Asia Superbike 1000

Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of JDT RACING TEAM continued his unstoppable form in Race 2 at the Mandalika International Circuit, Indonesia, delivering a flawless performance to claim his eighth consecutive ASB1000 victory in Round 4 of the LFN FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026. The 15-lap race began with a strong launch from Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES, who took the early lead ahead of Lachlan Epis from SWIFT GROW RACING TEAM and Mohammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM. Starting further back, Hafizh quickly analyzed the chaotic opening corners from fifth place. By Lap 2, Hafizh had sliced through the pack to take the lead, just before Lachlan crashed out of the race. Once at the front, Hafizh immediately dropped the hammer. He set a series of blistering fastest laps, dropping from 1’36.332s on Lap 3 to an incredible 1’35.349s by Lap 6. This relentless pace allowed him to pull a comfortable gap over Keito. Behind them, a fierce battle for third unfolded between Adenanta and Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA. Zaqhwan managed to take third on Lap 5, but unfortunately lost front grip and crashed out on Lap 8. Anthony West of MOTOGO YAMAHA FUSPORT RACING also suffered an early exit on Lap 6. As the race progressed, Hafizh extended his lead to over three seconds. The fight for the final podium spot intensified when Adenanta experienced a slight wobble on Lap 10. Rocco Sessler of FORTY FORGED ASIA RACING TEAM quickly capitalized, overtaking Adenanta to secure third place. Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND also found his way past Adenanta on Lap 12. Hafizh controlled his gap perfectly to the finish, crossing the line first at 24’03.193s. Keito maintained a solid pace to take second at 24’05.883s, while Rocco successfully fended off late pressure from Nakarin to secure third at 24’06.545s. Hafizh shared, “Syukur Alhamdulillah, I suppose eight is my new lucky number! We put together a fantastic race today. We had a great launch off the line, but as expected, everyone was extremely aggressive into the first corner. Seeing that chaos, I knew I had to control the race with my head. While the others were battling fiercely, I rode smart, stayed out of trouble, and capitalized on the right moments to make clinical passes.” “I knew Keito’s plan was to stick right behind me in my slipstream. Yesterday felt a bit like a game of cat-and-mouse, so today, I completely changed the strategy. I decided to push the pace much earlier to break the tow and build a comfortable gap.” “Honestly, I carried a heavy amount of emotional pressure on my shoulders this weekend. Between Andi’s unfortunate injury, celebrating the birthdays of my father and my mechanic, and the difficult situation with our team manager, Razmin, who has been in the hospital, I desperately wanted to deliver something special. This victory is dedicated to Razmin. Ultimately, this is a true family win.” “I also want to express my deepest gratitude to our big boss, HRH Tunku Mahkota Ismail, who is always by our side pushing us to our highest potential. Achieving eight consecutive wins demands an unbelievable amount of personal sacrifice from your time and your family. There isn’t much more to say right now, other than I am going to truly savor and enjoy this beautiful moment.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2 1. HAFIZH SYAHRIN ABDULLAH – JDT RACING TEAM (24’03.193s) 2. KEITO ABE – SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES (24’05.883s) 3. ROCCO SESSLER – FORTY FORGED ASIA RACING TEAM (24’06.545s) 4. NAKARIN ATIRATPHUVAPAT – HONDA RACING THAILAND (24’10.417s) 5. MOHAMMAD ADENANTA PUTRA – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (24’14.379s)

The ASB1000 category of the LFN FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 delivered an absolute masterclass during Race 1 at the Mandalika International Circuit, Indonesia. Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of JDT RACING TEAM extended his perfect winning streak, claiming his seventh consecutive victory of the season after an intense duel. In Qualifying, Hafizh secured pole position with a stellar 1’35.154s. He was joined on the front row by Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES and Lachlan Epis of SWIFT GROW RACING TEAM. As the race started, the initial launch saw Lachlan jump forward, but he was quickly flagged for a jump start. This left Keito to seize the early advantage, slotting into the lead ahead of Hafizh, with Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND settling into third. Keito dictated the pace in the opening stages, pushing hard at the front. However, by lap three, the Hafizh set a fastest lap of 1’36.205s to close the gap to a mere 0.361s. The pressure culminated on lap five when Hafizh clocked a blistering 1’35.778s to decisively overtake Keito for the lead. Behind the leading duo, Nakarin comfortably held third, while Rocco Sessler of FORTY FORGED ASIA RACING TEAM consistently maintained fourth place after passing Mohammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM. Once in front, Hafizh attempted to break away, dropping his lap times down to a 1’35.573s on lap six. Keito, however, refused to yield. The Japanese rider responded with his own string of fast laps, including a 1’35.558s on lap nine, keeping the gap at just 0.174s. The final third of the 15-lap race became a tense standoff. Every time Hafizh tried to stretch his advantage, posting a 1’35.401s on lap eleven, Keito matched his rhythm, ensuring the race would go down to the wire. Further back, Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA made a crucial move on lap 12 to secure fifth place. On the final lap, Keito pushed his machine to the absolute limit, shadowing Hafizh through the corners and lining up a final attack. Exiting the final turn, Keito managed to briefly pull alongside, setting up a drag race to the checkered flag. Displaying composure, Hafizh held his line to cross the finish first at 23’57.218s, edging out Keito by 0.130s. Nakarin crossed the line in a lonely but solid third place at 24’05.941s, completing the podium. Hafizh shared, “At the beginning of the race, I saw that Keito was pushing incredibly hard and setting a very fast pace. Honestly, my heart was racing a bit, but I forced myself to remain completely calm because I knew my true race pace, and I was highly confident that my speed in Sectors 1 and 4 was very strong. I made the tactical decision to let him lead for the first few laps to study his lines. But after a while, I realized that if I waited any longer, Nakarin would close the gap and catch up to the front group. I knew I had to make my move, take the lead, and start dictating the pace myself.” “I fully expected Keito to be right on my tail because he was exceptionally fast at this track last year. He was definitely the main rival I was keeping my eye on, so I knew I couldn’t make a single mistake. I focused entirely on managing the race perfectly. I adjusted my riding style, closing my knee angle tightly through the corners to protect my lines and maintain my own rhythm while Keito was breathing down my neck. I am not sure who ultimately recorded the fastest lap of the race, but crossing the line side-by-side to secure P1 again, making it seven wins in a row, is an absolutely incredible, overwhelming feeling.” “Even with this victory, we are not relaxing. I already know a few specific areas where we can improve the bike’s edge grip, so we will work tirelessly on that for tomorrow’s race. Finally, this victory carries a lot of emotional weight for me. I want to dedicate this win from the bottom of my heart to my amazing team, and as a special birthday gift to both my father and my mechanic. I also want to dedicate this to Andi. He has been training so hard, but unfortunately had an unlucky crash in a local race here. We are all thinking of you, brother. And lastly, a massive thank you to my boss for his endless support, and to everyone out there who continues to believe in me.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1 1. HAFIZH SYAHRIN ABDULLAH – JDT RACING TEAM (23:57.218s) 2. KEITO ABE – SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES (23’57.348s) 3. NAKARIN ATIRATPHUVAPAT – HONDA RACING THAILAND (24’05.941s) 4. ROCCO SESSLER – FORTY FORGED ASIA RACING TEAM (24’06.946s) 5. MUHAMMAD ZAQHWAN ZAIDI – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (24’12.450s)

Round 4 of LFN FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 at Mandalika International Circuit in Indonesia brought top-tier action to the premier ASB1000 category. Throughout Friday’s three practice sessions, the narrative constantly shifted as riders adjusted to the demanding circuit. The day concluded with an incredibly close finish in the Combined Practice standings, where Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND delivered a late push to secure the fastest overall time, narrowly edging out his rivals in a top three separated by less than five-hundredths of a second. The morning began with a strong statement from the experienced Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of JDT RACING TEAM. Hafizh immediately found his rhythm on the track during Practice 1. He posted a benchmark time of 1’35.910s, making him the only rider to break into the 1’35s in the opening session. Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES settled into a comfortable second place, while the IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA duo of Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi and Azroy Hakeem Anuar finished third and fourth, respectively, finding their initial footing. As the sun heated the track for Practice 2, the grip levels shifted, and teams focused on race pace and tire management rather than all-out single-lap speed. Syahrin maintained his position at the top of the session leaderboard with a steady 1’36.083s. However, the session revealed a new challenger as Nakarin began to find extra pace. The Thai rider logged a 1’36.191s to move into second place, signaling that he had found a promising setup direction. Keito remained a consistent threat, clocking the third-fastest time to ensure he stayed right in the mix. During Practice 3, the track cooled down slightly in the late afternoon, and the riders pushed their machines for ultimate lap times. Nakarin executed a precise flying lap to record a 1’35.751s, vaulting him to the top of the combined standings. Keito also found significant improvement, crossing the line with a 1’35.788s to claim second overall. Despite lowering his own best time to a 1’35.799s, early leader Hafizh was bumped to third. The margins at the top were exceptionally thin, with just 0.048s separating the top three riders. Further down the order, Rocco Sessler of FORTY FORGED ASIA RACING TEAM found a sudden burst of speed in the final session, jumping up to fourth overall with a 1’36.342s. Zaqhwan’s consistent improvement throughout the day earned him the final spot in the combined top five. Nakarin said, “I am incredibly happy with today’s result. Throughout the practice sessions, my main priority was simply to focus on my own riding and continuously refine the bike’s setup. I honestly wasn’t looking at the timing screens or thinking about my position. My entire goal was just to log laps and steadily build my confidence on this circuit.” “Coming into this weekend, we faced a new challenge because the rear tire is a completely new model this year. Compared to last season, both the front and rear tires behave quite differently here at Mandalika, which initially made it very difficult to understand where the absolute limit was. To figure it out, we tried so many different configurations, constantly tweaking the setup and making adjustment after adjustment. On my end, I also had to adapt my riding style significantly. I was experimenting every time I went out on track by trying a higher gear in certain corners, braking much harder, and focusing on carrying more mid-corner speed.” “Eventually, all that work paid off, and we found a fantastic feeling with the bike. What gives me the most confidence is that I managed to set my fastest time on a tire that already had 20 laps of wear on it. By the end of the day, we had collected all the right data, put the puzzle pieces together, and I was finally able to go on the attack. We have a solid baseline now, but we will keep pushing and try to improve even further tomorrow.” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE 1. NAKARIN ATIRATPHUVAPAT – HONDA RACING THAILAND (1’35.751s) 2. KEITO ABE – SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES (1’35.788s) 3. HAFIZH SYAHRIN ABDULLAH – JDT RACING TEAM (1’35.799s) 4. ROCCO SESSLER – FORTY FORGED ASIA RACING TEAM (1’36.342s) 5. MUHAMMAD ZAQHWAN ZAIDI – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (1’36.360s)

As the 2026 LFN FIM Asia Road Racing Championship returns to Mandalika International Circuit, Indonesia this weekend, the local fans will have just one national representative in the premier ASB1000 class. ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM’s Mohammad Adenanta Putra is taking on Round 4 to translate his past track success into the heavier, faster ASB1000 category, even as he pushes through an ongoing physical recovery. The road to this anticipated home race has tested his resilience. Adenanta recently underwent surgery and is actively managing his recovery. He pushed his limits last week at MSBK Round 3, providing crucial insight into his condition. “I am still in the middle of my recovery process. Racing last week was important, but I still felt lingering pain in my shoulder. Every day is a step forward, and I am hoping my body feels much better by the time we start this weekend. It has been tough, but I am ready.” Mandalika International Circuit’s fast, flowing layout is notoriously demanding, particularly aboard a heavier, hyper-powerful ASB1000 machine. Despite the physical challenge, Adenanta’s motivation has not wavered. “I will definitely not be at my 100% physical peak, but I promise to give absolutely everything I have. It is going to be incredibly demanding because this is my first time wrestling the 1000cc bike around Mandalika. I don’t know exactly how my body will react over full race distance, but I am committed to fighting through.” Rather than seeing his recent race as a setback, Adenanta views it as a strategic advantage. “Racing last week was actually very good for me. It gave me a clear understanding of my exact condition. Now I know exactly what adjustments I must make to my riding style to manage the pain and maintain a highly competitive performance.” Transitioning from the SS600 class to ASB1000 brings a massive shift. When asked if the circuit feels different on a faster machine, Adenanta offered a knowing smile: “Without a doubt, it is a completely different world out there.” Last season, Adenanta thrilled the home crowd by winning Race 1 in the SS600 class. Now, as the lone Indonesian ASB1000 rider, he draws deep motivation from that unforgettable victory. “Carrying the support of the home fans is a massive honor. I have great experience and incredible memories of winning here. My plan is to channel that track knowledge to keep a strong pace in the ASB1000. My ultimate dream is to reward the fans with a great result and fight for the podium.”

In motorsport, it is always an all-or-nothing moment when opportunity comes, especially in the final moments of a race. For Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA, that moment arrived in the most decisive moment of the race at the Chang International Circuit, Buriram, Thailand. But it ended in heartbreak rather than celebration. Competing in the ASB1000 category, Zaqhwan delivered a strong opening to Round 2 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 with a solid P4 finish in Race 1, showing competitive pace and consistency within the leading group. However, Race 2 unfolded into a far more intense battle, with Zaqhwan firmly in podium contention right until the final lap. Entering the last corner in fourth position and still chasing P3, he made a decisive move in pursuit of a podium finish. But the attack went beyond the limit of grip, ending in a crash that resulted in a DNF, just moments away from what could have been a podium result. Reflecting on the incident, Zaqhwan admitted it was a fine margin between reward and disappointment. “I was battling for P3 with Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND into the last corner. On the braking point, I braked at my usual marker, maybe slightly deeper than normal, but suddenly the bike started chattering and became unstable. I tried to run a wider line, but I overslid and crashed. It happened so fast, and honestly in that moment I already knew I had pushed just a bit too far,” he explained. Despite the outcome, the Malaysian rider stood firmly by his attacking approach. “Of course I want to win. I don’t care what position it is, when I see an opportunity, I will go for it. That is racing, and I think any rider would do the same. We all push for the best result. I always try to give everything until the very end of the race,” he said. Looking back, Zaqhwan acknowledged the harsh reality of top-level racing. “Racing is always a high-risk sport. I could have taken the safer option and settled for P4 to bring home the points, but that would not reflect who I am as a rider. When you are fighting for the podium, these are the margins you deal with. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. In that moment, it didn’t work for me,” he added. Even in disappointment, he remained encouraged by his overall competitiveness throughout the weekend. “Yes, I take confidence from the fact that we were fighting at the front throughout the race and running competitive lap times with the leading group. That shows we have the pace to be there. Now it’s about putting everything together for the next round,” he said. Inside the IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA garage, the reaction mirrored his own frustration. “Of course, nobody in the team is happy — they feel the same disappointment as I do. We all came here with a target to fight for a podium, so missing out on that is tough for everyone. But at the same time, we know we gave everything throughout the weekend and pushed as hard as we could. In the end, I did my best to achieve the target, and that is all we can take forward,” Zaqhwan concluded.

Stepping into the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship is never easy. For many riders, the jump into the ASB1000 category means competing against some of Asia’s fastest and most experienced riders who have spent years honing their craft at the highest level. For Mohd Fahmi Abdul Wahaf of FGRT PROJECT ONE, the challenge is even greater. Just a few years ago, Fahmi was not racing at all. Today, he lines up on the same grid as Asia’s elite in the ASB1000 category, a remarkable rise for someone who only began his racing journey in 2022. But the transition to continental-level racing has not been easy. After building his foundation in the MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship in MSBK1000 A category, Fahmi earned the opportunity to take the next step into Asia’s premier racing championship. Yet, entering the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship quickly exposed him to the reality of competing at the highest level. “After competing in the MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship for the past two years, I became more familiar with the racing environment and level of competition there. However, stepping into the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship was a completely different experience because the level of competition is extremely high, with many top professional riders from across Asia competing at the highest standard.” For a rider still relatively new to racing, adapting to ARRC’s pace, pressure, and competitiveness has been one of the steepest learning curves of his career. “The biggest challenge for me was adapting to that level of intensity and pressure, especially during my first season in the championship,” he admitted. Currently still finding his footing in the standings, Fahmi views every race weekend not through the lens of immediate results, but as part of a long-term journey of growth. Behind every session lies another opportunity to learn. “ARRC has taught me a lot about discipline, race mentality, and consistency. At this level, every small detail matters, from physical preparation and bike setup to mental focus throughout the race weekend.” Unlike national racing, where familiarity becomes an advantage, ARRC constantly forces riders to adapt, with different circuits, changing weather conditions, and unfamiliar rivals. For Fahmi, learning to adjust quickly has become essential. “Racing on different circuits across Asia has given me valuable experience. The opportunity to interact and learn from experienced professional riders has helped me gain more knowledge, confidence, and understanding of racing at a much higher level.” Despite the challenges and difficult moments that naturally come with competing in Asia’s toughest racing arena, Fahmi remains focused on progress rather than pressure. Because for him, the journey itself is already proof of how far he has come. From attending his first-ever track day in July 2022 to lining up in the ASB1000 category just a few years later, the learning curve may be steep, but the ambition remains strong. And while the standings may not yet reflect the rider he hopes to become, Fahmi believes every lap, every challenge, and every setback is helping shape the rider he is striving to become. For now, Fahmi keeps his mission simple: keep learning, keep adapting, and keep moving forward. Because in Asia’s toughest racing arena, growth is sometimes the biggest victory of all.

The ASB1000 category delivered another exciting battle at the Chang International Circuit, Buriram, Thailand as Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of JDT RACING TEAM held off a strong Honda challenge to secure victory in Race 2 of Round 2 in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026. At the start, Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA made a strong launch to take the lead, followed closely by teammate Azroy Hakeem Anuar and Hafizh in third. Home rider Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND settled into fourth, while Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES completed the top five. By Lap 2, Hafizh had moved into the lead after overtaking Zaqhwan, while Azroy remained in close contention in third. Behind them, Keito and Nakarin continued to stay within striking distance as the front group remained tightly packed. Hafizh continued to increase the pace, setting the fastest lap time of 1’35.788s on Lap 4 while defending several overtaking attempts from Zaqhwan. The battle behind also intensified as Keito briefly moved ahead of Azroy for third, though the Malaysian quickly reclaimed the position. On Lap 5, Azroy responded with a fastest lap of 1’35.673s and a top speed of 299.2km/h as the leading trio began to separate themselves from the chasing riders. A lap later, Azroy overtook Zaqhwan to move into second and immediately began chasing Hafizh at the front. However, the race took a turn on Lap 8 when Azroy crashed at Turn 8 while pushing hard to close the gap to Hafizh. The incident promoted Zaqhwan back into second, with Keito moving up to third and Nakarin into fourth. Despite being chased by Honda riders for much of the race, Hafizh remained calm and steadily built his advantage. By Lap 10, the JDT RACING TEAM rider had extended his lead to 3.017s, maintaining strong pace with a top speed of 295.9km/h. The fight for the podium intensified in the closing laps as Keito overtook Zaqhwan for second on Lap 11. On the final lap, Nakarin also moved ahead of Zaqhwan, while the Malaysian rider crashed at the final corner during an overtaking attempt. Unchallenged at the front, Hafizh crossed the finish line to claim victory in 24’01.995s. Keito secured second place in 24’04.743s, while Nakarin completed the podium on home soil in 24’05.477s. Hafizh shared, “I made a good start and entered the first corner in third position. I almost hit Azroy Hakeem Anuar because he braked a bit early at Turn 3, but thankfully I managed to avoid an accident. During the middle of the race, I struggled a little as the bike felt different, possibly due to the changing conditions from hot to cooler temperatures. I tried to understand the situation, stay calm, and control my pace. Luckily, toward the end of the race, I managed to set the fastest lap and create a good gap, which helped me control the race until the finish. Achieving four wins in a row feels really special, and this victory is for my team, my boss, HRH Tunku Mahkota Ismail, and everyone who has supported me. I also want to wish good luck to Johor Jewel in their finals tonight, and JDT football team. Seeing others from the same camp succeed gives me extra motivation to keep pushing and finish the season strongly. As I always say, hard work pays off. I trained hard in the heat, spent many hours cycling, and pushed myself to prepare for moments like this. Now, I just want to enjoy this moment, prepare mentally for the next race, and continue working hard. Thank you to all the Malaysian fans, this victory is for you.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2 1. HAFIZH SYAHRIN ABDULLAH – JDT RACING TEAM (24’01.995s) 2. KEITO ABE – SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES (24’04.743s) 3. MUHAMMAD ZAQHWAN ZAIDI – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (24’05.477s) 4. NAKARIN ATIRATPHUVAPAT – HONDA RACING THAILAND (24’10.150s) 5. LACHLAN EPIS – SWIFT GROW RACING TEAM (24’12.771s)