Qabil Irfan Shines with Stunning Victory in Navarra

Malaysian teen racer Qabil Irfan wins Race 1 and extends his lead in the ESBK Talent Championship after a standout weekend in Navarra. 

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Malaysia’s rising talent Qabil Irfan delivered a remarkable performance over the weekend in the ESBK Talent category of the España Superbike Championship, securing a thrilling Race 1 victory and maintaining his lead in the overall standings.

The weekend began on a strong note as Qabil finished third in Free Practice 3, just +0.510s off the leader, and improved to fourth in FP4 with a tighter margin of +0.424s. In qualifying, a smart strategy by Qabil and his team saw him stay out of the main rider group to focus on his own rhythm. The plan paid off, with Qabil qualifying second fastest, only +0.213s behind the pole-sitter.

Race 1 at the Navarra Circuit was a test of composure and racecraft. Under intense heat, nine riders fought at the front, and Qabil initially led the opening laps before falling to fourth. Saving his charge for the final lap, he executed a string of overtakes to reclaim the lead and take an emphatic win.

“I got the hole shot and led the first lap. A few riders overtook me, but I stuck to my plan to attack at the end,” said Qabil. “I stayed focused on the final lap and overtook one by one. Even at the last corner, I kept my calm to take the win.”

He also set the fastest lap in the category with a blistering 1:56.004, beating the previous benchmark set by Spain’s Marco Holt.

Race 2 saw even fiercer competition with five riders locked in a back-and-forth battle. Qabil once again led in the early stages and launched aggressive mid-race attacks. Despite nearly breaking away, he was reeled in during the closing stages and crossed the line in fourth after a tense final-lap scrap.

“It was a hard-fought race. I tried attacking early and led for a few laps. The battle was very intense until the end,” Qabil shared.

Despite missing out on a second podium, Qabil collected vital points and now leads the championship with 173 points – 49 points clear of second-placed Izan Rodriguez.

Team manager Zulfahmi Khairuddin praised the young rider’s maturity: “I’m very pleased with Qabil’s weekend. He was competitive from practice to race, showing he can manage pressure and race smartly. Race 1 was brilliant, and Race 2 was a learning experience. He’s still leading the championship – that’s what matters.”

Zulfahmi also extended thanks to Qabil’s father and all team sponsors for their continuous support.

Qabil will now return to home soil to compete in the FIM MiniGP Malaysia Series at the Tangkak Racing Circuit in Johor this coming weekend, as he continues his impressive rise through the ranks of international motorcycle racing.