ZAQUAN SEALED HATTRICK
The PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit witnessed one of the closest finishes of the season during Race 1 of the BERJAYA SOMPO YAMAHA R15M RACE ELITES category. Part of Round 3 of the 2026 MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship, the race witnessed a masterclass in slipstream strategy, with Ashraff Zaquan Bin Zainal Raif of GTMAX MOTORS claiming his third consecutive victory by a thin margin of just 0.001s.
Starting from pole position, Muhd Ikram Dani of BERJAYA MEGA made a bold launch to take the early lead. Zaquan and Raja Abdurraqib Raja Norfatihah KAVIN MOTOR quickly slotted in behind him. However, the nature of the machinery meant that breaking away was nearly impossible. By the end of the first lap, the trailing riders caught up, forming a massive lead group that would stay locked together for the entirety of the 7-lap sprint.
The middle stages of the race were defined by constant position changes at almost every corner. Ikram, Zaquan, and Adam Hariz Hafiz of LKT MOTOR regularly swapped the lead. As the laps ticked down, more riders forced their way into the podium fight, including Mohd Arrfan Ashraf XL MOTOR, Nuzzul Ady Muhammad Sudin of LIANG SOON MOTOR, and Ahmad Jebat Zulkarnain of BLH RACING TEAM. Despite the intense battling, no single rider could pull a gap, setting the stage for a frantic final lap.
On Lap 7, the aggression dialed up. Zaquan led early in the lap, but Abdurraqib managed to break through to the front. Hariz immediately fought back to challenge for the lead. Coming out of the final corner, it was a pure drag race to the line. Abdurraqib and Zaquan went side-by-side down the main straight. In a stunning photo finish, Zaquan crossed the line at 20’26.402s to take the win, just 0.001s ahead of Abdurraqib at 20’26.403s. Arrfan positioned himself perfectly to take third place at 20’26.460s.
Zaquan shared, “During the race, my strategy was simply to keep pushing the pace, but it was incredibly tense out there. When you are racing in a group that big, one tiny error can drop you completely out of the podium spots. On the final lap, my heart was racing. I managed to stay patient and capitalize on a few slight mistakes made by the riders ahead of me, which allowed me to find the perfect slipstream to make my move.”
“It was such a tight battle, and I was actually almost overtaken by Abdurraqib right at the line. Seeing him right beside me on the final straight took my breath away. I honestly wasn’t sure who won until I saw the timing screens.”
“Looking ahead to Race 2 tomorrow, the pressure is definitely on, but my main goal is to maintain this exact same momentum and focus. I want to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to everyone who has helped me get here. My crew worked tirelessly all weekend to give me a flawless bike, and having the continuous support of my family and the fans gives me so much energy. This win belongs to all of them.”
TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1
1. ASHRAFF ZAQUAN BIN ZAINAL RAIF – GTMAX MOTORS (20’26.402s)
2. RAJA ABDURRAQIB RAJA NORFATIHAH – KAVIN MOTOR (20’26.403s)
3. MOHD ARRFAN ASHRAF – XL MOTOR (20’26.460s)
4. ADAM HARIZ HAFIZ – LKT MOTOR (20’26.478s)
5. MUHD IKRAM DANI – BERJAYA MEGA (20’26.634s)