PETALING JAYA: Qabil Irfan (pic), who was crowned ‘Young Rider of the Year’ for 2024 by the Motorsports Association of Malaysia at the awards ceremony last week, has secured a prestigious sponsorship deal with Alpinestars for the 2025 season.
The announcement marked a significant milestone in the 13-year-old’s burgeoning career.
SIC Racing Team manager Zulfahmi Khairuddin and Qabil had met up with William Mitham, athlete relations manager of Alpinestars Italy, to discuss future plans and development programmes during the official MotoGP Winter Test at Sepang International Circuit last month.
The meeting culminated in Alpinestars agreeing to sponsor the young Malaysian talent, not only providing him with top-tier racing equipment but also supporting him as an official athlete.
Qabil had chalked up an impressive resume despite his age. He clinched the MiniGP World Championship title in 2023, secured multiple podiums and victories in the ESBK Moto4 category and also maintained the overall champion title for five consecutive years at the national level through FIM MiniGP Malaysia.
For the 2025 season, Qabil will compete in the newly introduced ESBK Talent Cup category of the Spanish Superbike Championship (ESBK), riding the NSF250 machine. This move represents a significant step forward in his career as he continues to showcase his talent on the international stage.
This sponsorship deal is a proud moment for Malaysian motorsport, highlighting the potential of local talent to compete and excel on the global stage.
