Moto4 Asia Cup: 3 Young Malaysian Riders Eye Momentum at Motegi
Malaysia's young racing talents are gearing up for Round 3 of the Idemitsu Moto4 Asia Cup Championship, set to take place at Mobility Resort Motegi in Japan this weekend, as the national contingent looks to build on encouraging results from the previous round at Sepang.
Following positive results in Malaysia, the country's riders head into the Japanese leg with the shared goal of maintaining momentum and delivering their best possible performances at Motegi.
Considerable attention surrounds 14-year-old Qayyim Razin, who arrives in Japan brimming with confidence after securing a double victory at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) this past August. Qayyim claimed the maximum 50 points available at Sepang and currently sits fourth overall in the championship standings with 50 points, a result that has provided a significant motivational boost as he looks to continue his positive form at Motegi.
"I'm really excited and can't wait to start racing in Japan. The spirit from my double victory at Sepang is still burning and gives me extra motivation to chase the podium again," Qayyim said. "During the nearly two-month break from Moto4 racing, I focused entirely on improving my physical fitness and increasing my training time on the machine. Thorough preparation has been done, and I'm fully ready to deliver my best performance at Motegi."
Meanwhile, Qabil Irfan remains in limbo pending the outcome of official medical examinations before receiving clearance to return to racing action. Currently third overall in the championship with 62 points, Qabil is in the final phase of recovery from a leg injury and has already completed four training sessions on his motorcycle as part of his preparation process for a potential return. However, final confirmation of his participation at Motegi will depend entirely on examination results and approval from the racing medical panel.
"My priority right now is passing the doctor's examination. Mentally and physically, I'm ready, and my previous training sessions proved I can control the machine well even though I haven't fully recovered," Qabil said. "I don't want to lose crucial points in this championship. If I'm cleared, I'll give it everything to collect points here."
Fellow Malaysian rider Muhammad Naqib Rifqi arrives with more comprehensive preparation, having undergone physical conditioning work, including efforts to reduce his body weight, aimed at improving his performance and competitiveness within the front-running pack.
"I'm fired up to face this round in Japan. Throughout the two-month break, I worked hard on motorcycle training and also improved my fitness," Naqib said. "To compete more effectively with other riders who have smaller physiques, I followed a specific diet and managed to lose three kilograms. I'm confident in this preparation and determined to show strong competition within the front pack."
With three Malaysian riders continuing their campaigns at Motegi, the team hopes each competitor can deliver their best performances and collect crucial points as they push forward in this season's Idemitsu Moto4 Asia Cup Championship.
The championship standings are currently led by Japanese rider Hayato Chisiki with 70 points, followed by Waku Kunitate on 64 points. Qabil sits third with 62 points, while Qayyim occupies fourth place with 50 points, setting up a tightly contested weekend at Motegi as the young Malaysian trio look to close the gap on the championship leaders.3
Credit Photo : ZK Racing