HAYKHAL CONQUERED WET TRACK
Round 2 of the MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship 2026 at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit saw Md Irfan Haykhal Amidi of MOTUL HONDA RACING MALAYSIA emerged victorious in a wet-weather Race 1 of the MSBK250 A category.
Starting the race from pole position after setting the fastest qualifying time of 2’25.163s, Haykhal immediately showed strong pace despite the light drizzle that greeted riders at the start. The Malaysian rider made a brilliant launch to move into the lead, but the battle at the front quickly intensified as Nguyen Huu Tri of HONDA RACING VIETNAM TEAM, Irfan Ardiansyah of NWN CZ1 SCK RACING TEAM, Muhd Haziq Muhd Fairues of OSAMA RACING TEAM and Muhd Akif Abdullah of MOTUL HONDA RACING MALAYSIA challenged for the top positions.
On Lap 2, Irfan moved ahead to take control of the race, while Haykhal remained close behind before reclaiming the lead on Lap 3 with the fastest lap time of 2’39.671s.
However, Irfan launched a strong comeback on Lap 4, overtaking both Akif and Haykhal to return to the front, while Haziq continued to impress with a clean and consistent ride to remain within the leading group.
The intense battle continued throughout the race, with Haykhal and Irfan repeatedly exchanging positions. On Lap 5, Haykhal returned to the lead before Irfan responded once again at the first corner on Lap 6. Despite the constant pressure from behind, Haykhal remained calm and focused, managing his pace while adapting to the difficult track conditions.
Haykhal began to find his rhythm and increased his pace. Setting the fastest lap of the race with a 2’37.570s on the final lap, the Haykhal pushed his machine to the limit to secure the chequered flag with a winning time of 21’22.722s.
Irfan Ardiansyah crossed the finish line just 1.142s behind to claim second place, while Akif completed the podium after another strong performance. Pillarisetty Sai Rahil of RACR CASTROL POWER1 and Ahmad Afif Amran of RAPIDO YAMAHA FIVEZERO RACING TEAM completed the top five.
Haykhal said, “First of all, I want to thank my entire team for giving me such a competitive bike today. Racing in these conditions was incredibly challenging because the rain arrived just before the start, and we didn’t have the perfect wet setup. That meant I had to change my riding style, stay patient and adapt as quickly as possible with every lap.”
“From the beginning, I wanted to be at the front, but I also knew that making mistakes in these conditions would be very costly. I stayed calm, followed the riders ahead, studied where they were strong and where there were opportunities. Once I found my rhythm, my confidence kept growing and I knew I could start pushing harder.”
“The fight for the lead was intense because everyone was pushing to the limit, and every overtake had to be calculated carefully. On the final lap, I gave absolutely everything I had, and seeing the chequered flag first after such a demanding race is an amazing feeling. This victory means a lot to me, my team and everyone who has supported us. It’s a fantastic way to start the weekend, but we’ll stay focused because there is still another race ahead.”
TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1
1. MD IRFAN HAYKHAL AMIDI – HRM MOTUL RACING TEAM (21’22.722s)
2. IRFAN ARDIANSYAH – NWN CZ1 SCK RACING TEAM (21’23.864s)
3. MUHD AKIF ABDULLAH – HRM MOTUL RACING TEAM (21’25.851s)
4. PILLARISETTY SAI RAHIL – RACR CASTROL POWER1 (21’28.422s)
5. AHMAD AFIF AMRAN – RAPIDO YAMAHA FIVEZERO RACING TEAM (21’29.950s)