IKRAM HELD OFF THE PACK FOR EPIC WIN
Round 4 of the MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship 2026 continued today with an intense Race 1 in the BERJAYA SOMPO YAMAHA R15M RACE ELITES category at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit. Muhd Ikram Dani of BERJAYA MEGA delivered a mature and composed performance, surviving a frantic final lap to claim a well-deserved victory.
The grid was set after a competitive Qualifying session where Ikram secured pole position with a time of 2’51.197s. Muhd Afiq Syazanie Muhd Zaini of K SENG MOTOR lined up second, followed by Raja Abdurraqib Raja Norfatihah of KAVIN MOTOR in third, Ahmad Jebat Zulkarnain of BLH RACING TEAM in fourth, and Adam Danial Abdul Fattah of ENG LUM RACING TEAM in fifth.
As the race started, Ikram made a strong launch to maintain his lead into the first corner. Afiq slotted into second, while Abdurraqib, Jebat, and Raiyan Khardanee Mohd Sanusi of TKC RACING closely followed. The slipstreaming nature of the category quickly became evident by Lap 2, as a massive lead group formed. Ikram held the front, but Muhd Farhan Naqib Mohd Faiz of FASROI M SB surged into second place.
The battle intensified on Lap 3. Adam Hariz Hafiz of LKT MOTOR moved up to challenge for second, while Shazrel Aqief Hakimy of CHJ MOTORS set the fastest lap time of 2’53.386s in a brilliant charge to the front. Unfortunately, Shazrel’s aggressive push ended in a crash, removing him from contention.
Through the middle stages, Ikram demonstrated excellent racecraft by consistently maintaining the lead despite constant shuffling behind him. On Lap 5, Naqib overtook Hariz for second, while Ahmad Rayyan Qayyum Syaiful Hizam of HONG BEE MOTORS entered the top five. By Lap 6, Adam Danial joined the podium fight, with Raiyan climbing back into fifth.
The final lap was an absolute spectacle. The entire leading pack raced aggressively in a tight bunch. Ikram held the front, but Afiq was just 0.131s behind him, with Naqib, Hariz, and Raiyan all looking for a way past. In a tense sprint to the finish line, Ikram perfectly timed his run to cross first, securing the win at 20’34.614s. Raiyan executed a brilliant late charge to take second place at 20’34.823s, while Jebat snatched third at 20’34.849s in a remarkably close finish.
Ikram shared, “Alhamdulillah, securing this victory today is an absolute blessing and a moment I will truly cherish. I want to express my deepest gratitude to HONG LEONG YAMAHA MALAYSIA for believing in me and giving me this incredible opportunity to compete and showcase my potential in this category. Of course, this win isn’t just mine, a massive thank you goes to my dedicated coaches, the hardworking crew, and my family, whose endless, unwavering support keeps me going out there on the track.”
“The race itself was incredibly tense. The winds picked up drastically out on the circuit. We were all so fortunate that the skies held off just long enough for us to cross the finish line safely. My strategy from the very beginning was to dictate the pace and try to lead the pack throughout the entire race.”
“However, the final lap was quite bizarre! As we approached Turn 14, I noticed everyone suddenly backing off the pace and riding cautiously. It was a really strange moment, and honestly, I was a bit confused, so I instinctively rolled off the throttle to match them, haha! But all jokes aside, I am overwhelmingly happy to have claimed this victory today. The feeling is absolutely incredible, and I am praying with all my heart that we can carry this strong momentum forward and replicate this fantastic result in Race 2 tomorrow.”
TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1
1. MUHD IKRAM DANI – BERJAYA MEGA (20’34.614s)
2. RAIYAN KHARDANEE MOHD SANUSI – TKC RACING (20’34.823s)
3. AHMAD JEBAT ZULKARNAIN – BLH RACING TEAM (20’34.849s)
4. MUHD IRISH SHAZWAN – M H MOTOR (20’34.869s)
5. MUHD FARHAN NAQIB MOHD FAIZ – FASROI M SB (20’34.900s)