRA MOHD FADHIL – HONG LEONG YAMAHA MYS (22’24.475s) 4. MD IRFAN HAYKHAL AMIDI (22’41.108s) 5. CAO VIET NAM – HONDA RACING VIE TEAM (23’07.165s) TOP 5 – OVERALL STANDINGS 1. KHAIRUL IDHAM PAWI – HONDA RACING MYS (147 points) 2. FARRES PUTRA MOHD FADHIL – HONG LEONG YAMAHA MALAYSIA (114 points) 3. CAO VIET NAM – HONDA RACING VIE TEAM (109 points) 4. MUHD IZAM IKMAL IZAMLI – HONG LEONG YAMAHA MALAYSIA (95 points) 5. ZHOU FENGLONG – CHINA (77 points)
Race 1 of Round 4 in the 2025 AEON CREDIT MAM MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP’s MSBK600 category at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit delivered an intense battle, with Md Izam Ikmal Izamli of HONG LEONG YAMAHA MALAYSIA narrowly claiming victory over Khairul Idham Pawi of HONDA RACING MYS. Despite finishing second, Khairul’s consistent performance throughout the season earned him the overall 2025 MSBK600 championship title. At the start, Izam surged to the front, leading the race ahead of Cao Viet Nam of HONDA RACING VIE TEAM in second, and Khairul Idham Pawi in third. Farres Putra Md Fadhil of HONG LEONG YAMAHA MYS slotted into fourth, with Md Irfan Haykhal Amidi of HONDA RACING MYS in fifth. By Lap 2, Viet Nam overtook Izam to take the lead, while Khairul set the fastest lap of 2’13.044s on Lap 3, moving into second and chasing the Vietnamese rider. Izam remained in third as Irfan crashed out of the race. Lap 4 saw Khairul seize the lead from Viet Nam, with Izam quickly reclaiming second by overtaking from the inside line and closing in on Khairul. Farres maintained a solid fourth position. As rain began to drizzle on Lap 6, the intensity between Khairul and Izam only increased. Both riders exchanged positions multiple times, with Khairul gaining advantage in the corners and Izam pulling ahead on the straights. By the final lap, the two riders were neck-and-neck, trading overtakes nearly every turn. In a breathtaking finish, Izam edged Khairul by just 0.043s to cross the line in 22’25.027s. Khairul completed a hard-fought second in 22’25.070s, while Viet Nam secured third in 22’32.113s. Although finishing second in Race 1, Khairul’s season-long consistency allowed him to collect 127 points, 29 points ahead of Farres, and secure the overall 2025 MSBK600 championship title. Izam said, “Today’s race was incredible. The weather changed mid-race, and I didn’t expect some corners to be wet, which made the track quite slippery. I couldn’t push 100 percent. Khairul also had strong pace here. At the start, I had a gap on him, but I tried to close in. At the same time, I began losing rear tire grip, so I had to adjust my strategy to prevent him from pulling away. The last lap was unbelievable. I didn’t expect him to overtake me in a corner, but Alhamdulillah, I managed to fight back, overtake him, and secure the win today.” Khairul said, “At the start of the race, I had a decent start, but I lost a few positions. I chased back and managed to stay at the front. But when the rain started, I played it safe. By the time Izam caught up behind me, I knew I had an advantage in the corners, but on the straights, I couldn’t match his speed. Nevertheless, I am still grateful to have earned this championship title.” SIC AND TWMR WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO AEON CREDIT (M) BERHAD FOR THE SUPPORT RENDERED THIS WEEKEND DURING AEON CREDIT MAM MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP. TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1 1. MUHD IZAM IKMAL IZAMLI – HONG LEONG YAMAHA MYS (22’25.027s) 2. KHAIRUL IDHAM PAWI – HONDA RACING MYS (22’25.070s) 3. CAO VIET NAM – HONDA RACING VIE TEAM (22’32.113s) 4. FARRES PUTRA MOHD FADHIL – HONG LEONG YAMAHA MYS (22’32.274s) 5. ZHOU FENGLONG – CHINA (23’43.619s)
Race 2 of Round 3 in the 2025 AEON CREDIT MAM MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP witnessed an emphatic comeback by Muhd Helmi Azman of HONDA RACING MALAYSIA, who stormed to victory in the MSBK600 class at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit. From the race start, Muhd Izam Ikmal Izamli of HONG LEONG YAMAHA MALAYSIA got off the line strongly to seize the early lead. But it didn’t take long before Helmi made a bold move to overtake and establish himself at the front, with teammate, Khairul Idham Pawi holding third. The trio quickly pulled away from the chasing group, building a 3-second gap by Lap 2. The early laps delivered thrilling exchanges as Izam and Helmi swapped positions several times, but Helmi soon began to showcase his superior pace. On Lap 3, he set the fastest time at 2’12.490s, retaking the lead before clocking yet another blistering effort of 2’11.679s on Lap 5. By mid-race, Helmi had carved out a commanding advantage, leaving Izam and Khairul locked in a fierce battle for second place. Their duel reached fever pitch on Lap 8, with both riders overtaking each other at nearly every turn, delivering a nail-biting fight to the chequered flag. At the front, Helmi crossed the finish line unchallenged in 22’07.363s to claim a statement win. Behind him, the fight for second went down to the wire, with Izam prevailing over Khairul by just 0.076s, finishing in 22’16.202s against Khairul’s 22’16.278s. Helmi expressed, “The race today was quite tough. This week we didn’t get the chance to try out any proper settings, and even during the race the bike adjustments were still far from ideal. My target was to run a 2’10 pace, but I could only manage 2’11. I couldn’t push any harder, so I just focused on maintaining my pace. Early on, Izam gave me a good fight, but I knew I had the pace, so I stayed calm and managed the situation. Above all, I want to thank my team for working so hard this week, especially after my crash yesterday. Today’s result was my way of redeeming that disappointment. I’ll take the experience from this race and carry it forward into the next one.” SIC AND TWMR WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO AEON CREDIT (M) BERHAD FOR THE SUPPORT RENDERED THIS WEEKEND DURING AEON CREDIT MAM MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP. TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2 1. MUHD HELMI AZMAN – HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (22’07.363s) 2. MUHD IZAM IKMAL IZAMLI – HONG LEONG YAMAHA MALAYSIA (22’16.202s) 3. KHAIRUL IDHAM PAWI – HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (22’16.278s) 4. CAO VIET NAM – HONDA RACING VIETNAM TEAM (22’29.043s) 5. FARRES PUTRA MOHD FADHIL – HONG LEONG YAMAHA MALAYSIA (22’31.828s)
Round 3 of the 2025 AEON CREDIT MAM MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP delivered a heart-stopping Race 1 in the MSBK600 category at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, with Muhd Izam Ikmal Izamli of HONG LEONG YAMAHA MALAYSIA emerging victorious after an intense battle with Muhd Helmi Azman of HONDA RACING MALAYSIA. At the start, Izam surged ahead to take the holeshot, while his teammate Farres Putra Mohd Fadhil slipped past Helmi to occupy second place. Helmi regrouped quickly and began his charge, setting the pace with a blistering 2’29.120s lap and reaching 242.2km/h on Lap 3 as he chased down Izam. But Izam fought back with a faster 2’28.571s lap and a top speed of 243.8km/h, keeping the Honda rider at bay. By Lap 6, a mistake from Izam allowed Helmi to close the gap to just 0.365s, while Helmi’s teammate Khairul Idham Pawi overtook Farres for third. The closing laps turned into a spectacular showdown as Helmi finally passed Izam on Lap 8, only for Izam to immediately retaliate. On Lap 9, Helmi took another risk but lost control and crashed, rejoining the race in third. Izam capitalised on the incident to stretch his lead and crossed the line first with a commanding time of 25’02.084s. The drama didn’t end there, as Helmi launched a breathtaking last-corner move, snatching second place by just 0.001s ahead of Khairul, who settled for third. Izam said, “In today’s race, I had a very good start. At first, I wasn’t too confident because I knew Helmi had strong pace here. Step by step, I observed whether Helmi could stay with me or not. Around six laps in, I started to struggle with my rear tyre, so I just kept my pace. I saw the board showing a 1.500s gap, and my pace was a bit slower compared to Helmi. In the last three laps, I knew I was on the podium, but I still wanted this victory because it’s been three years since I last rode a 600cc. I noticed Helmi was quite aggressive. He knew I wasn’t fast in the high-speed corners, but I managed to overtake in the slow corner. I didn’t expect Helmi to crash. Hopefully tomorrow we’ll see how things go, and we can battle again with Helmi and Khairul.” SIC AND TWMR WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO AEON CREDIT (M) BERHAD FOR THE SUPPORT RENDERED THIS WEEKEND DURING AEON CREDIT MAM MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP. TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1 1. MUHD IZAM IKMAL IZAMLI – HONG LEONG YAMAHA MALAYSIA (25’02.084s) 2. KHAIRUL IDHAM PAWI – HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (25’21.030s) 3. MUHD HELMI AZMAN – HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (25’21.031s) 4. FARRES PUTRA MOHD FADHIL – HONG LEONG YAMAHA MALAYSIA (25’23.403s) 5. ZHOU FENGLONG – CHINA (26’17.892s)
The MSBK600 class in Round 3 of the 2025 AEON CREDIT MAM MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit was dominated by HONDA RACING MALAYSIA, with Muhd Helmi Azman leading the combined practice times. Helmi set the pace in Free Practice 1, clocking 2’12.463s with an impressive top speed of 150.64km/h. His teammate, Khairul Idham Pawi, followed closely behind in second with 2’13.164s, while Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia’s Muhd Izam Ikmal Izamli secured third at 2’13.444s. Cao Viet Nam of HONDA RACING VIETNAM TEAM and Farres Putra Mohd Fadhil of Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia completed the top five. In Free Practice 2, heavy rain changed the track conditions, and it was Khairul’s turn to shine as he topped the session with 2’27.426s. Helmi stayed close in second with 2’27.914s, while Farres improved his performance to finish third. Zhou Fenglong of China made it into the top five in fourth, with Izam rounding off in fifth. Despite the mixed conditions, Helmi’s FP1 performance proved untouchable in the combined classification, securing the top spot ahead of Khairul in second and Izam in third. Cao Viet Nam and Farres Putra ensured a strong showing for both Honda and Yamaha outfits, rounding off the overall top five. Helmi said, “The weather wasn’t very good today, only this morning was slightly better, though still mid conditions. This time I’m racing in the MSBK600 class as preparation for the upcoming ARRC. Previously, I raced in MSBK1000 for training here, but this was a team strategy decision for me to return to the MSBK600 class to prepare more properly for ARRC. It didn’t take me long to adapt since the differences aren’t too big, so overall I’m quite satisfied with today. Still, tomorrow we need to work harder to get a better setup.” SIC AND TWMR WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO AEON CREDIT (M) BERHAD FOR THE SUPPORT RENDERED THIS WEEKEND DURING AEON CREDIT MAM MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP. TOP 5 FASTEST – FREE PRACTICE (COMBINED) 1. MUHD HELMI AZMAN – HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (2’12.463s) 2. KHAIRUL IDHAM PAWI – HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (2’13.164s) 3. MUHD IZAM IKMAL IZAMLI – HONG LEONG YAMAHA MALAYSIA (2’13.444s) 4. CAO VIET NAM – HONDA RACING VIETNAM TEAM (2’15.344s) 5. FARRES PUTRA MOHD FADHIL – HONG LEONG YAMAHA MALAYSIA (2’15.603s)