Hafizh extends winning streak to five

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah remained unstoppable in the Asia Road Racing Championship after taking his fifth straight win in Motegi, Japan, yesterday.

The Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) Racing Team rider was on fire over the weekend, qualifying on pole position and setting a new track record of 1:48.951s in the ASB1000 class before crossing the line in first once again. Hafizh received a bonus of 1mil yen (RM25,000) for setting the new track record.

The 32-year-old maintained his grip from the start to the end to deny any chance for Japan’s Keito Abe to catch up as the home rider settled for second.

Shota Ite of Japan took third in his first race of the season. JDT Racing Team’s second rider, Indonesian rider Andi Farid Izdihan, came in fifth after starting his race in 11th.

Reigning champion Hafizh had gotten his 2026 season on a roll after taking back-to-back wins at the Sepang International Circuit in April. He then continued the stellar form with a double victory at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram last month.

Hafizh leads the championship with 125 points, with closest competitor Abe 29 points behind.

He will have the chance to extend his lead today in Race 2.