QABIL IRFAN BANGKIT KUTIP MATA BERHARGA DI ESTRORIL

🇲🇾 Estoril, Portugal | 15 Jun 2026 – Qabil Irfan Azlan mempamerkan semangat juang tinggi pada perlumbaan Pusingan 2 Moto4 European Cup 2026 di Litar Estoril, Portugal apabila bangkit daripada kekecewaan pada Perlumbaan 1 untuk menamatkan Perlumbaan 2 di kedudukan keempat.

Pelumba pasukan SIC-GRYD Racing itu terlebih dahulu mencuri tumpuan pada Perlumbaan 1 apabila memulakan saingan dari petak kesembilan dan berjaya memintas beberapa pelumba untuk berada dalam kelompok hadapan. Qabil memperagakan tunggangan cukup baik apabila mendaki ke kedudukan kelima sebelum mengekalkan rentak kompetitif bersama kelompok pendahulu.

Ketika perlumbaan berbaki enam pusingan, Qabil mula memberi tekanan kepada pencabar lain apabila melonjak ke kedudukan keempat sebelum berjaya merampas tempat kedua. Persaingan sengit dalam kelompok hadapan menyaksikan kedudukannya beberapa kali berubah antara tempat kedua dan ketiga, namun Qabil dilihat berada dalam posisi terbaik untuk memburu podium. Impian tersebut tidak kesampaian apabila Qabil hilang cengkaman bahagian depan jenteranya di Selekoh 9 lalu terjatuh sebelum melanggar pelumba Itali, Lorenzo Pritelli ketika perlumbaan hanya berbaki tiga pusingan untuk tamat.

Bagaimanapun, Qabil tidak berputus asa untuk bangkit pada Perlumbaan 2 apabila berjaya menamatkan perlumbaan di kedudukan keempat terbaik biarpun bermula di petak ke-10. Rentak konsisten yang dipamerkan membolehkannya naik ke kedudukan keempat ketika perlumbaan berbaki 12 pusingan dan kekal berada dalam kelompok tersebut sehingga garisan penamat. Bagaimanapun, peluang untuk mencabar podium sedikit terjejas selepas kemalangan membabitkan dua pelumba di hadapannya menyebabkan jurang besar tercipta dengan kelompok pendahulu. Qabil akhirnya terpaksa berpuas hati menamatkan perlumbaan di kedudukan keempat untuk mengutip 13 mata berharga.

Keputusan di Estoril menyaksikan Qabil kini mengumpul 26 mata keseluruhan untuk berada di kedudukan keenam carta pelumba Moto4 European Cup selepas dua pusingan perlumbaan. Qabil kini hanya dipisahkan empat mata daripada kelompok lima terbaik yang dihuni pelumba Itali, Cristian Borrelli dengan 30 mata, manakala Alvaro Lucas dari Sepanyol kini mendahuli carta dengan 75 mata. Selepas ini, Qabil akan memberi tumpuan menjelang perlumbaan Pusingan ketiga Moto4 European Cup yang dijadual berlangsung di Litar Jerez, Sepanyol pada awal Julai depan.

🇬🇧 Estoril, Portugal | 15 June 2026 – Qabil Irfan Azlan displayed tremendous fighting spirit during Round 2 of the 2026 Moto4 European Cup at Estoril Circuit in Portugal, bouncing back from disappointment in Race 1 to secure a fourth-place finish in Race 2.

The SIC-GRYD Racing rider first caught the attention in Race 1 after starting from ninth on the grid and quickly making up several positions to join the leading group. Qabil produced an impressive ride as he climbed to fifth place before maintaining a competitive pace among the front runners.

With six laps remaining, Qabil began applying pressure to his rivals, moving up to fourth before successfully taking over second position. The intense battle at the front saw his position change several times between second and third, but he appeared to be in a strong position to challenge for a podium finish. However, his hopes were dashed when he lost the front end of his machine at Turn 9 and crashed, subsequently colliding with Italian rider Lorenzo Pritelli with just three laps remaining.

Despite the setback, Qabil refused to give up and responded strongly in Race 2, finishing in an impressive fourth place after starting from 10th on the grid. His consistent pace allowed him to move into fourth position with 12 laps remaining, and he remained there until the chequered flag. His chances of challenging for the podium were slightly affected after a crash involving two riders ahead created a significant gap to the leading group. Nevertheless, Qabil was forced to settle for fourth place and collected 13 valuable championship points.

The result at Estoril sees Qabil move on to 26 points in the overall standings, placing him sixth in the Moto4 European Cup riders’ championship after two rounds. He is now just four points behind Italian rider Cristian Borrelli, who occupies fifth place with 30 points, while Spanish rider Alvaro Lucas leads the standings with 75 points. Qabil will now turn his attention to Round 3 of the Moto4 European Cup, which is scheduled to take place at the Circuito de Jerez in Spain in early July.

🇲🇾 “Pusingan 2 telahpun tamat dan secara keseluruhannya memang banyak kejutan berlaku minggu ini. Dalam Perlumbaan 1, saya terjatuh ketika perlumbaan berbaki tiga pusingan. Saya cuba memintas pelumba di hadapan tetapi hilang cengkaman pada bahagian depan jentera. Saya cuba untuk meneruskan perlumbaan semula, tetapi enjin sudah mati menyebabkan saya tidak dapat meneruskan perlumbaan.

Untuk Perlumbaan 2 pula, saya bermula dengan baik dan mengikut strategi yang dirancang iaitu menyerang dari belakang. Namun, dua pelumba terjatuh di hadapan saya dan menyebabkan saya terputus dengan pendahulu perlumbaan serta mewujudkan jurang yang agak besar. Saya cuba mendapatkan semula rentak dan kekal konsisten. Semua pelumba lain juga sangat laju dan kami bersaing sengit, tetapi rezeki saya belum ada untuk berada di podium.Saya menamatkan perlumbaan di kedudukan keempat.

Pusingan seterusnya akan berlangsung di Jerez pada awal Julai dan saya akan cuba bangkit semula. Terima kasih kepada semua penaja yang sentiasa menyokong saya dan juga kepada para peminat.”

🇬🇧 “Round 2 has now come to an end and, overall, there were quite a few surprises throughout the weekend. In Race 1, I crashed with three laps remaining. I was trying to overtake the rider in front, but I lost the front end of the bike. I attempted to rejoin the race, but the engine had stalled and I was unable to continue.

In Race 2, I got off to a good start and followed the strategy we had planned, which was to attack from behind and work my way forward. However, two riders crashed ahead of me, which caused me to lose contact with the race leaders and created quite a significant gap. I tried to regain my rhythm and remain consistent. All of the riders were very fast and the competition was extremely close, but unfortunately it was not meant to be for me to finish on the podium this time. I eventually crossed the line in fourth place.

The next round will take place at Jerez in early July and I will do my best to come back stronger. I would like to thank all of my sponsors for their continued support, as well as all the fans who have been cheering me on.”

🇲🇾 “Hujung minggu ini memberi banyak pengajaran kepada Qabil. Dalam perlumbaan seperti Moto4 European Cup yang sengit ini saya tetap berbangga terutama bagaimana seseorang pelumba menguruskan perlumbaan dari awal hingga akhir. Qabil menunjukkan kemampuan untuk berada di kelompok hadapan dan bersaing bagi kedudukan podium. Itu satu petanda positif kerana bukan semua pelumba mampu berada dalam situasi tersebut pada musim pertama mereka.

Seperti semua sedia maklum, Qabil tiba di Estoril tanpa sebarang ujian persendirian di litar ini. Kebanyakan pasukan lain sudah mempunyai data hasil sesi ujian awal, tetapi kami perlu bermula dari kosong dan menggunakan setiap sesi rasmi untuk memahami litar serta mendapatkan tetapan terbaik jentera. Dalam keadaan itu, Qabil masih mampu bersaing dalam kelompok hadapan dan berada dalam perebutan podium. Itu menunjukkan dia mempunyai kemampuan untuk menyesuaikan diri dengan cepat. Sudah tentu kami kecewa dengan apa yang berlaku dalam Perlumbaan 1, tetapi inilah sebahagian daripada proses pembelajaran yang perlu dilalui oleh setiap pelumba muda.

Semangat juang seperti itu sangat penting. Qabil semakin memahami tahap persaingan di Eropah dan saya percaya pengalaman seperti ini akan menjadikannya seorang pelumba yang lebih matang pada masa depan. Fokus ketika ini adalah untuk terus bekerja keras, memperbaiki kelemahan dan kembali lebih kuat di Jerez. Apa yang penting, Qabil sudah membuktikan dia mempunyai kelajuan untuk bersaing dengan pelumba terbaik di hadapan.”
🇬🇧 “This weekend provided many valuable lessons for Qabil. In a championship as fiercely competitive as the Moto4 European Cup, I am particularly proud of the way he managed the races from start to finish. Qabil showed that he has the ability to run with the leading group and fight for podium positions. That is a very positive sign because not every rider is capable of doing that in their first season.

As everyone is aware, Qabil arrived at Estoril without having completed any private testing at the circuit. Most of the other teams already had data from pre-event test sessions, whereas we had to start from scratch and use every official session to learn the circuit and find the best possible set-up for the bike. Despite those circumstances, Qabil was still able to compete with the front runners and remain in the fight for a podium. That demonstrates his ability to adapt quickly. Of course, we were disappointed with what happened in Race 1, but this is all part of the learning process that every young rider must go through.

That fighting spirit is extremely important. Qabil is gaining a better understanding of the level of competition in Europe, and I believe experiences like these will help him become a more mature rider in the future. Our focus now is to continue working hard, improve on our weaknesses and come back stronger at Jerez. Most importantly, Qabil has already proven that he has the pace to compete with the very best riders at the front.”