Hafizh hits top gear with double win in dream start to ARRC season

PETALING JAYA: Rider Hafizh Syahrin (pic) got the perfect start to his 2026 Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) season after bagging a double win in the opening round at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) over the weekend.

The Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) Racing Team rider showed consistency as he won the first two races of the season in the ASB1000 class.

The 31-year-old finished Race 2 yesterday ahead of Japanese rider Keito Abe, while JDT teammate Andi Farid Izdihan of Indonesia came in third to give their team a double podium finish.

It was a photo-finish between Andi and Keito as the Japanese rider finished just 0.006 seconds ahead to take second place.

It was a repeat finish from Race 1 on Saturday, and Hafizh said the result was unexpected, but he remained confident in the team’s ability to deliver results.

“I’m surprised by the gap I won by, but I believe the team have what it takes to compete at the very top,” said Hafizh.

“I just need to focus on staying calm and understanding the bike better.

“It has been a very good weekend, and I have to thank the team and all the fans who came.”

However, Hafizh’s celebrations after the double win landed him in hot water as the FIM handed him a US$500 (RM1,982) fine and a one long lap penalty for infringement of rules related to celebrating with a flag after the race.

After crossing the finish line, Hafizh had slowed down to see the action between Andi and Keito behind him, but by doing so had infringed on the stated rules of Article 1.21.18 of the FIM Championship regulations.

It states that riders are forbidden to stop or slow down on the start-finish straight after the chequered flag for celebrations of any kind.

Hafizh will serve his long lap penalty in the next round at the Chang International Circuit from May 8-10.