Malaysian ace Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah delivered another masterclass performance in the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) 2026 by storming to victory in Asia Superbike 1000 (ASB1000) Race 1 at Mobility Resort Motegi, Tochigi, on Saturday.
Representing JDT Racing Team, Hafizh overcame an early setback at the start before showcasing his experience and racecraft to secure a convincing win aboard his Ducati Panigale V4R, strengthening his position in the championship battle heading into Race 2.
The former MotoGP rider endured a less-than-ideal launch from pole position, slipping to third place during the opening stages as local favorite Keito Abe surged into the lead.
However, Hafizh remained calm under pressure and quickly began carving his way back through the field. Within the opening laps, the Malaysian star reclaimed the lead after executing a decisive move on Abe, immediately establishing himself at the front of the pack.
Once clear of his rivals, Hafizh steadily increased the gap and dictated the pace of the race.
By the halfway point, the Johor Darul Ta’zim-backed rider had already opened up a commanding advantage of more than three seconds over his closest challenger.
Hafizh’s pace proved untouchable throughout the 10-lap contest as he continued to lower his lap times and maintain complete control of proceedings.
The 31-year-old eventually crossed the finish line comfortably ahead of the field, securing victory with a margin of 4.468 seconds over Japan’s Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. Honda Philippines.
Adding further emphasis to his dominance, Hafizh also recorded the fastest lap of the race with a blistering 1:49.297, improving on his pace from qualifying and underlining his superiority around the iconic Motegi circuit.
JDT Racing Team also enjoyed another productive outing through Indonesian rider Andi Farid Izdihar, who secured fifth place for the second consecutive race.
Although unable to challenge the podium positions, Andi maintained a consistent pace throughout the race to finish 10.935 seconds behind his victorious teammate and collect valuable championship points.
The Malaysian contingent was further represented by the IDEMITSU Honda Racing Malaysia duo of Zaqhwan Zaidi and Azroy Anuar.
Former ASB1000 champion Zaqhwan produced a determined ride to finish seventh, ending the race 13.808 seconds behind Hafizh after battling inside the top ten throughout the contest.
Meanwhile, Azroy faced a more difficult afternoon and ultimately crossed the line in 13th position, finishing 1 minute 4.111 seconds adrift of the race winner.
The result marks another significant statement from Hafizh Syahrin as he continues to establish himself as the rider to beat in the premier ASB1000 category this season.
After demonstrating impressive speed throughout practice and qualifying, the Malaysian converted his form into maximum points on race day, combining consistency, tyre management and outright pace to deliver one of his most dominant victories of the 2026 campaign.
With Race 2 still to come at Motegi, Hafizh will now be aiming to complete a perfect weekend and further strengthen his bid for the ARRC ASB1000 crown.
Credit Photo : ARRC
