Hakim Danish and Qabil Irfan Deliver Historic 2025 Season

From podium consistency in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup to clinching the ESBK Talent Championship title, two young Malaysians are rewriting motorsport history.

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The 2025 racing season has marked a breakthrough year for Malaysian motorsport, with Hakim Danish and Qabil Irfan delivering performances that set new benchmarks for local riders competing internationally.

Hakim Danish: Malaysia’s Best-Ever RBRC Result

Hakim Danish wrapped up his best Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup (RBRC) campaign to date, finishing 3rd overall in the championship standings. It’s a remarkable progression for the young rider, who placed 12th in 2023 and improved to 6th in 2024.

Danish even led the championship for five rounds this season, a testament to his growth, consistency, and ability to fight against some of the world’s best young talents. While the final races at Misano brought challenges, including a crash in Race 2, the overall result stands as Malaysia’s highest-ever finish in the RBRC.

“Overall, it was quite a challenging weekend, but I kept pushing and managed to show improvement in every practice session,” said Danish. “I would like to thank all my sponsors, family, friends and supporters who never gave up on me.”

Team principal Zulfahmi Khairuddin added: “This is not only Danish’s best result to date, but also Malaysia’s highest-ever achievement since joining this championship. Although we had a chance to fight for the championship, luck was not on our side. Honestly, I am very proud of Danish’s performance. Racing in Europe against some of the world’s best riders is a huge challenge, and RBRC provides the best platform before stepping up to MotoGP.”

Looking ahead, Danish will continue his journey in FIM JuniorGP, with plans for 2026 currently under review by SIC and ZK Racing.

Qabil Irfan: ESBK Talent Champion with a Round to Spare

While Danish battled in Europe, Qabil Irfan stunned the grid in Spain by securing the 2025 ESBK Talent Championship title with one round remaining.

The 15-year-old consistently held his own against rivals, including Swiss contender Alessio Arnold, who emerged as a late-season threat. With ZK Racing and VHC Racing keeping him in Spain for intensive training and bike development, Qabil was able to dominate when it mattered most, taking a commanding win in Race 1 at Estoril and sealing the championship early.

“To be honest, it was an exhausting week because I knew how important Round 6 was,” said Qabil. “On Saturday in Race 1, it was a day I will never forget. I had great confidence in the bike, which gave me belief to push harder. In Race 2, I decided not to take unnecessary risks as the gap was comfortable, and I just maintained the pace.”

Zulfahmi also praised Qabil’s unexpected but historic achievement:“At the beginning, we did not expect Qabil to win the ESBK Talent category this year. However, after he won both races in Round 1, our expectations changed. Last week, Qabil was officially crowned the 2025 ESBK Talent Overall Champion, and this is truly a proud achievement.”

The next step for Qabil will be even bigger, with plans for European Talent Cup and Asia Talent Cup participation in 2026.

A Bright Future for Malaysian Motorsport

The dual success of Hakim Danish and Qabil Irfan in 2025 underlines Malaysia’s growing footprint in international motorcycle racing. Their stories not only showcase talent and determination but also highlight the importance of continued investment in youth development programmes.

With one rider proving himself as Malaysia’s best-ever in RBRC and another already crowned ESBK Talent Champion, the future looks brighter than ever for Malaysian motorsport.