2025

His days are filled with engine roars and racing lines—but his nights now belong to bottle feeds and soft coos. Md Haziq Md Fairues, an IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship rider currently competing in the TVS ASIA One Make Championship, has stepped into a brand new role: fatherhood. Recently, Haziq welcomed the birth of his first child, a moment filled with overwhelming gratitude and joy. For the young rider, holding his newborn for the very first time was a life-defining experience, one that words could barely capture. “Becoming a father for the first time… it’s indescribable,” Haziq shared, visibly moved. “There’s joy, gratitude, and honestly, a bit of fear. But the moment I saw my baby’s face, everything changed. It was deeply emotional. It gave me a whole new perspective on life.” With the arrival of his newborn baby, Haziq admits that his outlook on racing has shifted dramatically. “Now, every time I get on the bike, I’m not racing just for myself anymore. I’m racing for my family, for our future. It pushes me to be more disciplined, more focused, and to think further ahead.” Being a professional athlete in a highly competitive championship demands total commitment and unwavering discipline. Yet, Haziq embraces the challenge of balancing the intense life of a racer with the responsibilities of a new father. “It’s not easy,” he admits, “but I’m truly grateful for the full support of my wife and family. My training schedule is more structured now, and I make sure to carve out quality time with my child and loved ones. Time management has become more crucial than ever.” When asked whether he hopes his child will one day follow in his footsteps on the track, Haziq’s answer is filled with humility and love: “As a father, my only wish is for my child to grow up healthy, happy, and fearless in chasing their dreams. If motorsports is their passion, I’ll support it wholeheartedly. But even if they choose a different path, I’ll still be their biggest cheerleader. What matters most is that they do what they love, with all their heart.” Despite the sleepless nights and new responsibilities, Haziq remains fully committed to his racing career. In fact, fatherhood has fueled him with a fresh surge of motivation. “My training continues as usual, but now with a renewed spirit. Physically and mentally, I’m in a good place. Sure, I’m getting less sleep, but it’s worth every second. I’m racing not just for podium finishes, but to inspire the next generation in my family. I will give my best in every round, for my team, and for my family.”

Topea It was a shocker when Hiroki Ono of Japan bowed defeat to Indians, Sartak and Chiranth in Race 2 of the season opener at Chang International Circuit before landing third on the podium in the TVS Asia One Make Championship. More importantly though, what strategy would Hiroki cook up to go along with his mastery in Round 2 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit in taking down the contenders and rising back up to fame? The Japanese rider, known for his outstanding performance, aced Race 1 with flying colours as expected like a pro would with eyes closed. However, what he may not have expected is the brewing rivalry all along that awaited its moment to strike and topple him down as happened the following day when Sartak played his cards right and hit it out of the park. Chiranth who followed suit to take the second spot on the podium after a rough battle with his countryman added on to the twist which left Hiroki no spot on the top two but to settle for the next in line. While Hiroki stays at the top of the chart for now, his closest contender, Sartak is just 5 points away from taking over. It may not be as easy as it may seem though considering Ramdan Rosli, just 10 points shy from the chart-topper might hold the upper-hand on his home-ground circuit. But again, the possibilities are endless especially with Sartak’s enhanced performance, Hiroki’s relentless pursuit and Ramdan’s desire to mark his territories and is bound to get feisty throughout the season. The question is, does Sartak have what it takes to keep the heat and momentum going? Sartak said, “Round 1 was an exciting moment for me. It was my first win which can be attributed to mental state of mind and the strategies in place. I was calmer which helped me avoid making mistakes. That win is a motivating factor at the moment although I know that Sepang circuit would be tough especially with Malaysian riders having the home-ground advantage. I will however optimise on my performance, first, through the understanding of the track and then refining of my strategies. Of course, being strong mentally is equally important. The plus at Sepang circuit would be my preference for fast corners. I am confident that I can be fast there but being a tall rider, it would be important to get a nice ride out of the turns to minimise time on the long straights. The machine has improved a lot in terms of handling which makes riding abilities better. Riding it now is much comfortable. But let’s see how it goes especially in my goals of becoming champion this season.” Ramdan on the other hand said, “At Chang circuit, my target was to win both race because I had quite a good start on Friday. But unfortunately, I had issues with my machine since Saturday and made it extremely tough for to compete among the top three. Sepang has and always will be my favourite circuit in the calendar. That is my strongest motivation – racing on my home-ground. Of course, having said that, I know it won’t be easy but I am preparing myself physically and mentally to make sure that I give my all. Strategies are also being re-worked at the moment and I will plan ahead to see what would fit best. The machine is in a better condition that it was last season in terms of performance. It also has electronic system now but would still require good measurements in every round. My goal for sure is to win both the races on my home-ground for the upcoming round and my target this season is none other than the championship title.”