Keep pocket bike prodigy Qabil on the right track as there’s still a long ride ahead

“It must be something in the water back there that makes them different from the others.”

That was the joke Josiah Ng said in reference to the daredevils on two wheels coming from Terengganu in the beginning of the year.

The former Olympian track cyclist was referring to his former training partner and teammate Azizulhasni Awang and young racer Hakim Danish, the first Malaysian rider to win the Asia Talent Cup overall title last year.

Well, 16-year-old Hakim is not the only up-and-coming talented young racer moving up the ranks in two-wheels motor racing.

Enter Qabil Irfan, the 11-year-old pocket bike prodigy who made the nation proud by displaying cool nerves to sweep the spoils in the 160cc category in the recent FIM MiniGP World Series in Valencia.

Qabil, who also hails from Terengganu, swept to victory in Race 1, Race 2 and the Super Final to be crowned this year’s overall world champion in the World Series.

It is a mighty achievement for a young boy only competing in his second overseas competition.

The FIM MiniGP is a youth championship introduced by the organisers of the MotoGP world championship and hence, the tagline ‘’Meet the MotoGP stars of tomorrow now’’.

The unflinching desire to be on top of the game and a hate-to-lose mentality are what separates a champion from the rest.

Qabil is certainly not an ordinary young boy. He started racing on the circuit as early as four at an age when his peers have just enrolled in a kindergarden or starting to kick a ball.

His father Azlan Abdul Rahman has already spent a small fortune in catering to Qabil’s desire to pursue racing seriously.

His father is a former rider, having taken part in the Cub Prix Championship before but has never pushed his son to become one.

Qabil is certainly at an impressionable age and his dad has reasons to keep his son’s feet planted on the ground as there are many years of riding ahead.

There are already functions planned to celebrate his feat and some parties will be out to claim credit for what the young boy achieved in Valencia but the important thing is not to go overboard.

Qabil was previously trained by his father but the decision to move base to Sepang to join the ZK Racing Team development racing programme headed by former Moto3 podium winner Zulfahmi Khairuddin may be the best option.

There will be tumbles and spills on the road ahead but it is hoped that the likes of Hakim and Qabil can inspire more young kids to take the plunge into motor racing.