SEPANG – If Round 1 laid the foundation for the 2026 MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship, Round 2 at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit proved exactly why this year’s championship is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory.
Across two vastly different race days—one defined by tricky wet conditions and the other by scorching dry weather—the championship produced comeback victories, clean sweeps, dramatic final-lap battles and new Weekend Champions as riders from across Southeast Asia showcased world-class racing.
Azlan’s Fairytale Returns Before Kasma Strikes Back
The premier MSBK1000 A category delivered perhaps the biggest storyline of the weekend.
Race 1 belonged to veteran Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, who finally returned to the top step after more than a year away from victory. Starting from pole, the AMI Suzuki Motorsport rider withstood relentless pressure from Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin, who repeatedly closed the gap in changing weather conditions before Azlan crossed the finish line just seven-tenths of a second ahead.
But Sunday’s Race 2 saw momentum swing dramatically.
Once Indonesian rider Mohammad Adenanta Putra grabbed the early lead, Kasma patiently waited before unleashing blistering pace midway through the race. Consecutive fastest laps enabled the Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia rider to seize control and build an unassailable advantage, claiming a memorable home victory ahead of Adenanta and Adam Norrodin.
The result leaves the championship battle finely poised with no clear favourite heading into Round 3.
Santhiran Completes The Perfect Weekend
If there was one rider who owned Round 2, it was Santhiran A/L Naga Raju.
After battling Kamarul Izad Ishak in slippery conditions to secure Saturday’s MSBK1000 B victory, Santhiran returned on Sunday with an even more commanding performance.
He led virtually from lights to flag, calmly controlling proceedings despite incidents behind him before sealing his second consecutive victory.
The double triumph crowned the RaceHub Racing Team rider as the undisputed Weekend Champion, further strengthening his championship credentials.
Thanat Untouchable In Both Conditions
Few riders adapted better than Thailand’s Thanat Laoongplio.
Race 1 demanded wet-weather precision, and the Honda Racing Thailand rider delivered exactly that, leading home teammate Kitsada Tanachot for an impressive Honda one-two finish.
Race 2 was an entirely different challenge.
With the Sepang asphalt heating up under the Malaysian sun, Thanat simply raised his pace even further. Fastest laps, consistent rhythm and an ever-growing lead saw him complete a dominant double victory, once again proving why he remains one of Southeast Asia’s most complete middleweight riders.
MSBK250A Produces Weekend’s Best Racing
No class delivered more entertainment than MSBK250 A.
Saturday’s wet race saw Malaysia’s Md Irfan Haykhal Amidi edge an intense battle against Indonesia’s Irfan Ardiansyah, with both riders trading the lead multiple times before Haykhal prevailed.
Sunday belonged to Irfan.
Saving his attack until the final lap, the Indonesian timed his move to perfection before surviving a breathtaking final-corner showdown involving Haykhal and Ahmad Afif Amran to steal victory by less than three-tenths of a second.
It was exactly the kind of edge-of-your-seat racing that makes the lightweight class such a fan favourite.
Carlsen Sweeps The Weekend
The MSBK250 B class produced one of the most consistent performances of the championship.
Filipino rider Carlsen Jacob Solis mastered both wet and dry conditions, controlling Race 1 before repeating the feat in Race 2.
Despite determined pressure from Malaysia’s Kabilesh Rajini Krishnan, Carlsen never looked under serious threat and completed a flawless weekend double to secure the Weekend Champion honours.
For Kabilesh, two runner-up finishes ensured another valuable haul of championship points as his title campaign remains firmly on track.
Zaquan Dominates Yamaha R15M Race Elites
The BERJAYA SOMPO Yamaha R15M Race Elites once again showcased why one-make racing remains one of motorcycle racing’s greatest spectacles.
Saturday’s race ended with Ashraff Zaquan Bin Zainal Raif executing a perfectly timed final-corner attack to snatch victory by just 0.039 seconds.
Sunday produced another slipstream thriller before Zaquan once again emerged victorious despite relentless challenges and late-race crashes among podium contenders.
The Liang Soon Motor rider completed a clean sweep to leave Sepang with maximum points and enormous championship momentum.
Momentum Builds Towards Round 3
Round 2 demonstrated the incredible depth of talent now competing in the MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship.
Veterans rediscovered winning form, rising stars announced themselves, international riders continued raising the level of competition and several championship battles remain far from settled.
With every class producing different winners, dramatic overtakes and Weekend Champions, the 2026 season is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting editions of the national championship in recent years.
If Sepang’s second round was any indication, the fight for every title is only just beginning.
