The fiery dance to the Asia Superbike 1000cc rhythm ended when Hafizh Syahrin of JDT RACING TEAM flaunted his prowess all the way to the spot of glory on the podium in Race 1 at Mandalika International Circuit. The Malaysian rider recalibrated his moves in Race 2 but before he could wing it once again, he succumbed to the winning tricks of fellow countrymen, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of A1 ENERGY BWM RACING TEAM. What would the odds be during Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Sepang International Circuit?
Season 2025 began with pain points for both the riders who struggled to find the best performance setup for the machine. While it was more evident for Azlan who gradually became a back-bencher, Hafizh was not exactly free of the nagging burden until Race 2 at Motegi where he flew to his defining moment, bagging his first win for the season. His winning momentum continued with his performance amplifying the capacities of his Ducati, drawing an impressive gap of 2.9s from his closest contender, Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND.
But who would have thought that Azlan who began his mission for the day from the seventh spot on the grid would circle in with his brilliant all-time strategic move to claim not only a win but also hope for his team to make it into the A-lister, potentially penetrating the top five league?! Azlan pulled a stunner on that day, scaling the benchmarks higher in what is perceived as competence versus speed and currently sits at the sixth spot in the overall standings, 6 points shy from Azroy Hakeem Anuar of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA at the fifth spot. The question is, with Sepang circuit being home to the long list of highly competitive riders in the race category, will Azlan be able to guard his reputation with yet another accomplishing showmanship?
Commenting on the race, Azlan said, “I would say the turning point was when everything finally clicked together — my rhythm, my confidence and the bike setup. In Race 2 at Motegi, I felt like I was truly riding at my own pace again. That moment gave me the belief that we could fight back this season. In terms of machine, for a long time, it was tough for the team to find the right setup. The team worked really hard to analyse every detail and we finally found a balance between stability and agility. Before, the bike felt unpredictable. Now, with the right setup, it matches my natural riding style – late braking, carrying corner speed and being aggressive on exits. That change allowed me to ride more freely and confidently.”
“Consistency is definitely key. At Sepang, we need to be smart with tire management and patient with overtaking. My strategy is to stay focused on finishing strong in both races, avoiding unnecessary mistakes and taking opportunities when they come. If I can maximize points at home, the top five is definitely within reach. The biggest challenge though is that the Malaysian riders will be motivated to perform in front of the home crowd. The pace will be intense because they know the track very well. But that also pushes me to be sharper – it’s not just about speed but rather about handling the pressure and racing smart. I also have a good fighting spirit. Even when things don’t go my way, I never give up. I’ve been in this sport for a long time, and my experience helps me stay calm under pressure. That resilience is what keeps me moving forward when others might give in.”
Speaking about mission for the season, Azlan said, “The mission is simple: to fight back, stay consistent, and finish the season strong. I want to show that no matter how tough the start was, we have the ability to turn things around. More than just results, I want to prove to myself, my team and the fans that I can still compete at the highest level.”