Round 3 of the Malaysia Superbike Championship will take place once again at Sepang International Circuit this weekend. Taking lead in the overall standings, Abdullah Qayyum will be back to challenge his contenders Md Shafiq Ezzariq and Arash Tsunami in the Berjaya Sompo Yamaha Y16ZR Race MasterClass. The trio has been excellent in their performances throughout the season. While Qayyum holds a total of 79 points, his closest rivals, Shafiq and Arash are not far behind with only a 21-point difference at 58 points in total. All three riders have showcased not only profound skills in handling their machines but have also been smart in working out strategies that suit their riding techniques and in tackling their moves. Riding aboard the Yamaha Y16ZR machine, the race class has not only been a platform for further evaluation of their abilities but has also given them a different set of exposure and experience to accelerate their riding goals. Commenting on the coming round, Qayyum said, “This season has been quite a blast for me. Of course, it was a tight competition with the riders who are equally competitive. With this race category, I was able to identify some interesting techniques and strategies. It is not easy especially with so many riders in one race but I think that is also the beauty of the race class. Sepang circuit has also been a great playground and I think I have become familiar enough to understand what is required when I race. For the coming round, I have been keeping up with my physical and mental strength. It is a lot of maintaining a good physique to ensure that we have the right weight for an optimised speed. My goal for sure is to take the win but with the competition being tough, let’s see how it ends.” Shafiq who recently tied the knot and just returned from his honey-moon said, “It has been quite a ride for me in this championship. No doubt, the stiff competition, while it’s in a way pressuring, it is also the best way to improve and get ahead of others. Most importantly is to think on our feet especially during the race because riding in this race class can be quite unpredictable. Of course, there is no room for error because it slows your momentum and literally drags you to the back troop. My preparations basically are the same – improving my physical and mental strength. With the likes of Qayyum and the other riders, it is going to be tough for sure but I will go all out to finish on the podium.” Arash said, “The riders are fierce. They are really competitive because different riders have different sets of skills and some of them are from different race categories in the Cub Prix championship. So, we don’t know what to expect of the riders. So, on our part, we just have to be 100% prepared and make sure that we are able to supersede them. I have been working out a lot as preparation for the finale. I do a lot of jogging and workouts at the gym. It is not going to be easy to maintain the current position for sure but I will do my best to tackle the challenges during the race. I hope that luck will be on my side too.” Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Race 2, Round 2 of Malaysia Superbike Championship was held at the Sepang International Circuit today. Abdullah Qayyum Abdul Razak of Twoway claimed victory today in the Berjaya Sompo Y16ZR Race MasterClass. It was a never-ending battle between the riders in the race category. But standing out among them was Shafiq Ezzariq who showcased skills as he went on to maintain his position among the front troop. Qayyum and Adie were equally competitive but Shafiq’s strategy for the day presented him with the win. In today’s race, as usual, the riders were in full form as they went on to get the best spot. Shafiq Ezzariq however made it to P1 at the first turn and drew a gap with the troop behind him before the lap ended. Adam made it into P2 while Qayyum took P3. Into lap 2, Arash emerged ahead but Shafiq was seen aggressively pushing ahead. Adie tried to maintain his position among the front troop before taking the lead at the end of lap 2 with Syukran and Arash close behind. By the end of lap 3, Shafiq once again took control of the troop. With another two laps to go, the battle became intense. Adie was determined to make it big. He once again emerged ahead of the troop but the huge wave of riders was intense as they went on to attack him. But Adie played smart by maintaining his position among the front troop. At the final turn, Arash broke away from the troop but Qayyum would not give up and went for victory, clocking in at 17’30:363s. Commenting on the race, Qayyum said, “It was a highly-competitive race since it was a big troop. I tried to work on my strategies throughout the race, to stay among the front troop. It was not easy as everyone was equally good. The weather condition was also not too bad today. I am grateful for the win today.” Taking the second spot on the podium was Md Arash Tsunami of Berjaya Mega who clocked in at 17’30:390s. Amirun Haziq Johan of EE Sing Motor made it third at 17’30:398s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Race 1, Round 2 of Malaysia Superbike Championship was held at the Sepang International Circuit today. Striking at the top spot was Md Shafiq Ezzariq of Ns1 Racing Team who took the win today in the Berjaya Sompo Y16ZR Race MasterClass. Earlier this afternoon, during the qualifying session, Qayyum of Twoway made it the fastest with his best lap time at 2’50:596s. Second fastest was Emil Idzhar of Hong Bee Motoracing with his best lap time at 2’51:837s followed by Iman Fahmi of Takong Racing with his best lap time at 2’52:028s. During the race that was held in the evening, Shafiq Ezzariq made his way into the lead position after the first turn. The battle heated up quickly and seconds into the race, a number of riders clashed and fell. Shafiq and the rest of the troop went on with the race and by the end of lap 2, Syukran took lead with Qayyum at P2. Throughout the race, the robust riders were seen lining up to find the best position to strike. Although the riders were equally competitive, Shafiq, Qayyum and Syukran were seen pacing consistently among the front troop. By the end of lap 4, Adie Putra emerged at the lead position. Shafiq Ezarriq trailed close behind with Adam Haika at P3. As the dark clouds gathered and strong wind became a challenge, the riders went on to complete two more laps. Another crash happened at the last turn and Danial Johan leaped on that opportunity into P1 with Shafiq Ezzariq at P2 and Adie at P3. On the final lap, the riders were challenged further by the downpour. At the last turn, Syukran was seen leadin before Shafiq Ezzariq slipstreamed towards victory at 17’41:875s. Commenting on the race, Shafiq Ezzariq said, “From the beginning until the end, I tried to maintain consistency in the front group, top 5. I managed to keep up with the momentum. It was a tough race for sure even more so with the rain towards the last few laps. But, this is definitely an added blessing to me in preparation for my marriage.” Second place went to Abdul Qayyum of Twoway, clocking in at 17’41:945s. Adie Putra Sukarno of Hiap Aik Racing Team logged third at 17’41:983s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
The Malaysia Superbike Championship Round 2 began today with the practice sessions. For the Berjaya Sompo YAMAHA Y16ZR Race MasterClass, Abdullah Qayyum Razak of Twoway emerged fastest for the practice sessions, combined. During practice session 1 that was held in the afternoon, Shafiq Ezzariq of New Chen Motorsports marked fastest with his best lap time at 2’53:736s. Second fastest was Qayyum Razak with his best lap time at 2’54:379s. Adie Putra of Boon Hua Motor scored third fastest with his best lap time at 2’54:647s. In practice session 2 that happened later in the evening, Qayyum emerged with a better result and emerged fastest at 2’51:611s followed by Iqram Danish of Taycon Motor with his best lap time at 2’51:695s. Third fastest was Syukran Aizat with his best lap time at 2’51:804s. Today’s FP session ended with Qayyum raking it at the top of the list with his fastest lap time at 2’54:379s. The rider has strongly positioned himself in the overall standings with a total of 34 points after his win in Race 2 of Round 1. He currently leads with 1 point ahead of the rider in line. It would be a tough battle for Qayyum especially in maintaining his positions, even more so with the highly competitive riders in the race category. Commenting on the session, Qayyum said, “During FP1, I was a little more relaxed to get adapted to the machine. I was a little uncomfortable after the race at Cub Prix last week. So, I had to find my pace and get used to this machine. I tried to stay within the racing line and minimise my mistakes. With that, I managed to score a new lap record. The machines are all standard so we need skills and experience to ride better in this race category. There is not much of a difference in terms of setup on the machine for this round. I want to win and hopefully I am able to keep up the momentum this round.” Second fastest in the session was Ahmad Iqram Danish with his best at 2’51:695s. Syukran Aizat of Henn Motors made it third fastest with his best lap time at 2’51:804s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
The Berjaya Sompo YAMAHA Y16ZR Race MasterClass has been an incredible spectacle, showcasing the impressive skills of riders from across the nation, involving handpicked riders from the One-Make to CP125 race categories of the PETRONAS Malaysian Cub Prix Championship. Now into its 2nd season, and moving into the second round this weekend at the Sepang International Circuit, there are more dramas coming your way!!! Before we can feast our eyes on all the dramas about to occur on track this weekend, let’s have a closer look at this category. Do the riders really mean it when they call the Y16ZR race – A Race of Fairness? Does that mean there is no fairness in other categories? Whoopsss!! Let’s hear it from the riders, themselves. Abdullah Qayyum Abdul Razak “Yes, absolutely a race of fairness because there’s no difference in specs of the machine. Each and every machine has equal capabilities. So, it all depends on the talent and smartness you are going to perform differently from others. Yet, the thrill is lesser here, in my opinion. “This is my second year in this category and before this, I was racing in MSBK250 from 2019 until 2021. In MSBK250, you have to apply the right strategy and you can plan beforehand by comparing the capability of machines. There are certain advantages in the aspect of specs, hence, I find it quite thrilling. Meanwhile, Y16zr, it’s hard! Hahaha.. if you are good you will be at the front, but at the same time, you can identify the real potential of yourself on track. “There are pros and cons. But, I’m much more comfortable in MSBK250.That’s it. However, I wouldn’t deny the challenges and fun in this category. At the moment, I’m leading with 34 points on my hand. I hope I can lead all the way until the end of the season to grab the title. Let’s have some fun this year! Contrary to Qayyum’s statement, his main contender, Arash Tsunami who is just a point a way, finds this category appealing while agreeing to the matter of fairness Arash Tsunami “Definitely, I have equal fun in both categories I participate in Cub Prix and also MSBK. When it comes to one make race, it reveals the truest potential and capabilities of each rider. None of them are easy to win when you have no advantages in the sense of specs. How else we can describe it? Fairness, would be the right judgment no? “At the same time, we have to agree there are an equal amount of challenges in this round and it’s not easy. I would also call it a shortcut to get a slot in ARRC. Honestly, every rider dreams of spreading their wings higher and higher until they reach their goal – which is to be in the eyes of the world! “So this would be the right shot for us younger riders to grab a spot in Asia level. This season has many experienced riders. Some of them have competed in higher-level categories. So, I believe it ain’t gonna be any easy. All of them have their own strength and talent. So. let’s see what I could achieve here, if I am lucky enough I would definitely make my way into ARRC.” Interestingly enough, Shafiq Ezzariq, another tough competitor, seems pleased just like Arash. Shafiq Ezzariq “I would say the competitiveness in Y16ZR is more fair compared to the other categories. I currently compete in the CP125 category, there is not much difference in riding skills but the challenges are pretty massive. In CP125 class there are different manufacturers with machines of different capabilities. Some machines can be slower than the usual level of speed or heavier and some can be super fast. So, strategically, there are some hurdles and you have to be fast and precise on the track. “In Y16ZR it seems to be more comfortable. Yet, I believe the level of competitiveness is not any lesser because all the riders that have been chosen are the best from every category. The plus is machines with the same capabilities and only the skills differ. Hence, the best takes up the victory. This is surprisingly appealing to me. “There are still a fair amount of challenges here, I assume. We have experienced riders in there like, Syamil Amsyar, Aliff Danial, and a few others. To a certain extent, we know each other’s abilities. It can be pros and cons. “Hence, to get my first title in my debut season can be tough but not impossible. Regardless, I’m pretty excited” In conclusion, their judgment sounds perfectly fine and here we have to also highlight, it doesn’t mean there’s no fairness in other categories. There are some advantages according to the capabilities of each manufacturer. That’s how we can measure the specialty of the specs and engines. Nevertheless, One make race is always known for scouting talents and building more capable riders with the objective of being able to compete in elite categories not only in Asia but also maybe at the world level, one day! Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Race 2, Round 1 of Malaysia Superbike Championship was held at the Sepang International Circuit today. Abdullah Qayyum Razak of NS1 Racing Team pulled a stunner in the Berjaya Sompo Y16ZR Race MasterClass. The battle was unending among the riders in the race category with an exchange of riders at the lead position. Arash however emerged from the back towards the last two laps and worked his strategies before slip-streaming after the last-turn towards victory. Shafiq who was seen playing it safe among the front troop tried to avoid Arash from shadowing him but failed and took the second spot. Iqram, who was among the huge troop of riders, hit the finish line third. Today’s race began with Qayyum as the pole-man however with 32 riders revving in at the same time, the P1 position switched between riders before Shafiq emerged at P1 at the end of lap 1 followed by Qayyum and Arash at P3. Mid lap 2, Qayyum managed to get back ahead although he faced intense pressure from the riders trailing. At the turns, Shafiq was seen battling with Qayyum while the others chased furiously. Syukran and Danial joined in the battle but Qayyum went on to stay ahead. Mid-race, Syamil and Arash began making their moves. Moving into P2 and P3, they went on a competitive stride with Qayyum and Shafiq. With 2 more laps to go, Arash took the lead for a while. The troop of riders were relentless and they managed their machines in the tight line. At the final lap, Akid emerged in the lead position while Qayyum and Shafiq managed among the front troop. At the final turn, Qayyum slip-streamed ahead of Danial and Syukran clocking in first at 17’46:888s. Commenting on the race, Qayyum said, “The race earlier was quite competitive. But I tried to maintain my position among the front troop. I tried not to make any mistakes. I know there was a huge troop behind me and they were all looking for the opportunity to strike. I just went on with my momentum and am so grateful for the blessings today.” In second place, Danial Johan of Tiga-S Motor Team clocked in at 17’46:926s. Ahmad Syukran Aizat of YS Chong Motor logged in at 17’46:931s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
Race 1, Round 1 of the Malaysia Superbike Championship made a striking impression at the Sepang International Circuit. Celebrating the win today in the Berjaya Sompo Y16ZR Yamaha Race MasterClass was Arash Tsunami of Taycon Motor. During the qualifying session this morning, Abdullah Qayyum of Ns1 Racing Team made the fastest lap time at 3’12:219s. Second fastest was Syukran Aizat of Ys Chong Motor at 3’13:483s followed by Shafiq Ezzariq of New Chen Motorsports at 3’13:646s. At lap 1, Iqram took the lead followed by Qayyum at P2 and Shafiq at P3. By the end of lap 2, Shafiq moved into P1 with Syukran and Qayyum close behind. Meanwhile, Arash, Amirun and Aliff were seen battling between P4 and P6. By mid-race, Iqram emerged at P1 while Shafiq trailed fiercely behind. At P3 was Syukran. By the 4th lap, Arash who was among the back troop of riders emerged at P1 while Shafiq maintained his momentum at P2. With another two laps to go, the riders looked out for ways to move ahead. Syukran, Arash and Shafiq seemed steady among the front troops as they battled for P1. At the final lap, Arash and Syukran engaged in a heated battle but Arash managed to stay put among the front troop while Syukran lost his pace and lost into the back troop. At the final turn, Arash put on one final fight with Shafiq and by slip-streaming, clocked in first at 17’52:477s. Commenting on the race, Arash said, “It was quite a competitive race but I kept on with the pace and I maintained consistency. Towards the last few laps, I tried to move into the front troop and worked to keep my position there. In the final lap, it was a strategy that worked very well and I am grateful for the win today.” Md Shafiq Ezzariq of New Chen Motorsports took the second spot, clocking in at 17’52:491s. Ahmad Iqram Danish of SHH Penang Team took the third spot at 17’52:651s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
The Malaysia Superbike Championship Round 1 began today with the practice sessions. For the Berjaya Sompo YAMAHA Y16ZR Race MasterClass, Abdulla Qayyum of Ns1 Racing Team emerged fastest for the sessions, combined. During practice session 1 that was held in the afternoon, Ahmad Iqram Danish of Shh Penang Team marked the fastest at 2’53:147s. Abdullah Qayyum of Ns1 Racing Team made the second fastest lap time at 2’53:324s. At third fastest was Md Shafiq Ezzariq of New Chen Motorsports marking his fastest at 2’53:640s. During the practice session 2, Abdullah Qayyum switched spots with Iqram Danish and emerged fastest with his best lap time at 2’52:197s whereas the latter clocked in his best at 2’52:594s. At third, it was Shafiq once again with his best lap time at 2’53:269s. As a conclusion for the day, Ahmad Qayyum was the fastest for the day with his best lap time at 2’52:197s. The second fastest lap time was Iqram Danish with his best lap time at 2’52:594s. Md Shafiq Ezzariq clocked in third fastest with his best lap time at 2’53:269s. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
The Berjaya Sompo YAMAHA Y16ZR Race MasterClass has been an incredible spectacle, showcasing the impressive skills of riders from across the nation, involving handpicked riders from the One-Make to CP125 race categories of the PETRONAS Malaysian Cub Prix Championship. Now into its 2nd season which will be commencing this weekend at the Sepang International Circuit, the riders are not only about to chase victories but also a slot for the FIM Asian Road Racing Championships. Making a debut for the 2023 season, Shafiq Ezzariq currently competes in the CP125 race category and sees no hurdle in making his way to the front in every race. Interestingly enough, Shafiq was more pleased with this category. “I would say the competitiveness in Y16ZR is more fair compared to the other categories. I currently compete in the CP125 category, there is not much of difference in riding skills but the challenges are pretty massive. In CP125 class there are different manufacturers with machines of different capabilities. Some machines can be slower than the usual level of speed or heavier and some can be super fast. So, strategically, there are some hurdles and you have to be fast and precise on the track.” “In Y16ZR it seems more comfortable. Yet, I believe the level of competitiveness is not any lesser because all the riders who have been selected are the best from every category. The plus is machines with the same capabilities and only the skills differ. Hence, the best takes up the victory. This is surprisingly appealing to me.” “There are still a fair amount of challenges here, I assume. We have experienced riders in there like, Syamil Amsyar, Aliff Danial, and a few others. To a certain extent, we know each other’s abilities. It can be pros and cons.” “Hence, to get my first title in my debut season can be tough but not impossible. Regardless, I’m pretty excited and can’t wait to race this weekend!” he said. The 23-year-old has been in the motorsport scenes for more than a decade now. Starting with a mini-bike at the age of 9 and trying out numerous categories in the Malaysian Cub Prix, to getting his chance to be in the ARRC. He has won a fair amount of podiums throughout his journey and keeps improving over the years. Hence, he looks forward to spreading his wings higher. “It all began with minibikes. I was 7 or 8 years old when I first fell in love with this two-wheel sport. My father exposed me to minibikes and races. I was young and super-excited. The speed, the sound, and the crowd during races. All these wowed me! I was 13 when I came to MCP, and the rest is history!” “It has been more than 10 years. I have never been satisfied with my performances, thus far, and there is always more to go and learn. I also have never given up even once. There have been lots of ups and downs throughout this journey. I believe I still have my chance to go further in my career and my main target would be ARRC.” “So, when I was picked to compete in Y16ZR, I couldn’t be any more grateful because it is a platform that could fast-track riders into the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. That is my main target for this season. Initially, I never want to pressure myself with high hopes or targets, but, I believe some pressure won’t do harm. It will push me further to perform well.” “There will be experienced riders who might find this easier or debutants just like me that can pull off stunts to be on the podium. We may never know. That’s the beauty of race, right? I’m looking forward for a challenging weekend.” “I will try my best to finish the race and collect as many points as I can.” he said Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
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