The Berjaya Sompo YAMAHA Y16ZR Race MasterClass is back for another season of action and it is all happening this weekend at the Sepang International Circuit. The race category was incepted last season with the ambition of developing riders with exceptional qualities and abilities in motorcycle racing. These riders were handpicked from the PETRONAS Malaysian Cub Prix Championship. Last season, 30 riders participated in the race category with Md Fareez Afeez of SINGDECA RACING taking lead as the overall champion followed by Md Aliff Danial of SOON CHYE and Arash Tsunami of XL MOTOR. This season, 32 riders from the One-Make to CP125 race categories have been selected to showcase their strengths in MSBK aboard the YAMAHA Y16ZR machine. The inclusion of riders from various range of race categories will provide an added value to these riders in the development of their mastery as they progress further within motorsports. Commenting on the championship, Md Syamil Amsyar who was formerly a rider in the Wira KBS race category in 2022 and currently in the CP125 race category said, “The goal for me with MSBK would be to enhance my abilities while being challenged by the likes of other skilled riders. I did take part in the race category last season but I did not push myself as I was still learning the ropes. But this season, my aim would be to put on a good fight so that I stand a chance to be on the podium. The Y16ZR is not very different from the machine in Cub Prix. There is only a slight difference in terms of the height and the gearing system. Apart from that, it is pretty much the same. For the preparation, it would be similar to the ones that I do for the other championship. I do a lot of fitness and motor training. My team has been helping me with the right knowledge needed to ensure that my riding techniques match the needs of the race category. The long-term goal with MSBK would be to find my way into the MSBK250 race category in the next three years. Keeping my fingers crossed that I would be able to make progress in motorsports as much as I can.” Another experienced rider who was a former champion in Wira KBS race category, Aliff Danial said, “MSBK is unique in a way that it is a platform that could fast-track riders into the Asia Road Racing Championship. That is my goal for the time being. For that to happen, I have to maintain my performance like last season and continue to make further improvements. This race category has definitely helped me in various ways especially in the development of my skills when riding alongside senior riders on a much larger circuit. Currently, the preparations are sufficient for the coming race. The team has also helped me especially in providing training. I have also picked up a lot of insights from the senior riders. So, I truly hope that I would be able to ride competitively with the riders this season. The entry list looks interesting and I foresee a much challenging season but again, I believe the experience it worthwhile.” Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
The co-partnership initiative between Sepang International Circuit (SIC) and Two Wheels Motor Racing Sdn. Bhd. (TWMR) in promoting and alleviating the standards of Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) will continue with Season 2023. Season 2022 concluded with three rounds in total despite the uncertainty of post-pandemic. As the nation propels towards a more stable environment, the new season will foresee another 3-round cycle that will provide a value-added experience to aspiring riders. The season opener will commence on 18th August 2023. Through this effort, superbike aficionados can continue to have first-hand experience on the circuit alongside professional riders. Ron Hogg, Promotions Director of TWMR said, “Season 2022 was made even more exciting with the introduction of an additional race class which summarised an all-inclusive championship. The participation of riders, both homegrown and foreign professionals and privateers were a promising one which gave us the confidence that MSBK is proceeding apace, locally and at the international front. Thank you to all involved in making the championship a success. This season, there is something new coming along the way. Stay tuned!” “As we move forward, the goal is to widen the outreach which would potentially stimulate interest and consequently growth, the much-needed elements for continuous development of the motorsport industry as a whole. We aspire to attract more participants from the local and international front and already have a number of new countries with confirmed participants partaking in the coming season. At TWMR, we strive to ensure that the standards of the MSBK are progressively up-graded to keep up with market trends and improved technology which are key drivers of sustainability. We will continue to explore avenues for advancement with the best interest in serving the demands of the industry and the motorsport community. Here’s to a new season as we move along in the direction that would enrich the experience of our MSBK family.” Commenting on the championship, Azhan Shafriman Hanif, Chief Executive Officer of Sepang International Circuit (SIC) said, “We are proud to work closely with TWMR for this championship as a venue provider and all rounds are scheduled to take place in SIC. Each year, the championship brings competitive racing experience with an increase in the number of participants from the local and international neighbouring countries. The previous season was a major success which complements the improvements and changes that have been made, which includes the introduction of Yamaha Y16ZR Race Masterclass.” “As a responsible venue provider, SIC is committed to ensure top class facilities and services for the upcoming season. With the primary objective to bring national motorsports to a greater level, we would like to rally more riders and teams to compete in MSBK and welcome the fans to witness the races in SIC this year.” Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
The MSBK1000 A Class of Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) made its grand finish at the final round for the season at the Sepang International Circuit. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of YAMAHA Racing Team ASEAN took the last win before the curtains closed for the race category. It was yet another victorious moment for Kasma. The rider of extraordinary potential made the most of this season with eight podiums including four wins for the year. Throughout the race, Kasma was seen pursuing at his best speed, relentlessly to guard his position. Although Zaqhwan was right behind him, it was a chase that seemed tough to conquer for Zaqhwan. Kasma clocked in at 23’35:922s and claimed not just victory for the day but the Overall Champion title with a staggering total of 180 points. Commenting on the race, Kasma said, “I want to first say thank you to my team for their trust in me and their endless support. It is a blessing for me that I made it once again. There was a slight complication during the race. The circuit felt a little slippery and I almost crashed in turn nine twice, however I managed to control the machine. I am truly happy to have achieved the top spot and the overall champion title for MSBK, this season.” Taking the second spot on the podium was Muhd Zaqhwan Zaidi of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA, marking his best at 23’41:072s. In third place, it was Takuya Tsuda of MOBILUB SUZUKI RACING TEAM at 24’58:128s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
The MSBK1000 B Class of Round 3, Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) saw one final show at the Sepang International Circuit before the season ended with the fastest time made by Osama Mareai of SAVITAR RACING. With an additional 25 points in hand today, Osama concluded the season as the “Weekend Warrior” and at the third spot in the overall standings with a total of 139 points. Despite the hurdles throughout the season and issues with his machine, Osama has definitely made the best for himself with a competitive performance. Over the course of three rounds, Osama has definitely showcased his dexterity in manoeuvring the machine and managing his lap time. He made his best lap time for today at 2’15:781s and clocked in at 25’17:040s. The second fastest and Overall Champion falls into the hands of Muhd Syukri Mat Zoki of ESRA RACING TEAM. This season, Syukri bagged a total of 149 points. Overall, he has showcased an improved performance throughout the race. He has been consistent with his pace and managed his machine well. Syukri made his best lap time today at 2’17:087s and took the fourth fastest spot today at 25’31:882s. Coming in at the third fastest spot today was Khoo Chee Yen of MOBILUB SUZUKI RACING TEAM at 25’32:361s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
It was a spectacular performance by the riders of the MSBK600 Class at Round 3, Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) which was held at the Sepang International Circuit today. Md Ibrahim Md Noroddin of SIC RACING TEAM marked victory with his blistering pace before the season came to a close. It was a fierce fight among the MSBK600 riders however, Ibrahim made an impressive move towards realising his goals for the day and the season. Throughout the race, he was seen pacing with the right momentum, guarding his position well. Although he was under the pressure of Khairul who was tailing him, Ibrahim was not easily defeated. As he closed one lap after the other, he went on to create a wide gap with his closest contender. Khairul on the other hand was seen trying his best to close the gaps however, it was not an easy feat. As the gap became wider, he lost his opportunity to strike. Ibrahim went on to complete the race first. He clocked in at 21’54:954s. With it, he not only bagged first place but also the Overall Champion title. Out of eight races, Ibrahim concluded the season with seven podiums including one win today, adding up his total points to 146. Commenting on the race, “It has been a tough two-day race, yesterday with the unpredictable weather and today with the highly competitive riders on-board however I am truly happy to have made the winning cut today. With this win, I can happily conclude my MSBK journey for the year. Thanks to my team for the support and the hard work put in to make my race a successful one.” Khairul Idham Pawi of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM made his fastest at 22’04:331s. In third place, Chang Chih Ying completed the race at 23’23:380s. 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
MSBK250 B Class came to a close for the season in Race 2 of Round 3, Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) which was held at the Sepang International Circuit. Muhd Amir Izzat Rozali of HORIZON RACING TEAM made his win today after a tough two-day challenge. Throughout the race, Amir has showcased consistency in managing his machine. He took the lead of the team from the start of the race to the chequered flag. Amir did his best lap time today at 2’36:458s. Since his participation in Round 2, Amir has been putting on a competitive feat for the other riders. Today, he made his fastest at 21’11:603s. Commenting on the race, Amir said, “In the beginning, it was quite good. But mid-race, the machine started giving some problems. However, I tried to stay consistent so that I can make it till the end. I did it!” Muhd Fauzi Hasan however takes the Overall Champion with a total of 155 points. This season, he showcased exceptional performance with three fastest spots out of the eight races. This round however, he made a safe choice and played smart to conserve his points at the top spot. At the second fastest spot today was M. Izrul Huzaimie Amran, also of HORIZON RACING TEAM who clocked in at 21’22:678s. Mohd Ezrix Syahriz of BUDAK KIMIA-JOND CHAIN LUBE RACING BY BRAAAP made the third fastest at 21’24:617s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
The Yamalube Y16ZR Race MasterClass concluded its final race today at the Sepang International Circuit in Race 2 of Round 3, Malaysia Superbike Championship today. Muhd Adam Haikal Jahar of BLH RACING bagged the top spot on the podium. It was the usual scene with the race category as riders swamped in together to take the lead. At the end of lap one, Qayyum positioned himself at P1, followed by Zaki at P2 and Izram at P3. Although the force of battle between the riders was powerful, Qayyum managed to stay put for a while before Adie Putra took his spot in lap two who remained strong in P1 for two laps. By the end of lap four, Zaki managed to override Adie Putra while Syamil who was among the top ten riders took P2 followed by Syukran at P3. Zaki went on for another lap at P1 but Syamil was replaced by Adam Haikal at P2 and Qayyum emerged back among the top three. With one final lap to go, the riders were determined to make their cut for the season. With Zaki taking the lead half way through the lap, Syukran and Adam were putting immense pressure on him as the trio raced towards the last turn. Unfortunately, Zaki took a fall along with two other riders and Adam made his move towards the finish line, clocking in at 17’45:802s. Commenting on the race, Adam said, “Thank you to everyone who has supported me. In the beginning, I was among the back riders. However, I gathered my strength and pushed myself further. In the end, it was a worthwhile effort when I won the race.” Muhd Alif Danial Muhd Asri of SENG HOE PERFORMANCE RACING takes the second spot at 17’45:853s. At the third place, it was Ahmad Iqram Danish Ahmad of SINGDECA RACING marking his best at 17’45:958s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
It was quite a show with the MSBK1000 A Class riders in Race 1 of Round 3, Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) as they gathered all their might to conclude the evening with an outstanding performance. Among them, Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of YAMAHA Racing Team ASEAN made an impressive finish and took the win for the day. The unpredictable weather was a challenge for the MSBK1000 A Class riders. The 11-lap race was cut down to 9 laps as riders hopped on their machines equipped with wet tires with the determination to perform their best. Kasma who took the pole position managed to retain his speed and momentum steadily throughout the race. At P2, Zaqhwan retained his position well for the first four laps before he was superseded by Takuya. From then on, the latter remained in P2 for the rest of the race while Zaqhwan managed his momentum at P3. Kasma took the win when he clocked in fastest at 20’42:381s. Commenting on the race, Kasma said, “It was quite a challenge today with the weather and that has definitely put a strain on the performances. While I know that I could have done better, I am happy to have made it at the top spot on the podium.” Takuya Tsuda of MOBILUB SUZUKI RACING TEAM clocked in second at 20’51:281s. At third place, Mudh Zaqhwan Zaidi of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA made his fastest at 20’57:282s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
It was a challenging day for riders of the MSBK1000 B Class nevertheless the pursuit to achieve their dreams never diminished. Muhd Syukri Mat Zoki of ESRA RACING TEAM made quite a finish in the race category when he emerged fastest for Race 1 in Round 3 of the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) held at the Sepang International Circuit. It was a good competition for the riders of MSBK1000 B Class in the race earlier. This season, Syukri has showcased great moves on the circuit, taking the third place in Round 1 and second place in Round 2. While the weather has been quite a disappointment with its unpredictability, that did not affect Syukri’s performance in giving his best. The 11-lap race was cut down to 9 laps and Syukri who rode aboard the Honda CBR1000RR made his fastest time at 19’44’116s. Commenting on the race, Syukri said, “First of all, I would like to thank my team for the setup of my machine. It was a challenging race especially with the weather conditions that puts our performance to test. However, I must say that I am grateful that I was able to complete the race without any issues. I look forward to tomorrow’s race and keeping my fingers crossed that I would be able to take the win this round.” At the second fastest spot, Osama Mareai of SAVITAR RACING clocked in his best at 19’47:867s. Osama’s teammate, Raja Nazeem Iskandar logged third fastest at 19’52:779s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us