Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah has been handed a USD500(RM1,960) fine by Race Direction following an incident during Race 1 of the ASB1000 category at the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 Round 2 in Chang International Circuit.
The official notice, issued by ARRC Race Direction on 9 May 2026, confirmed that the JDT Racing Team rider was penalised for infringing Articles 1.21.18 and 1.21.2.3 of the 2026 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship regulations.
According to the statement, the infringement occurred during post-race celebrations after Hafizh claimed victory in Race 1 aboard his Ducati Panigale V4R.
Under Article 1.21.18, riders are prohibited from stopping or slowing down on the start-finish straight after the chequered flag for any form of celebration. Riders wishing to celebrate or collect a flag must first move safely to the side of the racing surface before rejoining the circuit.
Meanwhile, Article 1.21.2 states that riders must behave responsibly and avoid causing danger to other competitors or participants on track or in the pit lane. Article 1.21.2.3 further outlines that infringements during a race can result in fines, disqualification, or additional penalties such as a Ride Through or Long Lap Penalty.
Race Direction ultimately imposed the minimum financial penalty of USD500(RM1,960) on the Malaysian rider, while confirming that the decision is final.
The sanction comes shortly after Hafizh delivered a commanding performance in Race 1, where he secured victory after leading a strong Malaysian showing in the ASB1000 category. Despite the fine, the result itself remains unaffected.
The incident also drew attention due to Hafizh’s celebration approach after crossing the finish line, with Race Direction emphasizing the importance of maintaining safety procedures even after the race has concluded.
The experienced Malaysian rider had earlier dominated the weekend by topping combined practice sessions before converting his pace into a race victory.
With Race 2 still remaining in Buriram, attention will now shift toward whether Hafizh can bounce back from the controversy and continue his momentum in the championship battle.
Credit Photo : ARRC
