Round 3 of the Malaysia Superbike Championship will take place once again at Sepang International Circuit this weekend. Md Helmi Azman of Boon Siew Honda is a household name in the 600cc race category and in MSBK, he has definitely made a significant mark and will be back to take on yet another round of challenge. It was a striking moment when Helmi made a hat-trick, scoring maximum points in both races of Round 1 combined with one race in Round 2. Although he was later challenged by his teammate, Khairul, Helmi went on to showcase his capabilities as he danced to the rhythm of competence alongside his teammate. He landed on the second spot in Race 2 and Race 3 of Round 2 nevertheless, he is determined to make the cut in the coming round. Helmi currently holds on to 115 points in total and is 25 points more than his closest contender. Commenting on the upcoming race, Helmi said, “The final round is coming soon. So far, my preparations for this round have been good because we just completed the ARRC and the 2-day tyre test in Buriram. I think I have additional mileage on the machine and it definitely would be a good start for me at Sepang this weekend. As for the challenge, I think my teammate would be the ultimate rival. He has vast knowledge and experience on the world platform hence he would definitely be all out to make the best of the season. It will be a fun game for sure because personally, with no competition from the rivals, it would not be as exciting.” Helmi has been riding in MSBK for some time now. He said, “The championship is an excellent platform for all Malaysian riders who have the passion and capacity to race. It is one of the top superbike racing championships and it gives the ardent fans and motorcycle racing enthusiasts a chance to give it a go at racing. For professional riders who like the ARRC riders, it serves as a training ground. We get extra mileage on the machine and it helps us identify our flaws and enhances our riding techniques. Basically, it helps us prepare for the next level. In riding, apart from experience, the ability to understand the machine and the circuit layout is equally important. How we adapt to the different layouts and find the right techniques quickly is definitely a must. For me, racing is my career and I have no choice but to be excellent at it. That’s why I push myself to do my best in all the championships.” “As a professional rider, this year has been quite a ride for me. I have won 1 race in ARRC with 5 podium-finish for this season. I am very pleased with my achievements in ARRC. Apart from that, I have had a good opportunity as a wildcard rider in Moto2 at Sepang. That I think is the cream of the crop. For MSBK, it has been quite a fulfilling one with 3 wins so far. I hope to have more this weekend and come back for more next season in the same category.” Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Race 3 of Round 2, Malaysia Superbike Championship was held at Sepang International Circuit. Khairul Idham Pawi was victorious once again in Race 3 of the MSBK600 race category. During Race 2, Khairul put on a good fight with Ibrahim throughout the race. While Helmi trailed behind, he tried to strike towards the end of the race but failed. Khairul was quick to take advantage of Helmi’s mistake to move ahead at the last turn before speeding towards victory. Ibrahim made it second. In Race 3, Soichiro took a bold leap ahead of Khairul at the first turn with Helmi at P3. Moments after that, Khairul overtook Soichiro. Ibrahim was seen managing his pace at P4. At the last turn of lap 2, Helmi fired his moves to overtake Soichiro. At P4, Ibrahim was keeping a look out for opportunities to move ahead of his teammate. Into lap 4, Helmi’s strategy to overtake Khairul worked while Ibrahim quickly made it past Soichiro. By mid-race, Ibrahim drew closer to Khairul as the latter went on a search for the right moment to strike. At the last turn of lap 5, Khairul did it but Helmi would not give up as he went on to pressure Khairul. The Boon Siew duo was a display of great sportsmanship throughout the weekend as they went on to keep the Yamaha riders at bay. At the final lap, Helmi overtook Khairul but mid-lap, Khairul was quick to recover his spot. At the last turn, Helmi tried his luck one last time but Khairul moved swiftly from the inside before fleeing to victory at 21’55:141s. Commenting on the race, Khairul said, “It was quite a tough race today due to the weather. I had some issues in managing the tires. The competition was stiff, especially with Helmi. At the last corner, somehow, I managed to find my way ahead and complete the race first.” Md Helmi Azman scored second at 21’55:223s. Md Ibrahim Norroddin made it third once again at 21’55:337s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Round 2 of the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) saw riders of the MSBK600 race category putting on a good fight in Race 2. Khairul Idham Pawi of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team struck while the iron was hot before claiming victory in the MSBK600 race category. Helmi was impressive yesterday in Race 1 when he took the lead and charged towards victory in the 10-lap race. While Khairul attempted his moves on Helmi, the latter’s position was not compromised. Ibrahim who came into the scene of MSBK this round, clearly was still trying to find his pace. The Boon Siew duo seemed to have found their rhythm in the race category. In Race 2 earlier this morning, Helmi once again went on a good start, immediately taking lead at the first turn followed by Sharul Ezwan in P2 and Khairul at P3. Seconds into the race, Khairul made a quick exchange with Sharul and took P2 before going on to chase his teammate. Meanwhile, Ibrahim at P4 tried to overtake Sharul. By the end of lap 2, Khairul finally overtook Helmi. Soichiro moved into P3 with Ibrahim trailing closely. At the last turn, Ibrahim overtook Soichiro before aiming to strike Helmi. Into lap 4, Ibrahim did it and Soichiro’s attempt to attack Helmi worked. By mid-race, Ibrahim who was inching closer to Khairul made a quick pass and took the lead. Helmi on the other hand was not about to give up and found his way to close the gap with Soichiro. Among the four, Helmi battled with Soichiro while Khairul went on to pressure Ibrahim. 3 laps to go, Khiarul overtook Ibrahim from the inside at the first turn but before the lap ended, Ibrahim managed to swing himself back into P1. Helmi, on the other hand, broke free from Soichiro. At the final lap, Khairul sped ahead from the inside and once again took the lead. The pole-man was back in charge. His teammate, Helmi found his way into P2 and for a moment into P1 but overshot and Khairul was swift in his moves to seize the moment before speeding towards victory at 21’52:038s. Commenting on the race, Khairul said, “This race was quite positive as the setup of the machine was good. I had some problems with the suspension yesterday so today, we did not have those issues. The race was definitely very competitive. Mid-race, my tires were losing grip. But I tried to keep up with the racing line and am grateful for the win today.” Teammate, Helmi Azman made it second for the morning at 21’52:333s. Md Ibrahim Noroddin of Yamaha Gen Blu Racing Team ASEAN took third at 21’52:341s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Round 2 of the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) saw riders of the MSBK600 race category putting on a good fight in Race 1. Md Helmi Azman of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team took home the winning title after defeating the rest of the contenders. In the morning, during the qualifying session, Khairul marked fastest with his best lap time at 2’09:605s followed by his teammate Helmi Azman who scored second fastest at 2’09:929s. Third fastest was Ibrahim Noroddin of Gen Blu Racing Team ASEAN with his best lap time at 2’10:265s. During the race earlier this evening, Khairul immediately took the lead followed by Helmi Azman. Soichiro who was at P3 took a quick slide ahead of Helmi before going for Khairul. Before the lap ended, Helmi went on to challenge the duo ahead before taking a leap into P1. Ibrahim worked on his pace at P4. As Helmi led the troop, Khairul inched closer to Soichiro before striking. By the end of lap 2, Khairul pulled himself closer to Helmi with a gap of 0.634s. At P4, Ibrahim aimed to close the gaps with Soichiro and at the last turn of lap 3, he overtook Soichiro. Meanwhile, Khairul was determined to challenge Helmi. By mid-lap, the four riders have been consistent in their positions. At the end of lap 6, Khairul was 0.389s away from Helmi and seemed to be finding the right move to strike. But Helmi remained strong as he went on to pick up speed. With one final lap to go, it was a confirmed victory for Helmi who had drawn a gap of 1.280s. Helmi finished the lap and clocked in at 21’52:451s. Commenting on the race, Helmi said, “It was not an easy race with the other riders like Ibrahim who joined us this round, Soichiro and my teammate, Khairul. I don’t underestimate them and I have expected to have a good battle with all of them. On my part, I tried to maintain my rhythm and stayed focused from the start till the end. I am truly grateful for the win today. Thanks to my team and family members.” Second place went to teammate Khairul Idham Pawi who logged in at 21’53:887s. Md Ibrahim Noroddin of Yamaha Gen Blu Racing Team ASEAN took third at 21’57:512s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Round 2 of The Malaysia Superbike Championship Season 2023 took off on a good note at the Sepang International Circuit today. Khairul Idham Pawi of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team marked fastest in the practice sessions, combined. Earlier today, in practice session 1, Khairul marked fastest at 2’10:632s followed by teammate Helmi Azman at 2’11:383s. At third fastest was Soichiro Minamimoto of Yamaha Gen Blu Racing Team ASEAN with his best time at 2’11:635s. During the second practice session, Khairul once again emerged fastest with his best at 2’11:032s followed by Helmi Azman once again with his best lap time at 2’11:173s. Third fastest was Ibrahim Noroddin of Yamaha Gen Blu Racing Team ASEAN clocked in third fastest with his best lap time at 2’11:348s. With that, the result from the combined practice placed Khairul at the top with his fastest at 2’10:632s. Khairul who made it at second place in Race 1 of Round 1 was DNF in Race 2 due to mechanical issues with his machine. Nevertheless, he has returned for Round 2 with greater determination to ensure that he stays on par with his contenders. The entry list saw the participation of six riders today in the practice sessions with the addition of Ibrahim Norrodin in the Yamaha team. Ibrahim who took the overall champion title last season is back to inject some excitement in this season. Commenting on the session, Khairul said, “For this practice session, my lap time has been better than the FP session in Round 1. We used the same tires for both the practice sessions therefore there was lesser grip during FP2 so the timing was not so good. But in terms of the machine, we will change the front suspension as I was uncomfortable with the position of the front tires. So, there needs to be some changes for the qualifying session tomorrow. This round, the machine is in a good condition. Last round, I had some issues with the machine. There is definitely going to be a big challenge especially with the riders in the race category, namely Azman and the Yamaha riders but I will do my best this weekend.” At second fastest spot was Helmi Azman with his best lap time at 2’11:173s. Ibrahim Norrodin made it third fastest with his best lap time at 2’11:348s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
A most valuable experience which is a dream of every rider who steps into the scenes of two-wheel motorsports, is a slot to participate in the World Championship. Once you get to taste the delectability, you will want to keep feeding yourself with every other opportunity, or else the hunger for one haunts you. It’s the same script for Soichiro Minamimoto of the Yamaha GEN BLU Racing Team, who replaced Kohta Nozane at the Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp team in the Argentina Grand Prix, recently. It was the first experience for the 23-year-old in the Moto2 class at the Grand Prix of Argentina. As I mentioned, for Minamimoto the hunger continues… Minamimoto is a former Yamaha VR46 Master Camp student who took part in the first and second editions of the training week for young talent, in Tavullia. Before accepting the Moto2 wildcard, the Japanese rider was racing in the 2023 Asia Road Racing Championship in the SS600 class. “Joining Moto2 was a dream of mine when I was a kid. This chance to go to Argentina is only possible with Yamaha‘s support. Thanks to em. Even though it wasn’t the result the team expected, it is the most valuable experience for me to date. The most confusing part for me was that the Moto2 bikes were so much different. It took me some time to get used t the machine, circuit, and also the way of handling myself on track. “But more than that, I was overwhelmed by the high level of Moto2 riders, their feelings, and their mental strength. I was amazed by their ability on and off track. So much to learn from them. So, if ever hope for another chance I strongly believe that I will desperately need to work on my performance in ARRC for me to capture the right eyes. “Hence my participation in MSBK is a practice ground for me to prepare myself to perform better in ARRC and at the same time I would like to make use of this opportunity to grab a slot in elite categories. However, the opening round was a tough race, so I will do my best to be able to fight for the top positions this time. The journey of Minamimoto began as early as 6 years old when his father got him a pocket bike and at the age of 14 he made a debut in the ALL – Japan race. From t national level to Asia, Minamimoto at the age of 16 spread his wings into ARRC, 7 years down the lane, and now he making waves in MSBK. “The racing scene here is almost the same as ARRC as most of the Malaysian riders are there in the ARRC. Hence, my first season isn’t so bad. The competitiveness level here in MSBK is same level as Asia so I believe this will be the right platform for me to improve myself. “My main contenders, I would say from Boonsiew Honda Racing Team just as how in ARRC. Especially KIP and Helmi, they are super fast and their machines too. So, a tough challenge awaits me in this weekend’s race. “At the moment I don’t want to put much pressure on myself by focusing on the championship title or what am I going achieve this season but I prefer focusing on each round at a time. I want to collect as many points as possible and finish every race with a podium.” Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Race 2, Round 1 of Malaysia Superbike Championship was held this evening at the Sepang International Circuit. Md Helmi Azman of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team made an impressive win today in the MSBK600 race category. It was a fiery battle between teammates, Helmi and Khairul. For the first 9 laps, Khairul took the lead but Helmi caught up. The duo was seen fleeing ahead of the troop behind, with Soichiro at P3. The gap gave the duo ahead space to manage their own battle. While Soichiro competed briefly with his teammate, he managed to overcome the challenge, concluding at third spot. Helmi who finally worked his magic took over P1 before taking victory. The race flagged off with Helmi taking the lead. Soichiro was at P2 while teammate Sharul took P3. As the race went on, Helmi kept his pace up as he avoided the pressure from Soichiro. The 10-lap race took off without Khairul who was seen riding back into the paddock before the race began. At P4, Syazras battled with Fenglong as the latter tried to close the gap. Meanwhile, teammates Soichiro and Sharul engaged in a fiery battle. Helmi was far ahead with a 2.825s gap by the end of lap 2. By the third lap, Fengloon and Anuar Ibrahim overtook Syazras. Anuar then tried to make his move on Fengloon before the latter slipped and fell. The battle for P4 went on between Anuar and Syazras. By mid-race, Helmi went on to draw a 7.478s while managing his pace, careful not to make any mistakes. Soichiro by then took P2 but Sharul was relentless in his pursuit. Sochiro began taking up speed. At the final lap, Helmi was 12.202s away from Soichiro and went on towards taking a double-win. He clocked in at 21’57:942s. Commenting on the race, Helmi said, “I did not expect Khairul’s machine to have problems. We planned to be ahead of the troop together during the race but unfortunately, he could not realise the plan with me. I took off with a great speed and tried to draw enough gap with the rider behind me and I succeeded all the way. It was a fantastic race and I am grateful for today.” At second spot was Soichiro Minamimoto of Yamaha Gen Blu Racing Team Asean at 22’10:865s. Teammate, Md Sharul Ezwan took the third spot at 22’23:410s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Race 1, Round 1 of the Malaysia Superbike Championship went on swiftly today at the Sepang International Circuit. Taking the first win for the season was Helmi Azman of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team in the MSBK600 race category. During the qualifying session that was held earlier today, Khairul of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team clocked in the fastest lap time in three laps at 2’09:708s making him the pole-man for the weekend followed by his fellow teammate Helmi Azman within six laps at 2’10:136s and Soichiro Minamimoto of Yamaha Gen Blu Racing Team Asean at 2’11:218s. The race took off with Khairul taking the lead followed by teammate Helmi. While the duo was in a comfortable pace ahead of the other riders, Sharul at P3 and Soichiro at P4 engaged in a heated battle. By the end lap 2, Soichiro broke away from Sharul’s intense pressure. Meanwhile, among the Boon Siew duo, Helmi was trying to catch up with Khairul. By the end lap 3, Helmi had inched closer to Khairul. Mid-race, Helmi was seen pressuring Khairul. At P3, Soichiro kept on with his pace with Sharul looking for ways to strike. The trio definitely seemed to have locked down their positions well. Although Helmi went on to threaten Khairul, the latter did not budge and stayed steady throughout the race. At the final lap, the duo stayed in the rhythm, finding ways to supersede his teammate. Mid-lap, he found his loop-hole from the inside and struck Khairul before picking up speed towards victory at 21’58:345s Commenting on the race, Helmi said, “It was a back -to-back race for us. Our paces was a little slow compared to Asia. We are still finding the right setting. We had to make do with the current setting because it was meant for a much hotter temperature and since today was not so hot, it was difficult to get the right pace. Nevertheless, we did our best.” Khairul Idham Pawi who took second spot on the podium at 21’58:567s. Soichiro Minamimoto of Yamaha Gen Blu Racing Team Asean took third place at 22’14:852s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Round 1 of The Malaysia Superbike Championship Season 2023 began today at the Sepang International Circuit. Khairul Idham Pawi of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team made the fastest lap time in the practice sessions combined for the MSBK600 race category. During the practice session this morning, Khairul of Boon Siew Honda Racing team clocked in fastest at 2’10:742s followed by his teammate, Helmi Azman who had his best lap time at 2’11:462s. At third fastest was Soichiro Minamimoto of Yamaha Gen Blu Racing Team Asean with his best at 2’13:058s. During practice session 2, Helmi emerged fastest at 2’11:654s followed by his teammate Khairul at 2’11:689s and Soichiro at 2’13:387s. The riders were relentless in their pursuit of making the best of today. With that, Khairul concluded the practice session with the fastest lap time combined at 2’10:742s. The Honda rider who obtained the second position in the overall standings has showcased an improved performance this season and is prepared to embrace the challenge and uncertainties of the race category. Commenting on the session, Khairul said, “It is quite an interesting entry list this season and I believe that it would be a highly competitive feat. I tried my best with the FP sessions earlier but I took a while to get used to the handlebars of the machine. As we all know, we just got back from ARRC which was held last week. The handle bars of the ARRC machine are different from the ones we use in MSBK, so it required time to fine-tune my riding techniques with it. Overall, it was a good one and I did better in FP1 because the tire grip was better compared to FP2. For tomorrow, I will do my best to be on the front row during qualifying and try to secure a spot on the podium.” At second fastest lap time was Helmi with his best at 2’11:462s followed by Soichiro with his best at 2’13:058s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Every TWO-WHEELS racer begins each season of their tournament with the objectives of earning points, standing on the podium, and winning the race. Still, for these two brother-riders, Khairul Idham Pawi and Anuar Idham Pawi there will be one other accolade they will be chasing in 2023… Familial bragging rights. Just Kidding! Despite the joke, these brothers have the unenviable task of not only battling the rest of the field for honors this season but will also face the challenge of balancing sibling rivalries and brotherly love when they meet each other on the track. Khairul fondly known as, SuperKIP, is no stranger to the motorsport scenes. He made waves till the world championships in Moto3 and Moto2 categories back in 2016 and is still active in a number of highly intense races. While the younger brother, Anuar Idham Pawi, making a comeback after 5 years! Anuar made his debut at the year of 2014, in Malaysia’s prestigious national tournament, the Malaysian PETRONAS Cub Prix when he was just 14. The young lad managed to clinch numerous podiums in three different categories until 2018 before he decided to take a break due to personal reasons. The 23-year-old said it was natural for him to fall in love with the sport as his brother was known for racking up wins on the race track. “My older brother inspired me; he was racing since I was small. He’s always been there to help and guide me. From a small age, I’ve always been around bikes. I would be in the garage and track a lot with him, I grew up at the race track around him. So, it was natural for me to start racing.” “Due to personal reasons I had to take a break but this time I came back for good. The main reason would be my brother. He pushed me forward to make a comeback and I would admit it’s a dream to ride alongside my brother, even though, we gonna be rivals on the track. When he asked me, I couldn’t say no!” “This will be my debut in MSBK and also in the 600cc category. This is something huge, but I believe this going to be a great learning curve after a long break. If I am lucky enough to touch the finishing line with a win on my hand, I hope Khairul is there to share the podium too. That will be a dream come true,” he said. Brothers sharing the podium stage, That’s a memory to cherish forever! The first brothers to do this at the top level were Juan Carlos Salatino and Eduardo Salatino at the Argentine 500cc Grand Prix in 1962, with the siblings finishing second and third behind winner Benedicto Caldarella. The only other time this feat has been achieved was at the City of Imola Grand Prix in 1997, when Nobuatsu Aoki and Takuma Aoki again finished second and third, this time behind Mick Doohan as the Australian cruised to the fourth of his five world titles. Perhaps the most recognisable in the present day are the Marquez brothers. So, what about the Pawi brothers? Would they be able to achieve this dream in this season that will be commencing this 18th ? “If you ask me if it’s brotherly love or sibling rivalry, I would go for brotherly love! Khairul has never fail to look out for me and I always look up to him as a role model. I’m so exicted to race in the same category with my brother. I have a good feeling about this.” “I have no high expectations for this season. I want to finish every race fully and collect points as much as I can. If there’s a podium finish, Alhamdulilah.. If no, I would have learned something from that round. There’s no failure in race, either you win or you learn. That’s what my father always reminds both of us,” he said. With motorsport known for being an emotionally heated sport, their father Pawi Omar tries to provide a support structure for his boys as they aim to reach the highs of the sport. “They have chosen a sport that has extreme highs.” “You can win a race or a championship and then there is the total opposite, you can fight hard and crash or lose the championship by one point. You have to be there for them, it’s an emotionally draining sport. It’s important that I provide that support structure,” he said. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us