🇲🇾BURIRAM, Thailand | 01 Mac 2026 – Pelumba muda berbakat…
🇲🇾BURIRAM, Thailand | 01 Mac 2026 – Pelumba muda berbakat negara, Qabil Irfan Azlan memulakan kempen musim 2026 dengan langkah kanan apabila berjaya menamatkan kemarau podium buat Malaysia dalam aksi pembuka tirai Kejuaraan Moto4 Asia Talent Cup di Thailand.
Selepas permulaan yang agak suram pada perlumbaan pertama di Litar Antarabangsa Chang, Thailand, semalam, Qabil tampil dengan watak berbeza pada Perlumbaan 2 hari ini terutama mempamerkan tunggangan agresif untuk menyambar kedudukan selaku naib juara.
Detik paling mendebarkan berlaku di pertengahan perlumbaan apabila pelumba kelahiran Terengganu itu diasak hebat oleh kelompok pelumba hadapan sehingga jenteranya terbabas keluar litar dan hampir hilang kawalan.
Namun, dengan ketenangan luar biasa menerusi pengalaman sebelum ini, Qabil berjaya mengawal semula jenteranya, kembali memecut laju meninggalkan pencabar lain untuk memastikan podium menjadi miliknya.
Kejayaan manis ini sekaligus menamatkan penantian panjang Malaysia untuk melihat Jalur Gemilang kembali berkibar di atas podium kejohanan ini, kali terakhir dilakukan oleh Farish Hafiy Farid Sezli pada musim 2024.
Qabil yang memulakan perlumbaan dengan misi menebus kekecewaan tempat keenam semalam, melintasi garisan penamat dengan catatan masa 26 minit 56.174 saat, hanya ketinggalan 2.2 saat di belakang juara dari Jepun, Hayato Chishiki.
Qabil berjaya menewaskan seorang lagi pelumba Jepun, Kotaro Togashi yang terpaksa berpuas hati di tempat ketiga dengan perbezaan masa yang sangat tipis.
Sementara itu, Hayato Chishiki terus mengukuhkan dominasi dalam perlumbaan Moto4 apabila menyapu bersih kemenangan dalam kedua-dua perlumbaan minggu ini.
Sementara itu, rakan sepasukan Qabil, Muhammad Naqib Rifqi Zulhelmi turut mempamerkan peningkatan positif apabila berjaya membaiki kedudukan pada perlumbaan 2. Bermula dengan langkah sukar semalam, Naqib bangkit menamatkan perlumbaan di tempat ke-12 untuk membawa pulang 4 mata berharga.
Namun, nasib tidak menyebelahi seorang lagi wakil negara, Qayyim Razin Razali yang masih mencari rentak apabila sekadar menamatkan saingan di tempat ke-16, kedudukan yang sama seperti perlumbaan semalam.
Hasil keputusan positif di Thailand ini, Qabil Irfan kini meletakkan dirinya sebagai pencabar serius kejuaraan apabila mendaki ke tangga ketiga keseluruhan dengan mengutip 30 mata.
Pelumba Jepun, Hayato Chishiki mendahulu carta kedudukan keseluruhan dengan mengumpul 50 mata dan Waku Kunitate di tempat kedua (33 mata) apabila hanya dipisahkan tiga mata dengan Qabil tempat ketiga.
Kejayaan di bumi Thailand ini bukan sahaja satu kemenangan peribadi buat Qabil malah bakal menjadi pemangkin semangat buat pelumba Malaysia yang lain untuk terus mencabar kelompok hadapan menjelang Pusingan 2 di Qatar pada 12 April depan.
🇬🇧BURIRAM, Thailand | 01 Mac 2026 – Qabil Irfan kicked off his 2026 campaign on a positive note by ending the Malaysia podium drought in the opening round of the Moto4 Asia Talent Cup in Thailand.
After a rather disappointing performance in Race 1 at the Chang International Circuit yesterday, Qabil returned with a different approach in Race 2 today, showing aggressive riding to secure an impressive second-place finish.
The most dramatic moment came midway through the race when the Terengganu-born rider was put under intense pressure by the leading group, forcing him off track and nearly causing him to lose control of his machine.
However, drawing on his previous experience and remarkable composure, Qabil managed to regain control, rejoined the track strongly and accelerated away from his rivals to secure a well-deserved podium finish.
This sweet success ends Malaysia’s long wait to see the Jalur Gemilang flying on the podium in this championship, last achieved by Farish Hafiy Farid Sezli in the 2024 season.
Starting the race determined to redeem himself after finishing sixth yesterday, Qabil crossed the line with a time of 26 minutes 56.174 seconds, just 2.2 seconds behind race winner Hayato Chishiki of Japan.
He also managed to hold off another Japanese rider, Kotaro Togashi, who settled for third place in a very close finish.
Meanwhile, Hayato Chishiki continued his dominance in Moto4 by securing victories in both races this weekend.
Qabil’s team-mate, Muhammad Naqib Rifqi Zulhelmi, also showed positive progress in Race 2. After a challenging start yesterday, Naqib bounced back to finish 12th and collected four valuable championship points.
However, it was a tougher outing for another Malaysian rider, Qayyim Razin Razali, who is still finding his rhythm and finished 16th, the same position as in yesterday’s race.
Following the encouraging results in Thailand, Qabil Irfan now positions himself as a serious title contender, climbing to third overall in the championship standings with 30 points.
Japanese rider Hayato Chishiki leads the standings with 50 points, while Waku Kunitate sits second on 33 points, just three points ahead of Qabil in third place.
The success in Thailand is not only a personal milestone for Qabil but also a source of inspiration for other Malaysian riders to continue challenging at the front ahead of Round 2 in Qatar on 12 April.
🇲🇾 “Pada sesi kelayakan hari Sabtu, saya cuba lakukan catatan masa terbaik tetapi saya berjaya meraih petak kedua (P2) walaupun ketika itu ada sedikit masalah dengan jentera.
“Sewaktu Perlumbaan 1, memandangkan ini pengalaman pertama saya dalam saingan kompetitif sebegini di Moto4 Asia ini, saya ambil pendekatan untuk memerhati dahulu bagaimana pelumba lain beraksi. Saya cuba memberi saingan, namun hanya mampu tamat di tempat keenam.
“Untuk Perlumbaan 2 hari ini (Ahad), saya cuba untuk ‘fight’ dari awal lagi. Misi saya adalah kekalkan posisi di kelompok hadapan dari mula hingga ke garisan penamat. Saya belajar banyak perkara daripada perlumbaan semalam dan saya sangat gembira akhirnya berjaya meraih tempat kedua hari ini.
🇬🇧 “During Saturday’s qualifying session, I pushed to set my best lap time and managed to secure second on the grid (P2), even though we had a slight issue with the bike at that time.
“In Race 1, as it was my first experience competing at this level in the Moto4 Asia series, I took the approach of observing how the other riders performed. I tried to challenge them, but I could only finish in sixth place.
“For Race 2 today (Sunday), I decided to fight from the xtart. My mission was to stay with the front group from the opening lap until the chequered flag. I learned a lot from yesterday’s race and I’m very happy to finally achieve second place today.”
🇲🇾 “Untuk Perlumbaan 1 semalam, saya melakukan sedikit kesilapan di starting grid yang menyukarkan saya untuk terus berada di kelompok hadapan. Walaupun berjaya mengejar mereka, saya ada melakukan kesilapan lagi. Saya sedar saya perlu tingkatkan prestasi dan lebih fokus dalam latihan.
“Bagi Perlumbaan 2 hari ini, permulaan saya jauh lebih baik dan saya berjaya berada di kelompok hadapan. Namun sayang, di Selekoh 5 , seorang pelumba terlanggar saya sehingga saya terkeluar dari trek dan hampir terjatuh. Saya cuba mengejar kembali, tetapi nasib tidak menyebelahi saya di sini. Saya akan lupakan kekecewaan ini dan buat yang sehabis baik di Qatar nanti dan akan teruskan latihan.
🇬🇧 “For Race 1 yesterday, I made a small mistake at the starting grid which made it difficult for me to stay with the front group. Although I managed to catch up, I made another mistake. I realise I need to improve my performance and be more focused during training.
“For Race 2 today, my start was much better and I was able to stay with the leading group. Unfortunately, at Turn 5, another rider hit me, which forced me off the track and I nearly crashed. I tried to fight my way back, but luck was not on my side this time. I will put this disappointment behind me, continue working hard in training, and come back stronger in Qatar.”
🇲🇾 “Untuk Perlumbaan 1 semalam, kesilapan pada permulaan perlumbaan menyebabkan kedudukan saya agak ke belakang. Pada tiga pusingan pertama, saya ketinggalan 3 saat dari kelompok hadapan. Saya cuba bangkit dan berjaya kejar mereka, namun saya hampir terjatuh di Selekoh 5. Pada baki pusingan yang ada, saya bersaing sengit dengan pelumba lain dan menamatkan saingan di kedudukan ke-16.
“Pada Perlumbaan 2, saya agak berpuas hati kerana berjaya berada dalam kelompok hadapan. Namun, malangnya pada dua pusingan terakhir, ada pelumba terjatuh di hadapan saya. Keadaan itu menyebabkan saya tertinggal dan mewujudkan jurang dengan kelompok hadapan.”
🇬🇧 “For Race 1 yesterday, a mistake at the start meant I dropped further down the order. In the first three laps, I was already three seconds behind the leading group. I tried to fight back and managed to catch them, but I nearly crashed at Turn 5. In the remaining laps, I battled closely with other riders and eventually finished in 16th position.
“In Race 2, I was quite satisfied as I managed to stay with the front group. However, unfortunately in the final two laps, a rider crashed in front of me. The situation caused me to lose ground and created a gap between myself and the leading group.”
🇲🇾 “Sebenarnya untuk Asia Talent Cup, saya agak surprise dengan prestasi daripada pesaing yang lain sebab kita tahu potensi Qabil. Sejujurnya, selepas Race 1 semalam, dia bagi sedikit tamparan hebat kepada kita dan untuk kita bekerja keras lagi selepas ini, selepas habis di Thailand.
“Sudah tentu kita boleh gembira dengan nombor dua, podium daripada Qabil pada Race 2 ni, tetapi saya yakin kedudukan kita perlu lebih baik daripada ni. Sebab matlamat kita untuk tahun ini sangat tinggi.
“Saya nak ucapkan tahniah untuk Qabil untuk keputusan dan juga usaha kerja kerasnya pada minggu ini. Saya yakin untuk Qoyyim, untuk Naqib, masih lagi banyak ruang untuk kita belajar bukanlah daripada segi teknikal, malah daripada segi teknik menunggang motosikal NSF ni.
“Dan saya percaya dua-dua pelumba ni pun ada potensi, cuma ya, sebelum Qatar ni kita akan cuba usaha lebih keras memperbaiki kelemahan kita supaya datang ke Qatar dengan lebih kompetitif.”
🇬🇧 “To be honest, in the Asia Talent Cup, I was quite surprised by the performance of some of the other competitors because we know Qabil’s potential. After Race 1 yesterday, it was a bit of a wake-up call for us and a reminder that we need to work even harder once we leave Thailand. Of course, we can be pleased with second place and the podium from Qabil in Race 2, but I believe we should be aiming higher than this. Our targets for this season are very ambitious.
“I would like to congratulate Qabil on his result and his hard work throughout the week. I’m also confident that for Qoyyim and Naqib, there is still plenty for us to learn — not only in terms of technical aspects, but also in riding technique on the NSF machine.
“I believe both riders have strong potential. Before Qatar, we will work harder to address our weaknesses so that we arrive there in a more competitive position.”
