Asia Superbike 1000

HAFIZH STOOD OUT AT MOTEGIRound 3 of the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship was held today at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, where Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of JDT RACING TEAM delivered a commanding performance to top the ASB1000 combined practice standings. Hafizh set the tone in Practice 1, blazing through with a 1’50.838s lap. Japanese wild card Sho Nishimura of JAPAN POSTHonda Racing impressed with 1’51.270s, while Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA posted a 1’51.609s to slot into third. Practice 2 brought challenges as rain left the track damp but drying. In the mixed conditions, Lachlan Epis rose to the occasion, leading the session with a 2’01.765s. Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND recorded 2’02.013s for second, with Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of A1 ENERGY BMW RACING TEAM placing third at 2’02.991s. In the final session, Hafizh once again showcased his pace, clocking 1’50.913s to remain on top. Apiwath Wongthananon of A1 ENERGY BMW RACING TEAM surged to second with a 1’50.989s, and Zaqhwan stayed consistent with a 1’51.042s. Thanks to his speed and control in both dry and mixed conditions, Hafizh emerged as the day’s fastest overall. Apiwath and Zaqhwan completed the top three, promising a thrilling showdown in tomorrow’s qualifying. Hafizh commented, “Thankfully, I was the fastest in Practice 1 and Practice 3. In Practice 2, the weather was drizzling, so we chose not to go out and take unnecessary risks. Overall, I’m quite satisfied with how the team has worked since Day 1. Of course, we’re not perfect yet—there are still a few sectors where we can improve. I believe tomorrow will bring new opportunities, hopefully with good weather. I’ll aim for a strong qualifying result and be fully prepared for the race.” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE

The incessant nip and tuck between countrymen, Azroy Hakeem Anuar of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA and Hafizh Syahrin of JDT RACING TEAM came to a roaring end when the former bagged a double-victory at Sepang International Circuit in the Asia Superbike 1000cc race category deserving of a double thumb-ups. With Round 3 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship being held at Mobility Resort Motegi, what would the odds be for the duo on a turf familiar to Japanese lad, Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES? Keito Abe may not be a stranger to the Asian scene and may have had a fair share of flair aboard a 600cc machine that awarded him with the rewarding title in All Japan Championship but inside the bubble of the ASB1000 race category, the brewing pressure is real for the debutante. What’s interesting though is his ability to adapt very quickly to the temperaments and expectations of the high-powered race category. With his recent performance that landed him on 4-3 over the weekend, the quiet yet robust personality is now positioned comfortably for his next move that could make all the difference. Currently raking it fifth on the overall chart, the Japanese holds the card for an upgrade into top three, potentially threatening the positions of the contenders glamming the top four, especially with his mileage on his home-ground circuit and with only a 15-point difference from the chart-topper. The question is, who does Keito have his eyes on in his attempt to eliminate the load of rivalry off his shoulders? Azroy may be a debutante himself but he is quick to strike whereas Nakarin of HONDA RACING THAILAND is calmly venomous in his moves. Hafizh and Zaqhwan of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA on the other hand may have showcased some struggling moments here and there but they definitely have grand experiences that keeps them armed for a season of battle. Commenting on the race, Keito Abe said, “Different circuit grounds come with different kind of challenge but for me, my home-ground is a symbol of power. Definitely, there is pressure that comes with the home-ground but it also is an added advantage for me since I have had a fair share of mileage on the circuit. But having said that, there are the other riders who are equally good, who have also had their run on the ground. Most importantly is for me to make the most of my experience and avoid making any mistakes.” “I am tuned towards grasping the characteristics of the machine and the team has not only been helpful but they are also very insightful. I am pretty confident with them considering the benchmark that they have stamped in the last few years and I know that they will ensure optimisation in the settings for the machine. With them, it is also my chance to become stronger, professionally. There are the likes of Nakarin, Zaqhwan and Hafizh who have also raced for a long time which means that they have enough experience to compete competitively. But I will come prepared and part of my training regime includes dirt training which enhances my strength and control towards the machine. The focus for this season is to achieve the championship title.”

Azroy Hakeem Anuar of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about, proudly waving the Malaysian flag from the top step of the ASB1000 podium after securing a sensational double win in Round 2 of the 2025 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the Sepang International Circuit. Following his Race 1 victory on Saturday, Azroy capped off a stellar weekend with another commanding performance in Race 2, clocking a winning time of 25’23.640s. Azroy’s intent was clear from the very first lap, as he edged past Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of JDT RACING TEAM, who had made a strong start. However, the road to victory wasn’t smooth. He faced constant pressure from a determined group of challengers, including Thailand’s Apiwath Wongthananon of A1 ENERGY BMW RACING TEAM and Hafizh, who both took turns overtaking him. At one point, Azroy dropped to fifth position. But the Malaysian rider quickly regained momentum, setting the fastest lap of the race at 2’06.134s to reclaim the lead on Lap 4. With Hafizh close behind, the battle for the top spot intensified, leaving no room for error. Andi Farid Izdihar of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM also put in a brilliant performance, surging from P6 to P3 and joining the front-running duo. Unfortunately, his charge ended in disappointment after a crash on Lap 9, allowing Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman A1 ENERGY BMW RACING TEAM to move up the order. The closing laps saw Azroy and Hafizh push their machines to the limit, exceeding 300 km/h as they pulled a five-second gap over the chasing pack. Both riders were determined to secure national glory on home soil, but Azroy held firm under pressure to seal his second win of the weekend and climb to the top of the championship standings with 71 points. Hafizh Syahrin secured second place with a time of 25’24.408s, while Keito Abe completed the podium in third at 25’28.751s. Azroy, “This is my first time getting a double podium and double win, so I’m really happy. All of this is thanks to my team for their hard work. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. In the race, I tried to follow the same pace as yesterday, but today the weather was hotter, so I had to manage the tyres more carefully. Early on I dropped to 5th or 6th, but I pushed to make a comeback. I noticed something was off with the tyre, so I just maintained my pace. Hafizh was close, sometimes near, sometimes far, and that’s when I knew my pace was strong. I just controlled the race until the final lap. I’m really happy with this result, and we’ll aim to do it again in the next round.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2

Race 1 of Round 2 in the 2025 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship’s ASB1000 category saw Malaysian hero Azroy Hakeem Anuar of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA storm to a commanding victory at the Sepang International Circuit, delighting fans with a flawless performance on home turf. In qualifying, Thailand’s Apiwath Wongthananon of A1 ENERGY BMW RACING TEAM shattered a five-year-old lap record set by Markus Reiterberger in 2020 (2’04.597s), securing pole position with a scorching time of 2’04.597s. Local favourite Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of the JDT RACING TEAM lined up second with a 2’04.758s, while Azroy secured a strong third with a 2’04.928s. As the race started, Azroy made a brilliant start and immediately took control of the race. Hafizh slotted into second, ahead of Azroy’s teammate Md Zaqhwan Zaidi, setting up an all-Malaysian trio at the front. While Azroy began pulling away, the battle for second intensified, with Hafizh and Zaqhwan swapping positions in a fierce contest. On Lap 6, Apiwath, who had fought his way up from P6 to P4, was forced to retire due to a mechanical failure, a disappointing end after his record-breaking qualifying effort. Further drama unfolded on Lap 8 when Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND suffered a crash. Though he rejoined the race, he was unable to mount a challenge for the podium. By Lap 10, Azroy had opened up a commanding two-second lead, while Hafizh, Zaqhwan, and Andi Farid Izdihar of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM engaged in an intense three-way fight for second.The trio diced through the corners with multiple lead changes, delivering nonstop action that kept the excitement at a fever pitch. In the end, Azroy crossed the line unchallenged to seal victory with a time of 25’22.336s. Hafizh’s late push on the final lap paid off as he edged out Zaqhwan for second with 25’25.090s, while Zaqhwan settled for third at 25’25.278s. Azroy said, “I want to thank the team for all the hard work this weekend in finding a great setup, and also my teammate Zaqhwan, who helped plan a good race strategy. Honestly, if Hafizh and Zaqhwan hadn’t been fighting each other, they might’ve caught me! I’m happy with my consistent pace around 2’06.000s each lap, but I’m still not fully satisfied because I was targeting high 2’05.000s. Still, we’ve got another chance tomorrow, so let’s keep this momentum going.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1

Round 2 of the 2025 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship held today at the Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia, where Azroy Hakeem Anuar of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA delivered a commanding performance to top the combined timesheets in the ASB1000 practice sessions. Azroy got off to a flying start in Practice 1, clocking the fastest lap of 2’05.974s. His teammate, Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi, followed closely with a time of 2’06.720s, while Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND secured third with a 2’07.144s effort. In Practice 2, Azroy continued to set the benchmark, leading the session with a time of 2’06.972s. Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES slotted into second with 2’07.237s, while Zaqhwan maintained a strong showing in third at 2’07.358s. The final session saw Azroy shave further time off his best, recording a 2’05.882s lap to retain his position at the top. Nakarin improved significantly to clock 2’05.886s, just 0.004s off Azroy’s pace, while Zaqhwan remained consistent with a 2’06.029s lap for third. With the combined results from all three sessions, Azroy emerged as the fastest rider of the day, with Nakarin and Zaqhwan completing the top three. The narrow time gaps hint at a thrilling qualifying session to come tomorrow. Azroy said, “I had a good feeling throughout both practice sessions today. There are still some small areas where I think we can improve, but overall, I’m quite happy with the progress we’ve made. The team and I will keep working and carry this momentum into tomorrow’s sessions.” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE

The 2025 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship is heating up as Round 2 heads to the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, and eyes are on Malaysian rider, Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of JDT Racing Team. With the home crowd behind him and plenty of motivation in the tank, Hafizh is ready to put on a show. Round 1 in Thailand was a solid start to the season. Hafizh grabbed a strong third place in Race 1 and followed it up with fifth in Race 2, placing him fourth overall in the standings. It was a good foundation, but Hafizh knows there’s more to come. “Round 1 wasn’t the best for me overall. In Race 1 I managed to fight for the podium, which was encouraging, but in Race 2 we just didn’t have the speed to stick with the front group. We’ve identified where we were lacking, and we’ve been working hard to improve in those areas. I took the positives from the weekend, and now my full focus is on Sepang.” PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit is special for any Malaysian rider, and even more so for Hafizh, who has years of experience on the circuit and a massive fan following. Racing at home brings its own energy, something Hafizh is eager to tap into. “Of course, racing at home gives you extra motivation. You know the track very well, and when the fans are out there cheering, it gives you that extra push. The atmosphere is incredible, and I can’t wait to feel it again. It just lifts your whole performance.” Last season at Sepang, Hafizh showed promise with a pole position and two strong race results: P5 and P3. However, he admits there were valuable lessons learned from that weekend. “I started from pole last year, but we made a few mistakes with the bike setup that cost us in the races. This time, we’re coming in smarter. We’ve got the data, we’ve got the experience, and we’ll work hard from FP1 to make sure we’re starting the weekend with a good feeling and strong pace. The goal is to fight up front.” Being one of the most recognized names in Malaysian motorsport means Hafizh always rides with a big fanbase watching. But rather than pressure, he sees it as pure inspiration. “I know there will be a big crowd again, and honestly, I want to do better than last year. Not just for myself but for all the fans who come out to support. I hope we can make them proud. I really encourage everyone to come and support not just me, but all the Malaysian riders. We’ll be giving it everything.” When asked about the competition this season, Hafizh points out two familiar names, but makes it clear that he’s keeping his guard up against everyone on the grid. “At the moment, I think Zaqhwan and Nakarin are the toughest competitors. They have a lot of experience with their bikes, and they know exactly how to manage the race. But to be honest, every rider out there is a challenge. We can’t take anyone lightly.” For Hafizh, this season is about more than just winning races. It’s about consistency, growth, and keeping his eyes on the ultimate prize. “My goal is definitely the championship, but I’m going to take it race by race. In racing as anything can happen. That’s why I’ve prepared myself physically and mentally to be ready for whatever comes. I’m here to fight every single round.”