The MSBK250 B Class has definitely injected some interesting twists to the race category this season. Muhd Amir Izzat Rozali of HORIZON RACING TEAM is further amped for Round 3 of the Malaysia Superbike Championship which will be held in Sepang this weekend. As a privateer, Amir has displayed quite the skill in the race category for a number of years now. In 2020, he bagged the second spot on the podium with a total of 65 points in the one-race season. Although he was absent from the scene in 2021, he came back this season with a strong performance in Round 2 and grabbed the “Weekend Warrior” title. For aspiring riders like Amir, MSBK has become a ground that helps them further accentuate their innate abilities and gives deeper meaning to their passion. According to him, “MSBK is the only race that offers the 250cc race category in our country. It is highly organised on a proper circuit like the Sepang International Circuit which gives the team and I an opportunity to ride alongside professional riders thus enhancing ourselves further in the motorcycle racing scene.” Amir was not able to take part in Round 1 and despite that, he rode steadily to the chequered flag in all three races in Round 2. He said, “I could not participate in Round 1 due to unavoidable matters but I was thrilled to have been back for Round 2. Of course, there were many prior preparations done but my biggest guide was my past experiences in the MSBK250 back in 2019.” “Not forgetting the team and crew members who have worked on the machine to produce one that is competitive to compete in MSBK. It is one of the crucial aspects in racing to have a machine setup that complements one’s riding style and in my case, the machine was perfect that way. The suspension setting was good for my body weight too. Overall, the compliments go to the team who has done a great job with the machine.” With Round 3 being the final race for the season, Amir is looking at keeping up to his performances. He said, “I will try my level best to further improve my lap time and be more consistent. I want to retain my position. Apart from the physical and fitness preparations, I frequently participate in open track day at SIC as part of my training for MSBK.” Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
The Yamaha Y16ZR Race MasterClass, since its establishment in the beginning of the season, has witnessed a highly competitive ride among its riders. Arash Tsunami Kamarudin seeks to accelerate further in Round 3 of the Malaysia Superbike Championship which will be held at the Sepang International Circuit this weekend. Arash has created a name since his debut in the PETRONAS Malaysian Cub Prix Championship this year. With his notable talent and steady achievements, he was then hand-picked to participate in MSBK which in turn would help him realise greater potential. His goals in each race, according to him, “I race to win. That’s my goal. I try to collect as many points as possible and that’s the ultimate goal at the end of the race.” Having to ride in a race class with a bigger engine capacity with no prior experience may have seemed like a tough task for a rookie but for Arash, Round 1 was all about understanding the machine and learning the tricks and trades of manoeuvring an even more powerful product. As a result, Arash excelled in Race 1 of Round 2 with a win and took the fifth place for Race 2. That resulted in a big leap up in the overall standings for Arash who currently sits at the fifth spot. Commenting on his race in Round 1, “It was definitely an unfavourable feat as luck was not on my side in Race 1. In Race 2, the result was made worse with a casualty when another rider made a mistake. However, I learnt from the two races that I need to be more careful and focused. The experience made me realise that I have to constantly be on my toes.” “In Race 2 of Round 2, I only managed to score the fifth spot because I carelessly made a mistake at the last turn towards the chequered flag. I was very displeased. However, mistakes are my biggest secret to success as I learn a great deal from it. I also need to be more consistent and that’s what I am working towards in each race.” Commenting on the team, Arash said, “I am very thankful to the organisers for giving me the space and opportunity to perform in the race category. It is a much-needed experience that fuels my enthusiasm further in becoming a professional rider. I am also grateful to Mr Ramesh and all the trainers in One-Make Race Yamaha Camp as well as the team of mechanics who have been directly and indirectly involved in building us up. Without them, I am nobody!” “I have been working on my physical and mental strength as well as the well-being of my emotions to continue being smart in my moves. My goal for Round 3 is to win.” Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
The long weekend came to a close for the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) with its final race, Race 3 at the Sepang International Circuit. Muhd Zaqhwan Zaidi of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM celebrated victory with his win in the MSBK1000 A Class in Race 3. Following his win in Race 2, Zaqhwan seemed confident as he took strides with Kasma once again in a chase. While Kasma flexed his muscles to supersede Zaqhwan who was at the lead position in the beginning of the race, Zaqhwan’s extensive experience gave him the advantage to dominate the battlespace once again from lap three onwards. By mid-race, Kasma was left behind by a few seconds as Zaqhwan kept his composure ahead. Kasma clearly had his strength on the sharp turns while Zaqhwan had his power on the straight front. It was a fierce battle between the dynamic duo which became more apparent towards the last few laps. Kasma began working on his strengths and bypassed Zaqhwan a number of times but the latter was smart to make a quick recovery. The duo became entangled as they switched between slingshots and by the last turn, Zaqhwan’s prowess was unveiled when he slid ahead of Kasma before taking off at a blistering speed. Zaqhwan claimed victory when he clocked in at 21’29:588s. Commenting on the race, Zaqhwan said, “It was an extremely exciting race today. In the very first lap itself, I had a good fight with Kasma but he was good from the start. I tried to overtake him, controlled my pace and managed to stay ahead. But mid-race, I found that the track was a little slippery. I slowed down a little to cool it but I didn’t expect Kasma to be so close behind me.” “Till the end, he put on a good show and so I pushed myself further. If possible, I wanted to take the win and I did it when I had a good last turn. I am thankful to my team members who have worked hard for this weekend. MSBK is the platform of motivation for me to do better in Asia.” Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of YAMAHA GEN BLU RACING TEAM ASEAN takes the second spot with 21’29:738s. Azroy Hakeem Anuar of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM took third when he logged in at 21’30:157s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Osama Mareai of SAVITAR RACING made the fastest for Race 3 while Khoo Chee Yen of MOBILUB SUZUKI RACING TEAM bagged the Weekend Warrior title for the MSBK1000 B Class. In the first few laps, Osama was seen finding his pace and while it seemed challenging for him to supersede the riders ahead of him, he managed to pull through at lap five. He took the lead from then on and showcased consistency throughout as he clocked in fastest on each lap. Osama did not finish Race 1 and in Race 2, he ended at the 7 th spot. Nevertheless, that did not stop Osama from giving it another shot. In Race 3, he managed to find his footing and completed the race fastest, clocking in at 23’01:013s. Khoo Chee Yen who came in behind Osama at the second spot for Race 3 however claimed the Weekend Warrior title. Chee Yen was seen putting on a good fight throughout Race 3 however he fell one spot down when Osama took lead in the MSBK1000 B Class. However, Chee Yen managed to retain his speed and concluded Race 3 at 23’04:690s. Commenting on this win, Chee Yen said, “It was a tough weekend for me. The team and I did a lot in preparation and I finally got a good feel of my machine. I had an old friend who is an engineer who helped me sort my machine and I am truly grateful for his presence.” “This weekend I realised that racing is not all about achieving the fastest lap time but more importantly, it is about staying consistent with the result.” At the third fastest spot was Teo Yew Joe of SAVITAR RACING who logged in at 23’04:029s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Andi Farid Izdihar of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM made his fearless move towards a grand finish at the top spot on the podium for the MSBK600 Class in Race 3. It was a good start for Andi who had the advantage of the pole position. As the race flagged off, Andi did not waste a second as he fled ahead taking the lead. For a short stint in between the first three laps, Andi resisted pressure from teammates, Helmi and Khairul who were trying to get close from behind. By lap five, Andi took an impressive speed as he bolted ahead with a big gap from his contender, Helmi and Khairul. However, Helmi was not a man to be left out. As they circled the circuit, Helmi began to inch forward in a bid to close the gaps and perhaps even override Andi’s superiority. Khairul on the other hand seemed to have drifted a little further away from the duo. Towards the last few laps, Helmi began drawing closer to Andi which meant that the latter had to give work on his dexterity to make it first at the chequered flag. Without a shadow of doubt, Andi gave his biggest push as he glided towards the finish line logging in at 21’49:930s. Commenting on the race, Andi said, “From the start to the end, it was pure focus. But I took notice of the gap with the other riders behind me, at times it was good and other times, they were closing up the gap. I just went on to remain focused on my game and finally won.” “I am thankful to my crew who have done a good job with the machine. I am very happy with my performance this week.” Muhd Helmi Azman of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM made his best efforts at 21’50:266s while his teammate Khairul Idham Pawi clocked in at 21’56:391s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
In the MSBK250 A Class, Muhd Irfan Haykal Amidi of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM fought a good fight towards victory. It was a total domination of top three positions by Idlan, Irfan and Emil in Race 3 when they fled ahead of the troop, engaging in a heated battle of who will have the final win. The trio engaged in a rhythm that saw them exchanging positions in a bid to brag the winning title. Up until lap four, it was a complete pressure for the three riders to keep the end of their bargain when tragedy struck and one rider went down. For the remaining laps, Irfan and Idlan continued the show, taking active strides in the lead position. By the seventh lap, Irfan displayed dominance as he emerged at P1 and while Idlan was not ready to be defeated, Irfan went on to steal the show. He clocked in at 20’19:470s. Commenting on the race, Irfan said, “First of all, a big thank you to everyone who has been involved in this championship this week. As for the race, I followed through with consistency and the best speed I could achieve.” “The race was highly challenging but I had a great teammate who kept me motivated to push further. I found the opportunity to strike at the last corner and grabbed it.” Muhd Idlan Hakimi Raduan made his best at the second spot on the podium at 20’19:520s. Farres Putra Mohd Fadhill took the third spot on the podium at 20’37:095s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
As for the MSBK250 B Class, Muhammad Fauzi Hasan made the fastest in Race 3 but Muhd Amir Izzat Rozali bagged the Weekend Warrior trophy with the most achieved points. Throughout the race, Fauzi has shown an improved performance compared to Race 1 and Race 2. He took the ninth spot on the grid and while he grappled in the first few laps to find his pace ahead of the other riders, Fauzi only managed to take lead among the MSBK250 B Class riders from lap five onwards. He then held on to his position with the right speed ensuring that no mistakes were made and no opportunities were given to the riders tailing him. He made it to the chequered flag at 21’39:198s. Amir who has been leading with the most overall points as the fastest in Race 1 and Race 2 came in third in Race 3. Amir was seen consistently taking strides and played the smart move to keep his points counting. His strategies worked when he clocked in behind Ahmad Fariz Zafri at 21’40:625s. Commenting on the race as the Weekend Warrior for MSBK250 B Class, Amir said, “First of all, thank you to the crew and my dad who have worked on my machine for this week. Although I struggled in the beginning of the race today, I never gave up.” “I kept pushing and tried to be consistent with my pace. I am happy to have made it as the Weekend Warrior.” Fariz of BUDAK KIMIA-JOND CHAIN LUBE RACING BY BRAAAP clocked in at 21’39:800s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
M. Fareez Afeez A. Rahman of SBF BIKERS grabbed the win in Race 2 for the YAMAHA Y16ZR Race MasterClass and closed the curtains for Round 2 of Malaysia Superbike Championship. Fareez, who began the race at the third spot on the grid, was not spotted anywhere near the top ten riders in the beginning of the race. Up until the third lap, Fareez seemed to have had a hard time working his way into the top ten but in the fourth lap, he worked on his technical skills and made an entry into P9. With the troop fighting aggressively, looking for slip-stream opportunities, it was a feat that posed unpredictable challenges for all riders in the class. Nevertheless, Fareez managed to grasp hold of his pace and barged ahead of the riders at the last lap. Fareez clocked in at 17’49:135s. Commenting on the race, Fareez said, “In the beginning of the race, it was not that I wanted to remain at the back but I had issues with my machine. The lever of the gear went missing and at the first turn, I couldn’t do much. So, I followed the troop at the back and on the last lap, I tried to move forward. Thankfully, I made it through.” Taking the second spot on the podium was Ahmad Syamil Akmal Jamaludin of EL CHONG, logging in at 17’49:135s. At third place, Muhd Aliff Danial Muhd Asri of SINGDECA RACING made it at 17’49:137s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
The showmanship between the leaders of MSBK1000 A Class concluded with Muhd Zaqhwan Zaidi of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM boasting victory in Race 2 of the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK). It was a nip and tuck between Zaqhwan and Kasma throughout the race. Zaqhwan fled to a blistering speed as the race flagged off and while Kasma took the fourth spot on the grid, he gradually pulled himself up to P2 by the third lap. Lap after lap, Zaqhwan took strides, with the lead position in hand while Kasma breathed down his neck, waiting for the opportunity to strike. Unfortunately, Zaqhwan was smooth and consistent throughout the 10-lap race and by the last lap, the gap became wider. Zaqhwan was off to a victorious speed when he marked 21’31:071s. Commenting on the race, Zaqhwan said, “I enjoyed my race earlier. For the first two laps, I took a more relaxing approach and thought that the riders behind me would make their moves. However, I realised later on that they were probably struggling with their speed. I did not know the gaps between the rider tailing me.” “I just stayed focused and kept on to a consistent pace throughout. I paid more attention to the machine and tried to understand it better. There is another race coming up after this so I will work on to see the best approach for it.” Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of YAMAHA GEN BLU RACING TEAM ASEAN followed suit at 21’31:737s. At third place, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of HORIZON RACING TEAM logged in at 21’43:055s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Md Syukri Mat Zoki of ESRA RACING TEAM made the fastest in Race 2 for the MSBK1000 B Class, Round 2 of Malaysia Superbike Championship held at Sepang International Circuit. It seems like Syukri has upped his pace and further enhanced his performances in comparison to Race 1 yesterday. Taking the tenth spot on the grid, Syukri made some impressive moves throughout the race, progressively increasing his speed lap by lap. It was not until the eighth lap that Syukri finally got ahead of the riders in the MSBK1000 B Class. From then on, he showcased the right manoeuvring skills and the control of machine which led to him making the fastest time for the session. Syukri concluded the race at 23’02:675s. Commenting on the race, Syukri said, “It was really exciting to have obtained the P1 earlier. For Race 3, we will try to push further especially with the speed.” “I wouldn’t say that I confident with Race 3 but it is all about doing the best that we could. So, for sure we will try our best for the next challenge.” Coming in at the second fastest spot was Teo Tew Joe of SAVITAR RACING at 23’05:525s. At the third fastest spot, it was filled in by Khoo Chee Yen of MOBILUB SUZUKI RACING TEAM at 23’08:652s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us