MSBK250 GETS TOUGHER!

Round 3 of the MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) will take place at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit this weekend. Irfan Ardiansyah of Honda HWN SCK Racing Team is fuelled to accelerate further in his mission in the MSBK250 A while Md Naqib Rifqi is determined to carve yet another well-done achievement in the MSBK250 B.

Indonesia rider, Irfan may have familiarised the circuit ground but he is definitely new to the scenes of MSBK yet he has outdone himself and emerged strong on the entry front. The rider currently takes the top spot in the overall standings with a total of 70 points, 4 points ahead of his teammate. Would he be able to sustain the position? Considering his two wins throughout the season, Irfan has definitely posed his abilities to navigate the circumstances of the racing scene effectively but looking at the point difference between him and his closest contenders, it is too soon to predict the outcome especially of a highly competitive feat.

Commenting on the race, Irfan said, “I need to focus on the race on myself as the achievements are shared ones, for the team and myself. It will be interesting for both Gerry and myself but I have a bigger responsibility as I have a better chance of taking the championship title. The SIC is a very nice circuit. It is technical as well, especially in sector 3 and 4. It is also the sector that I need to improve. With the data that I have, we can try a different kind of setup to better those areas. The MSBK250 race category is more or less like the AP250 race category in ARRC. It is a highly competitive race with big groups. So, there are bigger opportunities for slip-streaming which is a key point in staying ahead of the others. For the coming round, I will give my best and aim for the title. As for the next season, we don’t know what is in store for us yet but if there is an opportunity, I would very much like to be back with the same team.”

Gerry said, “For the season finale, I will try my best to perform optimally like the previous rounds. Our team’s achievements in the standings of 1 and 2 is definitely extraordinary but we can do more and we are confident that we will achieve more. My closest competitor is of course my own teammate but again, this is a race and I will do my best to catch up and if possible, take a one-up. There is a difference of 10 points and two more races to go. In that, anything can happen. So, I will stay positive and focus on doing more on my part. SIC is a technical circuit and riders must be able to get the correct line. The machine setting is equally important. So, these are some challenges that need to be overcome. Apart from that, the MSBK250 race category is quite a challenging and exciting feat because we have not only Malaysian riders but also the equivalent from Thailand. This year, Yamaha is also quite strong so it provides a more competitive edge to the game. I enjoyed the ride throughout the year and if an opportunity comes along for next season, I am in.”

As for Naqib, MSBK has turned out to be quite a fair-game for the talented rider. He has not only been able to showcase his competitive side but has also garnered quite a reputation especially since his claim on the Weekend Warrior with a double-win in the recent race. In round 1, he conceded at third place overall after he made up in Race 2 for his poor performance in Race 1. Interestingly, he did not just make it but made it big with perfect scores in round 2. Could he pull yet another stunner in the coming round?

Commenting on the race, Naqib said, “So far, this season has been a great one and I am very happy with my results. There has been a lot of difference between round 1 and round 2 especially with what I have learnt so far. I also improved tremendously throughout. MSBK250 race category is a unique kind of race for me. Previously, I raced using the underbone machine which was quite difficult for me to catch up with. With sufficient training with a 250 machine, I am really confident with my performance now and I will continue to fight among the front group. For the coming round, I am pretty confident that I can win. I am also sure that this coming round would be a tough one especially with riders upkeeping themselves with training but I am fully prepared for the challenge. In terms of preparation, I have been working out especially in improving my fitness level. This is really important to ensure that I have the right stamina to maintain my consistency throughout. My aim for this round and season is to continue taking a bold stance among the front troops and also to put a fighting spirit against the A group.”