Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2025 delivered a scorching Race 1 in the ASB1000 class at the Sepang International Circuit, with Malaysian star Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of JDT RACING TEAM taking a commanding victory in extreme conditions.
Hafizh got off to a strong start, immediately taking the lead ahead of Azroy Hakeem Anuar and Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA. Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES and Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND completed the top five, setting the stage for a fierce Honda-versus-Ducati battle.
By Lap 3, Keito clocked the fastest lap at 2’06.015s, closing in on third, but Zaqhwan defended his position. Hafizh maintained a steady pace at the front, while Lap 5 saw Azroy 0.746s behind. Lap 6 brought drama as Azroy crashed, giving Hafizh a larger advantage, and Keito moved up to second before also crashing out. Azroy rejoined in tenth, while Zaqhwan and Nakarin capitalised to move into second and third.
The following laps saw further attrition in the top five, with Andi Farid Izdihar of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM crashing on Lap 10. Hafizh, displaying exceptional control, managed the front tyre under the blistering heat and crossed the line in 25’26.781s. Zaqhwan secured second at 25’30.043s, while Nakarin claimed the final podium spot at 25’42.950s. Lachlan Epis of SAVITAR RACING ASIA and Maiku Watanuki of Team TATARA Aprilia completed the top five.
Hafizh said, “Wow, the last four laps were really tough, especially managing the front tyre, it was losing grip many times. When I saw Keito drop out, I told myself to stay calm, enjoy the moment, and relax. I knew Zaqhwan was 4.5 seconds behind, so I focused on maintaining my pace. I had nothing more to prove in terms of speed as the start already showed that, and it was enough to secure the win. This victory is for the team, my family, our boss, and all the fans who came, including the marshals on the track. Racing in these hot conditions, with 41°C air temperature and 60°C for asphalt, wouldn’t have been possible without their support.”
TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1
- HAFIZH SYAHRIN ABDULLAH – JDT RACING TEAM (25’26.781s)
- MUHAMMAD ZAQHWAN ZAIDI – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (25’30.043s)
- NAKARIN ATIRATPHUVAPAT – HONDA RACING THAILAND (25’42.950s)
- LACHLAN EPIS – SAVITAR RACING ASIA (25’56.434s)
- MAIKU WATANUKI – Team TATARA Aprilia (26’03.532s)