When the race began, Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES surged off the line to take the holeshot, but was quickly overhauled before the end of the opening lap by Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND. Behind them, Azroy Hakeem Anuar of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA ran third, with Hafizh shadowing closely in fourth.

The lead battles escalated on lap 2 as Hafizh sliced up to second, but Kaito and Keito retaliated swiftly. By lap 3, Kaito set the benchmark at 2’06.509s to snatch the lead from Nakarin. Kaito then lowered the benchmark further on lap 4 with a 2’06.179s, pulling a comfortable margin while early drama saw Adam Norrodin of AMI SUZUKI MOTORSPORT crash out and Mohammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM retire with a mechanical failure.

Behind the runaway leader, Hafizh faced relentless resistance from Keito before executing a clean move on lap 5 to break into the podium places. Slicing past Nakarin on lap 6, Hafizh assumed second place, trailing Kaito by 1.821s. Kaito clocked the race’s fastest lap of 2’06.128s on lap 7, consolidating a two-second cushion.

Understanding the broader championship picture, Hafizh opted for a risk-free ride. Rather than risking a late-race crash against the blistering leader, Hafizh kept a solid three-second margin over main title rival Keito.

Kaito maintained his faultless rhythm to take the checkered flag first at 29’37.223s. Crossing the line in second at 29’40.108s, Hafizh missed out on a 10th straight victory but secured the coveted ASB1000 riders’ championship on home soil. Keito completed the podium in third at 29’44.452s, while the IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA duo of Azroy and Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi rounded out the top five.

Hafizh said, “I really want to thank everyone involved in this project. Most of all, thank you to our boss, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, the Crown Prince of Johor, who has trusted me for three years now. In this third year, we made several changes to myself and within the team, and everyone played their part. The race was so tough out there. Battling Keito mid-race was intense. Every time I tried to pass him in the corners, he fought back hard, and that allowed Kaito to pull a gap ahead.”

“Around the middle of the race, I had to think about the championship. I knew I had the speed to catch Kaito, but I didn’t need an all-out battle with him. The real mission was to finish in front of Keito. Our approach was simple, if you can win, go win, but if not, make sure you stay ahead of Keito. We rode a smart, calculated race, and we pulled it off.”

“Thank you so much to all the fans who came out, to Team Principal Steven Tan, Team Manager Razmin, and the whole crew. We had to change crew chiefs several times because of their World Championship duties, but we worked hard and made the best out of our package. A massive thank you to all the fans in Johor and throughout Malaysia. And finally, this is dedicated to my late brother, Farres. We never forget you.”

TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2
1. KAITO TOBA – FORTY FORGED ASIA RACING TEAM (29’37.223s)
2. HAFIZH SYAHRIN ABDULLAH – JDT RACING TEAM (29’40.108s)
3. KEITO ABE – SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES (29’44.452s)
4. AZROY HAKEEM ANUAR – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (29’48.355s)
5. MUHAMMAD ZAQHWAN ZAIDI – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (29’51.749s)

Earlier in Qualifying 2, Japanese ace Kaito Toba of FORTY FORGED ASIA RACING TEAM clinched pole position with an impressive 2’05.006s lap, joined on the front row by Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES and Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA, while Hafizh started just behind from fourth.

When the race started, Hafizh executed a flawless launch from the second row to sweep immediately into the lead heading into Turn 1, trailed closely by Keito, the IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA duo, Azroy Hakeem Anuar and Zaqhwan. The front of the field saw fierce combat on lap 3 when Hafizh set a benchmark lap of 2’05.819s. As Keito attempted a dive down the inside, Zaqhwan spotted an opening and audaciously overtook both frontrunners in a single move to snatch the race lead.

Hafizh responded on lap 4, reclaiming the lead and lowering his pace further to a 2’05.674s on lap 5. Behind him, Kaito was on a charge, clocking the race’s fastest lap of 2’05.644s on lap 6 before passing Zaqhwan for second on lap 8. However, on lap 10, Kaito’s machine suffered an unfortunate mechanical failure, forcing him to pull out of the contest.

Hafizh stretched his advantage to more than five seconds over Zaqhwan and Keito. Race concluded with Hafizh crossed the checkered flag at 29’36.868s, claiming victory by a commanding 6.188s margin over Zaqhwan, with Keito completing the podium in third. Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND and Mohammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM rounded out the top five.

Hafizh said, “Syukur Alhamdulillah. Truly, there isn’t much more I can ask for, and words can hardly describe what this means. Everyone in the paddock knows just how hard we have fought together in this third season. We went through a very difficult, unsettling time leading into this weekend—it felt heavy, but a huge thank you to my crews who pushed tirelessly from before dawn every single day. A big credit also goes to the organizers for making sure our race went ahead.”

“In the race earlier, I got a great launch. I didn’t let the nerves take over; I simply stayed in my zone, trusted my pace, and focused entirely on the ride. In the end, all that sacrifice paid off just like it did across the previous four rounds. Having my team standing firmly beside me was all I needed.”

“Honestly, this weekend has been overwhelming, and I felt so much heavy emotion inside me. I want to express my deepest gratitude to our boss, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, the Crown Prince of Johor, for making all of this possible. I gave everything out there for him, for my family, my father, and everyone who has been part of my training journey. But most of all, this victory is for my late brother, Farres. I raced every single lap for him. Over the final three laps, I couldn’t hold back the tears under my helmet; the emotions completely took over. I laid my heart on the track today. Thank you so much to everyone.”

TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1
1. HAFIZH SYAHRIN ABDULLAH – JDT RACING TEAM (29’36.868s)
2. MUHAMMAD ZAQHWAN ZAIDI – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (29’43.056s)
3. KEITO ABE – SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES (29’45.145s)
4. NAKARIN ATIRATPHUVAPAT – HONDA RACING THAILAND (29’46.562s)
5. MOHAMMAD ADENANTA PUTRA – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (29’56.607s)

Hafizh progressively built his rhythm across the opening session. He unleashed a blistering lap on his 11th tour, stopping the clock at 2’06.812s while clocking a session-topping top speed of 295.1kph. Hafizh emerged as the sole rider to dip below the 2’07 barrier, laying down a clear marker for the weekend ahead.

Behind him, IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA delivered a solid team display. Md Zaqhwan Zaidi matched Hafizh’s late charge on lap 11, posting a 2’07.140s to claim second place. His teammate Azroy Hakeem Anuar followed in close pursuit, setting a 2’07.221s on his 11th lap to lock down third, just 0.081s adrift of Zaqhwan. Both riders recorded identical maximum speeds of 292.7kph, underscoring Honda’s balanced pace.

Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES remained firmly within striking distance, clocking 2’07.315s to claim fourth. Indonesia’s Md Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM rounded out the top five with a 2’07.601s, a benchmark he set early on lap 6.

Hafizh said, “Alhamdulillah, securing P1 in Practice 1 is a great result, but inside I just see it as another normal day on track. We went through a very stressful night leading into today. The freight containers arrived late, and everyone in the paddock was caught in the same situation. My team had to wake up before dawn and push relentlessly just to put the bike together in time. Seeing how hard my mechanics worked gave me so much motivation, and I truly could not ask for more from them. At the very least, all that sacrifice paid off and we got out on the track.”

“The track felt quite low on grip, so our pace was a little slower compared to Round 1 here. But we learned a lot, and I really hope the track condition improves tomorrow. This weekend carries a lot of meaning because we finally have the opportunity to fight for team championship points. That gives all of us extra hunger, but our main mission is simply to finish both races cleanly and collect every possible point for the team. Tomorrow brings a fresh challenge with Practice 2 followed by two separate qualifying sessions. Having Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2 is a different format, but I actually welcome it. For now, I am taking everything session by session, keeping a calm head, and riding with pure joy.”

TOP 5 FASTEST – PRACTICE 1
1. HAFIZH SYAHRIN ABDULLAH – JDT RACING TEAM (2’06.812s)
2. MD ZAQHWAN ZAIDI – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (2’07.140s)
3. AZROY HAKEEM ANUAR – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (2’07.221s)
4. KEITO ABE – SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES (2’07.315s)
5. MD ADENANTA PUTRA – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (2’07.601s)

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)

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)

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)

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.”

Throughout Race 2, Hafizh steadily built an advantage over his rivals before crossing the finish line in 27’29.019s. Behind him, a fierce battle unfolded for the remaining podium positions, with Japan’s Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES edging Thailand’s Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND by just 0.044s to secure second place.

Starting from the front, Hafizh immediately established himself at the head of the field, leading Nakarin, Keito, and Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA through the opening laps. While Hafizh initially came under pressure from the chasing pack, he quickly demonstrated the pace that has made him the benchmark rider this season.

By Lap 2, Hafizh had already set the fastest lap of the race at 1’55.376s while reaching a top speed of 282.72kph. A lap later, he lowered the benchmark dramatically with a stunning 1’49.359s effort. Meanwhile, Zaqhwan crashed while running in fourth position. Although he managed to rejoin the race, the incident dropped him to the back of the field.

The focus then shifted to an intense fight behind the leader. Keito and Nakarin exchanged positions several times, with the Japanese rider eventually moving into second place on Lap 6. The Thai rider remained glued to Keito’s rear wheel, ensuring the battle remained alive throughout the race.

Meanwhile, Hafizh simply disappeared into the distance. Consistently lapping in the 1’49s range, he extended his advantage from 1.515s on Lap 5 to more than five seconds by the closing stages. On Lap 8, he set the fastest lap of the race at 1’48.980s, underlining his complete control of the contest.

Further behind, Shota Ite of AKENO SPEED.UMA RACING YAMAHA MAJUMOTOR ASIA TEAM and Kohta Arakawa of Astemo Pro Honda SI Racing joined the battle for the top five, while JDT RACING TEAM’s Andi Farid Izdihar charged through the field to secure sixth position.

With Hafizh comfortably clear entering the final lap, attention turned to the fight for second. Keito successfully resisted Nakarin’s relentless pressure to secure his best result of the weekend, while Nakarin completed the podium at 27’34.042s.

Hafizh said, “Alhamdulillah, six wins in a row. There is not much more I could ask for from the championship so far. We knew we had the pace this morning, but the important thing was to stay calm and not do anything silly because once you lose confidence, you can lose time very easily. At the start of the race, I knew I had the pace and the opportunity to make my move, so I focused on braking a little later and securing my position. From there, I just concentrated on maintaining my rhythm, and the pace kept getting better and better. Surprisingly, we were able to produce qualifying-level lap times consistently throughout the race. I challenged myself compared to yesterday because I wasn’t completely satisfied with my pace in Race 1. Today, I understood the rear tyre better, understood the bike better, and it allowed me to maintain a strong and consistent pace. Thank you to the team, my crew chief and all the crew who have worked incredibly hard since the beginning of the season. I would also like to thank HRH Tunku Mahkota Ismail for believing in me, my family, and all our sponsors who have supported this journey. This victory is for all of you.”

TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2
1. HAFIZH SYAHRIN ABDULLAH – JDT RACING TEAM (27’29.019s)
2. KEITO ABE – SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES (27’33.998s)
3. NAKARIN ATIRATPHUVAPAT – HONDA RACING THAILAND (27’34.042s)
4. SHOTA ITE – AKENO SPEED.UMA RACING YAMAHA MAJUMOTOR ASIA TEAM (27’34.613s)
5. KOHTA ARAKAWA – Astemo Pro Honda SI Racing (27’37.277s)

The race initially looked set to become a fierce battle among the championship contenders. Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND launched brilliantly from the start to seize the early advantage before Hafizh quickly fought his way to the front. Moments later, Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA stormed past both riders to briefly lead the race.

However, Hafizh soon regained control and began to showcase the pace that had earned him pole position. By Lap 3, Hafizh posted a fastest lap of 1’50.249s and steadily stretched his advantage over the chasing pack. Behind him, Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES remained within striking distance, while Nakarin held firm in third.

The complexion of the race changed on Lap 4 when Zaqhwan was forced to serve a Long Lap Penalty, dropping from second to seventh. The setback opened the door for Keito to move into second position and promoted Nakarin onto the provisional podium.

From there, Hafizh continued to lower the benchmark, setting consecutive fastest laps of 1’49.746s, 1’49.500s, 1’49.345s and eventually a race-best 1’49.297s on Lap 11. With every lap, the gap grew larger as the Hafizh carved out a commanding lead at the front.

While Hafizh disappeared into the distance, the battle for the final podium position intensified. Home favourite Shota Ite of AKENO SPEED.UMA RACING YAMAHA MAJUMOTOR ASIA TEAM steadily worked his way through the field, first overtaking Azroy Hakeem Anuar of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA before setting his sights on Nakarin. Shota finally made his move on Lap 11, snatching third place and immediately attempting to break away.

Nakarin refused to surrender, shadowing Shota throughout the closing laps and mounting several attacks. However, Shota remained composed under immense pressure, defending brilliantly to secure a memorable podium finish in front of his home supporters.

At the chequered flag, Hafizh sealed victory in 27’33.273s, extending his winning streak to five races. Keito completed a strong run in second at 27’37.740, while Shota successfully denied Nakarin in the fight for third at 27’41.302s. JDT RACING TEAM’s Andi Farid Izdihar completed the top five.

Hafizh said, “As the races went on, we understood more and more about how to ride the bike. Honestly, we hardly changed anything from our Buriram setup when we arrived in Motegi. We only made small adjustments for fuel consumption because we’re using a different fuel specification here, and everything worked very well. At the start of the race there was a little drizzle, but I believed it would pass quickly. My focus was to get to the front as soon as possible because I knew I had the pace to pull away. Once I found my rhythm, I was able to consistently lap only around two-tenths slower than my qualifying pace. I could have pushed even harder, but we have another race tomorrow and it’s important to stay smart. We’ll continue studying the data tonight because there’s always room for improvement. This victory belongs to the entire team and especially to my boss, HRH Tunku Mahkota Ismail, for giving me this incredible opportunity. I want to repay that trust with results. This month is also special with Father’s Day approaching, so I dedicate this victory to my father and my family, who have always stood by me through every high and low in my career. Thank you to everyone who supports this team and has been part of this journey. This win is for all of you.”

TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1
1. HAFIZH SYAHRIN ABDULLAH – JDT RACING TEAM (27’33.273s)
2. KEITO ABE – SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES (27’37.740s)
3. SHOTA ITE – AKENO SPEED.UMA RACING YAMAHA MAJUMOTOR ASIA TEAM (27’41.302s)
4. NAKARIN ATIRATPHUVAPAT – HONDA RACING THAILAND (27’41.632s)
5. ANDI FARID IZDIHAR – JDT RACING TEAM (27’44.207s)

Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of JDT RACING TEAM emerged as the rider to beat, setting a blistering best lap of 1’49.752s in Practice 1 that remained unbeaten throughout the day. The Malaysian’s benchmark lap secured top spot in the combined standings and sent a clear message to his rivals ahead of qualifying.

However, the battle at the front is far from settled. Home favourite Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES delivered a stunning late charge in Practice 3, clocking a 1’50.021s to finish second overall, just 0.269s behind Hafizh. Racing on familiar territory, Abe’s pace ensured the Japanese fans had plenty to cheer about and positioned him as a serious contender for pole position.

The fight for supremacy intensified further with HONDA RACING THAILAND’s Nakarin Atiratphuvapat ending the day third overall. Nakarin was the only rider to top Practice 2 and consistently featured among the frontrunners throughout all three sessions, underlining both his race-winning potential.

Adding further intrigue was local wildcard Shota Ite of AKENO SPEED.UMA RACING YAMAHA MAJUMOTOR ASIA TEAM. The Japanese rider impressed from the opening session, finishing third in Practice 1 before maintaining his challenge throughout the day. His combined best of 1’50.166s placed him fourth overall, just 0.414s adrift of Hafizh and firmly in contention for a front-row start.

Completing the top five was another Japanese star, Kohta Arakawa of Astemo Pro Honda SI Racing. Arakawa demonstrated remarkable consistency across all three sessions and remained within striking distance of the leading quartet, highlighting the strength of the local challenge at Motegi.

The day’s fastest speed belonged to Hafizh, who reached an astonishing 286.472kph in Practice 3, emphasizing the incredible performance levels being achieved around the iconic Japanese circuit.

Hafizh shared,“Syukur Alhamdulillah, we finished the day as the fastest overall, which is a very encouraging start to the weekend. The conditions in the morning were almost perfect, and we were able to set a very competitive lap time. In the afternoon, heavy rain arrived, so I only completed a few laps to better understand the bike’s behaviour in wet conditions. The positive thing is that we now have a solid wet setup and a clearer understanding of the areas that still need improvement. Later in the session, as the track began to dry, there were still some damp patches in several corners, so I focused on maintaining my rhythm and gathering as much information as possible. Unfortunately, we experienced a small electronics issue, which forced us to stop briefly. We managed to get back out on track and improve our lap time, but the same issue appeared again. The team is working hard to identify the cause, and hopefully we can resolve it before tomorrow. Overall, I am happy with our pace, and I hope we can have a smooth Qualifying session and prepare ourselves well for both Race 1 and Race 2.”

TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE
1. HAFIZH SYAHRIN ABDULLAH – JDT RACING TEAM (1’49.752s)
2. KEITO ABE – SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES (1’50.021s)
3. NAKARIN ATIRATPHUVAPAT – HONDA RACING THAILAND (1’50.100s)
4. SHOTA ITE – AKENO SPEED.UMA RACING YAMAHA MAJUMOTOR ASIA TEAM (1’50.166s)
5. KOHTA ARAKAWA – Astemo Pro Honda SI Racing (1’50.289s)