The opening Practice 1 of the Ducati China Panigale Cup took place at Round 3 of the MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit. In Class A, it was Chen Zhen who asserted his dominance early on, setting the fastest lap time of 2’42:967s. Chen Zhen, a wild card entry, quickly established himself as a frontrunner, navigating the technical corners of Sepang with precision. Following Chen Zhen in Class A was Zhang Xiaoxiang, who recorded a lap time of 2’52:211s, trailing by 9:244s. While Xiaoxiang maintained steady progress, the gap between him and Chen Zhen showed room for improvement in future sessions. Fu Yisheng and Yu Xiaochen were unable to record competitive lap times during the session. Chen Zhen said, “I gave it my all today, trying to optimize every aspect of my riding. I’m feeling great and truly excited about tomorrow’s race. My goal is to cross that finish line first, and I’m determined to make it happen!” The spotlight in Class B was firmly on He Yuxi, who posted the overall fastest lap time of the day with an outstanding 2’36:559s. He Yuxi’s performance put him 8:016s ahead of second-place rider Lee Kin Ho, who recorded a time of 2’44:575s. Xi Feida came in close behind with a lap time of 2’47:112s, finishing 10:553s behind He Yuxi. Zi Yangfan followed in fourth place with a time of 2’49:527s, trailing by 12:968s. Yuxi said, I focused on every detail today to boost my performance, and it paid off. My confidence is through the roof, and I’m eager to take on the challenges ahead. Winning the race is definitely within my sights!” In Class C, Huang Haoming led the session with a fastest lap time of 2’40:798s, securing a lead of 12:379s over second-place rider Fang Lu, who recorded a time of 2’52:177s. Zhang Jingyu rounded out the top three in Class C with a time of 3’07:050s, trailing 26:252s behind Huang Haoming. Mu Hongde did not record a competitive lap time. Haoming shared, “Today, I concentrated on improving my skills and refining my approach. I’m feeling energized and confident, which makes me even more excited for the race. My target is clear: I want to take home the win!” The competition resumes tomorrow with the qualifying rounds, where riders across all classes will battle for pole position ahead of the races. Result – Top 5 Fastest Practice Session DUCATI CHINA PANIGALE CUP Class A 1. Chen Zhen – 2’42:967s 2. Zhang Xiaoxiang – 2’52:211s Class B 1. He Yuxi – 2’36:559s 2. Lee Kin Ho – 2’44:575s 3. Xi Feida – 2’47:112s 4. Zi Yangfan – 2’49:527s Class C 1. Huang Haoming – 2’40:798s 2. Fang Lu – 2’52:177s 3. Zhang Jingyu – 3’07:050s
The excitement is palpable as the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) gears up for Round 3 this weekend at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit. Among the riders to watch is Abdullah Qayyum Abd Razak of the WELLY RACING TEAM, competing in the YAMAHA R15M Race Elites category. After a dramatic Round 2 that saw Qayyum crash in Race 1 and make a triumphant comeback to win Race 2, he’s ready to take on the challenge again. Qayyum has been diligently preparing for the upcoming race with a rigorous training routine. “As a rider, I have my own schedule. Every morning, I make sure to jog, hit the gym, and cycle. In the evenings, I either train on motocross or road racing bikes. It’s essential to stay fit and sharp to compete at this level.” With Round 3 just around the corner, Qayyum’s targets are clear. “My goal for this weekend is to at least secure a top 5 finish. A podium finish would be a bonus for me, God willing.” Reflecting on his victory in Race 2 of the last round, despite the crash in Race 1, Qayyum’s resilience shines through. “In Race 1 of Round 2, I crashed and injured my leg. I didn’t feel fit for Race 2, but my determination pushed me to continue racing. I wanted to prove that even with an injury, I could still reach the podium. Winning that race was incredibly special, especially since it was my boss’s birthday.” Qayyum is confident about maintaining his momentum. “I believe in myself and my ability to keep my momentum. I’ve learned a lot from previous races, and this week, I’ll be focusing 100% on becoming the winner again, God willing.” As for the challenges ahead, Qayyum remains unfazed. He said, “This week is definitely going to be tough. There are many excellent riders from the PETRONAS MAM Malaysian Cub Prix in both CP150 and CP125 classes, and the weather has been unpredictable. But I don’t see these as obstacles. I believe in myself, and I know I can overcome them.”
The Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) is about to kick off Round 3, with Abhijith Satya Prasad from India, who has made a leap from B class to the fiercely competitive A class. Abhijith’s journey to A class is not just about speed; it is about stepping up to compete with the best. Thanks to his impressive lap times, he is now moving up the ranks and joining the elite riders for the next two rounds of the championship. Abhijith shared his thoughts on the upgrade: “I’m really excited about being classified with the fast guys. It’s a significant milestone for me and definitely feels like a step in the right direction. Being part of A class means I’ll be racing against some incredibly talented competitors, and that motivates me to push myself even further.” When asked about his success, Abhijith pointed to his focus and consistency: “Achieving this goal was all about focus and consistency during Round 2. My main objective was to complete several laps consistently in the 2.15s range. Fortunately, I managed to perform even better than expected, hitting consistent laps in the 2.14s during the last race. It was all about maintaining a clear mindset and sticking to my strategy, which really paid off.” With Round 3 set for 11-13 October at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, Abhijith is ready to face new challenges: “In A class, my expectations are to learn as much as possible from those who are quicker than me. I’m looking forward to having some exciting battles on the track and aiming to finish ahead of those who are running similar lap times. My primary goal is to improve my speed in a safe manner, without taking unnecessary risks. I believe that as I grow, I’ll also witness my competitors getting quicker alongside me, which will enhance the overall experience.” His objectives for the upcoming round are clear: “My main aim, as always, is to have fun. I want to stay focused, learn from every lap I complete, and push my personal boundaries. My target is to be competitive within the mid-pack of the A category and to finish within one minute of the winner. Achieving this would be a great accomplishment for me, and I’m excited to see how I can further develop my skills on the track.”
Round 3 of the MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) will be held this weekend at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit (SIC). Standing tall after a double-win is Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of Honda Racing Thailand in the MSBK1000 A race category and Lee Po Yu of Dream Team scoring a 1-2 in the MSBK1000 B in the previous round who will be back to continue their aspirations towards victory. Nakarin is no stranger at SIC, having had the experience racing on the circuit ground for a very long time however what is worthy of applause is his ability to apply his experiences and expand his capacities and dexterities aboard a 1000cc machine which is fairly new to the Thai rider. Not only has he been able to display the right riding techniques but he has also carved noteworthy achievements on the circuit ground. He may be a newbie in the MSBK scene but Nakarin has definitely been able to tackle the setbacks from the very beginning and transform it into flying colours especially with his most recent achievements. Commenting on the championship, Nakarin said, “The previous round was very challenging for me because the Malaysian rivals were strong on their home-ground. I had to work on adjusting my braking points and cornering to improve my lap time. Right now, I feel more comfortable with the machine when cornering. However, we need to improve further on stability at the corners for better performance. At Sepang, high-speed is important. I need to adjust my braking points especially in the last sector to keep myself inside the track. There are many things that I have learnt throughout the two rounds here especially from the other riders, namely braking and tire-management which is crucial during racing. For the coming round, my aim is to be a winner and to stretch the gap further in the championship standing. Also, the championship title is my goal for the season.” Po Yu on the other hand faced his own sets of challenges in the last two rounds at SIC however, he has been quick in picking up his errors and rectifying his moves for better outcome. In round 1, Po Yu finished second on the chart, both races combined but in round 2, the Taipei-born rider claimed the Weekend Warrior title with a total of 45 points in both races combined. The rider who rode aboard the BMW M1000RR showcased his robust side, consistent with his moves in what could be claimed a highly competitive feat, competing against eighteen entries. Po Yu definitely has room for improvement and with two more rounds to go, it is all about perfecting his moves to resist the pressure that’s awaiting. Commenting on the championship, Po Yu said, “My biggest challenge in the first and second round was familiarity with the SIC layout as I had only ridden thrice there prior to that. Additionally, I had no initial racing experience and starting and overtaking during the race posed challenges. But overtime, I adapted well with the race pace. My machine is basically in a complete stock condition. The biggest advantage, in my opinion, is the suspension. The team has definitely done an excellent job tuning the suspension and right now, it is in a stable condition when entering and exiting corners. That gives me a lot of confidence. I still need to improve on top speed. Since the ECU on my bike is still in an untuned state, my top speed is about 10km/hr lower compared to the other riders. Top speed is crucial at SIC so this is an area that needs to be worked on. SIC is a challenging track with high top speeds, high cornering speeds and heavy braking, all of which elements that race tracks in Taiwan do not have. I believe the section I need to improve most is from T14 to T1. I haven’t fully mastered the line through T14, and controlling the bike during heavy braking at T15 and T1 is also an area where I need to make improvements. I enjoyed riding and one of the benefits of participating in MSBK is that I get to race against many top ARRC riders. From them, I’ve seen riding styles and techniques I could never have imagined. My goal for this season is to win the 1000B class championship.”
The Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) Round 3 will hit the grounds of PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit (SIC) once again this weekend and marking its one-time presence for the season is the Ducati China Panigale Cup (DCPC) which will serve as an additional one-make series in the championship. The joint-initiative with Two Wheels Motor Racing (TWMR) and SIC aligns with the long-term aspirations of inclusivity and would set a foothold for more talents and foreign entries participating in MSBK, fundamental in providing diversified exposure and opportunities for the motorsport community. Apart from that, a collaborative initiative like this will also serve to continuously alleviate the interest among non-professional and professional riders alike as they engage in a more constructive approach towards raising their benchmark, consequently enhancing the standards of motorsports within the Asian domain. DCPC is a themed track championship with professional racing format, formed to provide a value-added experience to non-professional. Through continuous training and competitive feat, the championship seeks to equip racing enthusiasts with the right support while facilitating a progressive pathway into becoming professional rider with the aim of nurturing interest and developing motorsports as a whole in China. DCPC kick-started with Race 1 at Zhuhai International Circuit in May. Its second race which will be held at SIC will see a total of 14 riders excluding wild-cards.
Round 3 of the MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) will be happening at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit (SIC) this weekend. Moved up a notch in the MSBK600 after round 2 is Thanat Laoongplio of Honda Racing Thailand who will back with a renewed enthusiasm in his bid to embrace his next challenge. It was not easy for the Thai rider to find his footing on the grounds of SIC but he certainly made quite an impression with his entry in MSBK. In round 1, the Thai-born rider bagged the podium twice for the third place which placed him third overall. In round 2, the rider may have slipped in his moves resulting in a high-sight and a “DNF” status but he definitely had the initial upper-hand to not just retain his position top three but also to move up a notch at the second spot overall. Thanat now eagerly awaits round 3 however, would he be able to pursue a position higher than second overall? With a difference of 48 points, the chances are bleak, however considering the unpredictable nature of motorsport which relies not only on dexterity but also luck, it is definitely not impossible. The question is really more on whether or not he would be able to retain second overall throughout the remaining rounds. With his closest contender lurking from the third spot overall with a point difference of six, Thanat has definitely got to be more cautious, perhaps also improve further on his riding techniques to maintain his position. Commenting on the championship, Thanat said, “In Race 2 of the previous round, I made a mistake climbing onto the apex at turn 12 which resulted in a nasty crash. I could have done better but that mistake taught me a valuable lesson. Right now, I know how to improve on my riding style and I am better adjusted to the machine. For the coming round, we have everything prepared in terms of the machine. Of course, there are some parts which require further adjustments and I trust that the team will do an excellent job on that part. On my part, I still think that I lack precision which is really important during racing especially when making calculated moves. Racing is all about taking risks and when we do it accurately, it’s rewarding. I believe that with these factors improved, I can be way better in terms of performance. My goal of course mainly is to maintain good pace, keep my position intact and focus on the target which is to be on the podium.”
Round 3 of the MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) will take place at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit this weekend. Irfan Ardiansyah of Honda HWN SCK Racing Team is fuelled to accelerate further in his mission in the MSBK250 A while Md Naqib Rifqi is determined to carve yet another well-done achievement in the MSBK250 B. Indonesia rider, Irfan may have familiarised the circuit ground but he is definitely new to the scenes of MSBK yet he has outdone himself and emerged strong on the entry front. The rider currently takes the top spot in the overall standings with a total of 70 points, 4 points ahead of his teammate. Would he be able to sustain the position? Considering his two wins throughout the season, Irfan has definitely posed his abilities to navigate the circumstances of the racing scene effectively but looking at the point difference between him and his closest contenders, it is too soon to predict the outcome especially of a highly competitive feat. Commenting on the race, Irfan said, “This season has been really good for me and I think there is no big difference compared to other championships except for the weather condition in Round 2. The MSBK250 A race category is a highly competitive class and there is always a big group going on with the same pace. So, we have to be constantly steady in the front group, not to lose momentum because once you lose that, it becomes quite difficult to recover. My focus has always been about keeping up to the same performance and as such, that is my aim for the coming round too. I want to maintain my current position and it is all about being 100% focused. On my own, I do a lot of bike training on the side. I also work out on training myself physically. The team on the other hand works on the machine condition. So, we balance out that way. My goal for the season is to make it champion and I will go all out to work on that mission.” As for Naqib, MSBK has turned out to be quite a fair-game for the talented rider. He has not only been able to showcase his competitive side but has also garnered quite a reputation especially since his claim on the Weekend Warrior with a double-win in the recent race. In round 1, he conceded at third place overall after he made up in Race 2 for his poor performance in Race 1. Interestingly, he did not just make it but made it big with perfect scores in round 2. Could he pull yet another stunner in the coming round? Commenting on the race, Naqib said, “So far, this season has been a great one and I am very happy with my results. There has been a lot of difference between round 1 and round 2 especially with what I have learnt so far. I also improved tremendously throughout. MSBK250 B race category is a unique kind of race for me. Previously, I raced using the underbone machine which was quite difficult for me to catch up with. With sufficient training with a 250 machine, I am really confident with my performance now and I will continue to fight among the front group. For the coming round, I am pretty confident that I can win. I am also sure that this coming round would be a tough one especially with riders upkeeping themselves with training but I am fully prepared for the challenge. In terms of preparation, I have been working out especially in improving my fitness level. This is really important to ensure that I have the right stamina to maintain my consistency throughout. My aim for this round and season is to continue taking a bold stance among the front troops and also to put a fighting spirit against the A group.”
MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) will return to PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit (SIC) for its Round 3 this weekend. Md Adib Arsyad of SGH Credit is all geared up for yet another round of challenge in the Berjaya Sompo Yamaha Y16ZR Race MasterClass. Will another double-win be on the cards for Adib? The race category is not all that easy especially with thirty-two riders viciously aiming to beat the rest. The stiff competition is a test of competency and skills which almost all riders are well equipped with. However, the gateway to victory is about being tactical and bold in making the right moves from flag off to the chequered flag and in this case, Adib has definitely stood out strong when he barged towards victory twice since its first round this season at round 2. Could it be the advantage of being at the front row, second on the grid? It is hard to say although that has definitely rewarded him with the fighting spirit to retain his momentum. But, taking into consideration the nature of the race category which is competitive throughout the laps, Adib’s position on the grid may not be the only factor that awarded him with flying colours. More importantly, the ability to ward off the looming pressure from the contenders and retaining his position in a place where he could make one final push on the last turn are the challenges that need to be sorted during the race. Commenting on the race, Adib said, “My current challenge is facing riders who are generally much smaller in size as they are faster. As for now, I feel that my weight is my biggest limitation and I have to work towards shedding some of my weight so that I can continue to compete competitively. To me, everyone is considered my closest contender and everyone has the opportunity to win. They are all extremely good in their performances. But I will continue being calm and I will stay focused to ensure that I am not distracted by the challenges.” “One of the most important aspects in racing in this race category is to maintain my position at the front, especially in the Sepang circuit. The track is wide and being at the front gives us the advantage in terms of making the final cut on the last lap. Being in the right position plays a crucial role which is why I have to make sure that I am always in front from the start to the end. The machine in this race category is all the same however how we make the difference is the most important part. For this season, my aim is to collect as many points as possible and try for the overall champion title.”
MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) will be hitting the grounds of PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit once again this weekend for its round 3. Arash Tsunami of BLH Glassteel 46 Racing will be back to continue his fighting spirit at the top of the chart in the Yamaha R15M Race Elites. He may not have dominated the circuit but his consistency in the race category’s debut season, taking the podium twice at the second spot has definitely pushed him right to the top of the chart. Taking the lead among the Yamaha riders, Arash has to be strategic in his moves if he aims to retain his position. However, planning is one but reality is another which will need him to act rather quickly during the race. Additionally, with the winners in round 2 who are equally competitive, it is also about forecasting the possibilities of his contenders. In Season 2022, Arash competed in the Yamahalube Y16ZR Race MasterClass where he finished third overall with a total of 66 points. Last season, in the same race category, he completed the season seventh. The shift between an underbone machine to a tank machine definitely takes a lot of work; however, Arash has presented his ability to adapt quickly not just in handling the machine but also in performing well above the norms. It is still early to determine though if he will be able to retain his position considering only a 2-point difference with his closest contender but round 3 would definitely provide a better insight. Commenting on the race, Arash said, “I am thankful that for now, I am able to find compatibility with my machine as much as possible. My shift from Y16ZR to R15M continues to enhance my physical ability and I am quite pleased with the outcome so far. I am much stronger physically and mentally. Sepang is one of my favourite circuits and it holds some of my most memorable memories. I took my first win during my first year in motorsports at Sepang so, it is quite an achievement for me there. For the coming round, the goal is to maintain my position and for that, I have to maintain a good physique and increase my stamina too.” “The R15M holds the VVA element which is the best in its class. The machine is smooth and there have been no problems during the race. This is probably one of its advantages at SIC. There is still a lot more to learn especially in my riding techniques aboard a tank machine. This could be the milestone needed to enhance further in motorsports and that is what I am looking forward to. For the coming round, I have to stay consistent with my achievements and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I would be able to maintain the top three positions overall.”
Race 2 of Round 2, MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship was held at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit. Nakarin Atiratphuvaphat of HONDA RACING THAILAND celebrated a double win in one weekend in the MSBK1000 A race category. During Race 2, Azroy Hakeem Anuar of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM was fiery when he took the lead with Nakarin trailed closely behind. Lechlan Epis of SAVITAR ESG ASIA at P3 patiently maintained his position while being pressured by Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of HORIZON RACING TEAM and Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of YAMAHA TEKHNE RACING TEAM ASIA. On lap 2, Azlan managed to took over Lechlan at P3 and sped up to chase the top two riders, Azroy and Nakarin. The position of top three riders remained the same until the final lap, Azroy crashed and watched Nakarin won the race at 21’23:707s. Nakarin commented, “This race was particularly challenging due to the extreme heat, which made every lap a test of endurance. Aroy’s pace was impressive. He was pushing hard, and I did my best to keep up with him starting from the 5th lap. I felt that this was the limit of my control under the current conditions. Pushing any harder might have risked a crash similar to what happened with Azroy. However, this race has been a valuable learning experience, providing important insights that will help me prepare for the upcoming ARRC race here. I’m eager to apply these lessons and improve for the future.” Azlan made it second at 21’28:185s. Kasma took third at 21’30:780s.