Hafizh Syahrin remains calm and focused despite being handed a long lap penalty ahead of Race 1 of Round 2 in the 2026 Asia Road Racing Championship at Chang International Circuit, Buriram.
The JDT Racing Team rider responded professionally to the steward’s decision, insisting that respecting regulations and learning from mistakes are part of racing at the highest level.
“I think it’s a normal part of racing. We have to accept the stewards doing their job,” Hafizh explained.
“I respect the regulations very much. There’s not much to comment on. Of course, I have my own opinion and they also have theirs, but at the end of the day, safety is the priority and we must learn from situations like this so the same mistakes do not happen again in the future.”
The former MotoGP rider acknowledged that the penalty could cost him valuable positions during the race, but remained confident in both his pace and his connection with the bike following encouraging performances earlier in the season.
“I will serve the long lap penalty and probably lose some positions, but I know I have good rhythm with the bike,” he said.
“In Sepang, I felt very strong throughout the weekend and now we will see how things go here.”
Hafizh also highlighted the challenging weather conditions in Buriram, admitting the physical demands are different compared to the opening round at Sepang International Circuit.
“The weather here is quite demanding compared to Sepang, maybe similar in some ways, but here it’s drier and the humidity is different,” he added.
Despite the setback, the Malaysian rider insists his mindset remains unchanged heading into the weekend as he aims to continue delivering strong performances for JDT Racing Team.
“I will approach this weekend like any normal race weekend and focus lap by lap on my speed and rhythm,” said Hafizh.
“I’m fully fit, I’ve been training hard, and I’m ready to give another good weekend, especially for my team.”
Credit Photo : ARRC
