Round 1 of the Aeon Credit MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship will take place at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit this weekend. YAMAHA Y16ZR Race Masterclass returns this season with 29 riders in the entry list.
Last season saw Md Adib Arsyad taking three wins and two podiums before bagging the victorious title with a total of 117 points to his name. With him taking a bold stance in the YAMAHA R15M Race Elites race category this season and out of the equation of YAMAHA Y16ZR Race Masterclass, it’s an opportunity for 1st runner up, Ahmad Iqram Danish to pull the strings in the inevitable nip and tuck of the race category and race to the top.
Commenting on the upcoming race, Iqram said, “With Adib out of the equation, we have lost one contender – it could be both good and bad depending on how we see it. But I think there won’t be much of a difference in terms of competitiveness. We race on a big circuit ground which means all riders have a winning chance. The machine is a good one as it is compatible with my riding style. For us, the riders especially, who are still learning to ride on a big track, this is a good bike to learn on. The track too is a training ground that helps us work within the race line which is one of the important elements in racing. It is not that fast but not that slow too. The most important thing is optimising the machine that fits my riding techniques. To me, all riders are on par but I believe Akid and Jebat would be my main rivals as they work with very good strategies. They are also quite bold. My goal this season is to take the championship title.”
While the rest of the top five riders remain the same and will be back for another season, the race category is bound to get feisty especially with new entries. The number of riders may differ from the last season with nine riders lesser but the race category which will utilise the underbone machine at 155cc will see riders optimising between slip-stream to make the cut, which makes up for its unique proposition. Jebat Zulkarnain, 2nd runner up of Season 2024 who will also be riding in the YAMAHA R15M Race Elites said, “This season will definitely be a challenging one especially with many new experienced riders with great calibre. But I am bucking up on my side especially with fitness and training sessions. Most importantly, I trust in my abilities 100%. I will give my best and make sure that there are no regrets. My goal is to be the overall champion or worse, podium in each race.” Raiyan Khardanee on the other hand said, “While there are many experienced riders which raises the benchmark on a yearly basis, the most important thing for me is to make sure that the strategies work well with us. In terms of the machine, I know that all machines will be in their best condition, made for best optimisation. The preparations are very important. On my side, I have been doing endurance and speed training to maintain consistency. My goal is to make it to the top.”
