Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, Malaysian superbike rider Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi has spent almost two years hankering to get astride the brand new Honda CBR1000RRR SP. Initially slated to be Zaqhwan’s battle machine in the 2020 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, the bike had been languishing in storage when the pandemic forced the cancellation of seasons 2020 and 2021 of the Asian series. This weekend, Zaqhwan will finally get the chance to put the Honda CBR1000RRR SP through its paces at the season finale of the 2021 Malaysia Superbike Championship. “Finally! I’ve been longing to race with the bike for almost two years,” said Zaqhwan. “I can’t wait for Friday’s free practice sessions to come around. I have a funny feeling I will be smiling the whole day beneath my helmet.” Honda CBR fans who want to catch a glimpse of this latest litre-bike in action can join in the fun at the Sepang International Circuit. Spectator access to the grandstand is free for all adults 18 years and above who have completed their vaccination. The season finale will also air live on Astro Arena. Catch up latest news at malaysiasbk.com. Chat with us
The Open Track Day organized by the Malaysian Superbikes Championship (MSBK) at the Sepang International Circuit this weekend has been a boon for Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin. The young rider who is returning to the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship scene after a couple of years in the CEV and Moto2 World Championships, relished the opportunity to gain valuable mileage on the Yamaha YZF-R1M. “I’ve never ridden on the Yamaha YZF-R1M before. So I’m really glad that our team, Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia, has decided to take part in the MSBK Open Track Day this weekend. It has given me my first chance to get acquainted with the Yamaha YZF-R1M in a less pressurized environment,” said Kasma. During the test, Kasma was riding on the 2019 model that was used by Broc Parkes in the 2019 season. So far, the young rider has been thrilled by the glimpses of the bike’s performance. “It’s a really easy bike to ride, very stable and certainly less finicky than the Moto2 machine. We’re not going at race pace yet, but so far, I’m thrilled to get a chance to compete on this bike in the ARRC,” he added. Kasma’s best laptime of the day was clocked at 2’07.761s after putting in 255km in Day 1 alone. More promising, the ASB1000 rookie has been able to stay on pace with senior riders Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman and Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi. Kasma’s best lap was only 0.041s off Zaqhwan’s fastest lap clocked at 2’07.720s. Click here for full results. Chat with us.