THREE YOUNG MALAYSIA RIDERS READY TO SHINE AT MOTO4 ASIA CUP IN SEPANG

Three young Malaysian riders are ready to fly the nation’s flag at Round 2 of the 2026 Idemitsu Moto4 Asia Cup at the Sepang International Circuit from July 31 to August 2, aiming to build on the strong momentum from the opening round in Buriram, Thailand.

Held alongside Round 3 of the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK), the event is expected to bring together some of Asia’s finest young talents as they battle for crucial championship points following a six-month break.

Malaysia will be represented by promising young riders Qabil Irfan Azlan, Naqib Rifqi and Qayyim Razin, all of whom have undergone different development programmes throughout the season to ensure they are in peak condition for their home race.

Qabil enters the weekend as Malaysia’s leading contender after delivering an impressive performance in the opening round at Buriram, where he secured the country’s first podium finish of the season with a runner-up result in Race 2.

The result earned the Terengganu-born rider 30 championship points, placing him third in the overall standings.

In addition to competing in the Moto4 Asia Cup, Qabil has also gained valuable international experience through his participation in the Moto4 European Cup, providing him with an added advantage heading into the Sepang round.

Naqib has continued to sharpen his skills by competing in the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) through the TVS Asia One Make Championship, while also racing in the Malaysian Cub Prix Championship and the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK).

Meanwhile, Qayyim has continued his development in the MotoMini Malaysia 190cc Championship, an important platform for nurturing young Malaysian riders before they progress to higher levels of competition.

Competing across multiple championships has allowed all three riders to maintain their race fitness, improve their physical conditioning and further develop their technical abilities throughout the mid-season break.

Following the opening round in Buriram, Qabil currently sits third in the overall championship standings with 30 points, while Naqib occupies 14th place and Qayyim is 22nd. All three riders are determined to capitalise on the advantage of racing in front of their home fans as they look to improve their positions in the championship standings.

Team Manager Zulfahmi Khairuddin believes the experience gained by Qabil, Naqib and Qayyim through competing in various championships throughout the season will enable them to challenge more strongly against riders from across Asia when they take to the track at Sepang.

“I’m really excited to race at Sepang in front of my home fans. After scoring valuable championship points in Buriram, my goal is to continue collecting important points and deliver my best performance throughout the weekend.

I want to fight at the front of the field, and I’ll be using the experience I’ve gained in Europe to challenge the front runners and put together a strong performance at Sepang.”

“I’m happy to be back racing in the Moto4 Asia Cup at Sepang. I want to make the most of the experience I’ve gained throughout the season to put in my best performance and continue improving.

I hope to improve my position in the overall championship standings and deliver a result that Malaysia can be proud of.”

“ I’m really excited and motivated to be racing at home this weekend. During the Moto4 Asia Cup break, I focused on improving my stamina and building my physical fitness to ensure I am fully prepared for the race.

I also competed in the MSBK 600 Championship to better understand the characteristics of the Sepang International Circuit, which will help me deliver my best performance this weekend. My target is to fight at the front of the field, compete with the leading group and achieve the best result possible.”

“ This is a very important weekend for all the Moto4 Asia Cup riders after the long break following the opening round in Buriram. Round 2 at Sepang is a crucial race for every team and rider as the championship resumes.

My main focus is, of course, on Qabil Irfan. I hope the experience he has gained from competing in the Moto4 European Cup will give him added confidence and help him perform at his best this weekend.

At the same time, Naqib Rifqi and Qayyim Razin have also prepared well, including taking part in testing ahead of this round. I hope all three riders can work together, support one another and deliver their best performances to achieve a strong result for Malaysia.”