Hakim Danish “I’m Very Excited to Race at Phillip Island”

Hakim Danish has turned his full attention to this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, aiming for a strong result and valuable points in the Moto3 class of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship.

The AEON Credit-MT Helmets-MSi rider wants to bounce back after a difficult Indonesian Grand Prix and build momentum before his home race, the Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) from October 30 to November 1.

Danish had to start the Indonesian Grand Prix from the back of the grid. He recovered from 26th on the grid to within reach of the top ten. He crossed the line 12th but was demoted to 14th after a last-lap incident with GRYD Racing’s Joel Kelso, who crashed. Stewards judged Danish at fault and gave him a three-second penalty.

Danish said he lost front-end grip while trying to pass Kelso, apologised to him, and said he had learned from watching the riders ahead. The result brought him two points. He now has 107 points and sits ninth in the Moto3 World Championship.

The 19-year-old said the experience did not dent his spirits. He sees Australia as a chance to improve, collect points and build positive momentum before racing at home.

Phillip Island is new territory for Danish. The iconic track is known for its fast corners and unpredictable weather, which calls for careful preparation and consistency across the weekend.

His team manager Zulfahmi Khairuddin has spent time with him on the circuit’s characteristics. “This circuit is quite different compared to other circuits, especially in terms of its layout and its position next to the sea,” he said.

The weekend carries extra significance. Phillip Island is scheduled to host the Australian Grand Prix for the last time before the championship moves to Adelaide from 2027.

With the remaining rounds growing more important, Danish wants to use every practice session to understand the circuit, judge the bike’s performance and settle on the best approach to qualifying and the race. He has gone back over his earlier races with Zulfahmi to find areas to improve and cut down on the mistakes that cost him points.

“My preparation for the Australian GP is going well and I’m very excited to race at Phillip Island because this circuit is still new to me,” Danish said. “Looking at the circuit, I think it is very interesting. I’m looking forward to the first practice session on Friday.”

He described how he prepared. “For the preparation, I trained in Malaysia and also reviewed the mistakes I made in my last two races. I’m trying to fix the weaknesses I identified and want to give my best this week before heading home for the Malaysian GP.”

He also gave an update on his fitness. He was still recovering from a shoulder injury picked up in three crashes at the Japanese Grand Prix. “The injury from my earlier crash is also healing. There is still a little pain, but it’s not an obstacle to continue fighting and giving my best,” he said.

Zulfahmi said the track suits fast riding but presents challenges. “The circuit has high-speed characteristics and quite strong wind conditions. The weather there is often unpredictable, especially at the end of October,” he said.

He said he spent a lot of time last week going through race video with Danish and planning for Friday’s practice. “I hope all the effort last week will give Danish a positive change. We want to see him perform brilliantly at Phillip Island.”

He will not be there in person. “I can’t be with Hakim Danish this week. I hope he can get through the race without any disruptions or penalties, make sure he stays safe when racing and be fully ready for the Malaysian GP next week.”

The reference to penalties is deliberate. Danish took a back-of-grid penalty at Mandalika for slow riding in qualifying. He also had a 12-place penalty at the Czech Grand Prix in June, after repeat offences, and still won that race from 14th.

After Phillip Island, Danish returns to Malaysia for his home race at Sepang from October 30 to November 1. Zulfahmi wants him to reach it in good form, and with the points he hopes to collect in Australia.

Credit Photo : ZK Racing