Malaysian racing star Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah has been penalised following his victory in Race 2 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) 2026 Round 1 at the Sepang International Circuit.
The elite ASB1000 rider from JDT Racing Team received the sanctions from the Race Direction after breaching post-race safety procedures while celebrating his win.
According to the official decision issued on 12 April 2026, Hafizh was found to have violated Articles 1.21.18 and 1.21.2.3 of the ARRC Championship Regulations.
The incident occurred after the chequered flag when Hafizh slowed down and briefly stopped his motorcycle on the start-finish straight to celebrate his victory.
Under ARRC technical regulations, riders must move to the side of the track in a safe area if they intend to celebrate or collect flags. Stopping on the main straight is strictly prohibited as it poses a safety risk to other competitors still completing their cool-down lap.
Race Direction imposed the following penalties:
- Financial Penalty: A USD 500 fine in accordance with championship regulations.
- Sporting Penalty: One Long Lap Penalty to be served during Race 1 of the next ARRC round in which Hafizh competes.
Despite the setback, Hafizh’s performance at Sepang was one of the highlights of the opening round. The former MotoGP rider delivered a dominant display to secure victory and maintain his strong position in the championship standings.
However, the Long Lap penalty in the next round means Hafizh and his team will have to carefully plan their race strategy to minimise the time loss when the sanction is served.
Credit Photo : ARRC
