MSBK 1000 SERVES UP THREE DIFFERENT WINNERS IN THREE VASTLY DIFFERENT RACES
The MSBK 1000 category of the 2021 Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) served up three different winners under three vastly different racing conditions over a single weekend of its season opener at the Sepang International Circuit.
Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin made an impressive debut when he won a blistering hot Race 1. Under rainy conditions for Race 2, Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi emerged with the advantage. Race conditions were finally perfect in Race 3 and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman finally got his bike settings just right for the race.
Race 3 flagged off with two aggressive youngsters in the lead – Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin (Yamaha Racing Team ASEAN) and Ahmad Daniel Haiqal (MME Racing Team Malaysia). It was an impressive early showing between the two young riders, especially from Daniel Haiqal who carried the fight to Kasma and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman.
As the three riders swapped leads around the Sepang International Circuit, an aggressive move by Kasma at Turn 6 on Lap 6 saw the Yamaha rider literally riding into Haiqal’s BMW. Both riders ended on the gravel. The incident ended Haiqal’s race, and caused the race stewards to disqualify Kasma due to his unruly conduct.
Without the two younger riders in the leading group, Azlan had an easier time maintaining his pace at the front of the race. After struggling for traction all weekend long, Azlan ended the MSBK season opener on a positive note when he won with a time of 24’18.716s.
“Our team really had a tough time setting up our bike for the race this weekend. It’s a brand new BMW S1000RR and I’ve only ridden it three times, including this weekend. Things finally clicked into place for Race 3 and I was able to get into rhythm,” said Azlan.
A distant 13 seconds behind Azlan, his confused team mate, Mohd Ramdan Rosli bumbled his way to P2 with 24’32.591s.
“This is my first exposure to the BMW S1000RR. I got myself a bit muddled with the many electronics functions available on the bike. Luckily, I was able to sort things out even while fighting with Zaqhwan,” said Ramdan.
The change of weather did not do Zaqhwan Zaidi any favours. After an easy wet win in Race 2, the Boon Siew Honda Racing Team rider had a harder time making his stock standard CBR1000R SP2 go in Race 3. Zaqhwan had to content with P3, completing the race with 24’38.193s.
Azlan Shah currently leads the MSBK 1000 class with 58 points under his belt. Despite his disqualification from Race 3, Kasma still stands second overall on the standings with 45 points.
Further down the field, Nik Hadi Nik Mahmood was crowned as the MSBK 1000 Weekend Warrior. Nik Hadi aced both Race 2 and Race 3 of the MSBK 1000 B class despite starting from the pitlane in Race 3.
“I had a problem with my launch control at the start of Race 3. It couldn’t be fixed immediately on the grid so I had no choice but to start from the pitlane. I basically rode like it was my last race just to catch up and overtake CY Khoo,” said Nik Hadi.
MSBK 1000 A RACE 3 RESULTS
- Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (BMW, ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team), 24’18.716s
- Mohd Ramdan Rosli (BMW, ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team), 24’32.591s
- Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi (Honda, Boon Siew Honda Racing Team), 24’38.193s
MSBK 1000 B RACE 3 RESULTS
- Nik Hadi Nik Mahmood (Ducati), 26’39.038s
- Khoo Chee Yen (Suzuki, Team Hiap Aik Suzuki Racing), 26’43.270s
- Tee Wee Jin (Suzuki, Team Hiap Aik Suzuki Racing), 24’37.516s
MSBK 1000 A STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 1
- Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (BMW, ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team), 58 pts
- Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin (Yamaha, Yamaha Racing Team ASEAN), 45 pts
- Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi (Honda, Boon Siew Honda Racing Team), 41 pts
MSBK 1000 B STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 1
- Nik Hadi Nik Mahmood (Ducati), 70 pts
- Khoo Chee Yen (Suzuki, Team Hiap Aik Suzuki Racing), 65 pts
- Tee Wee Jin (Suzuki, Team Hiap Aik Suzuki Racing), 45 pts
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