Adenanta Bounces Back with Race 2 Victory at 2026 MSBK Sepang Round

Astra Honda rider masters wet conditions to secure crucial win in MSBK1000 A category.

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Round 1 of the 2026 MAM Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit delivered high drama as Mohammad Adenanta Putra staged a strong comeback to win Race 2 of the MSBK1000 A category.

After a difficult outing in Race 1, the Astra Honda Racing Team rider showcased composure and precision in challenging wet conditions to secure a well-earned victory in a shortened race.

Wet weather shakes up Race 2 at Sepang

Race 2 was initially disrupted before it even began, as a red flag was shown during the warm-up lap due to sudden weather changes. With rain intensifying, Race Direction brought riders back into the pits, forcing teams to quickly switch to wet tyres.

The race was restarted as a seven-lap sprint on a fully soaked Sepang circuit, setting the stage for an unpredictable showdown.

When the race got underway, Muhd Zaqhwan Zaidi made an immediate impact by taking the lead and setting an aggressive pace despite the slippery conditions. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin followed closely in second, while Adenanta positioned himself in third ahead of Adam Norrodin and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman.

Intense battle at the front

By Lap 2, Zaqhwan was pushing the limits, reaching speeds of up to 282 km/h, but Adenanta remained within striking distance, just fractions of a second behind.

The race intensified on Lap 3 when Azlan Shah surged into second place with a fastest lap of 2:28.075, closing in on the leader. Adenanta maintained a consistent pace in third, keeping himself firmly in contention.

Zaqhwan responded on Lap 4 with another fastest lap of 2:27.266, but Azlan continued to apply pressure. By Lap 5, Azlan further raised the pace with a 2:25.738 lap, tightening the gap at the front as Adenanta and Adam gradually reeled in the leading group.

Decisive move seals victory

The turning point came on Lap 6 when Azlan briefly took over the lead. However, Adenanta quickly responded with a clean and calculated overtake to reclaim control of the race. From there, the Indonesian rider held his nerve under pressure to manage the final lap and secure victory.

Adenanta crossed the finish line with a time of 17:14.132, followed by Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman in second place (17:16.001) and Muhd Zaqhwan Zaidi in third (17:16.937) after a late push.

Adenanta reflects on breakthrough win

Speaking after the race, Adenanta highlighted the importance of learning from his previous mistake.

“This weekend both races were wet, and it’s my first experience in these conditions in this category. Yesterday I had good pace but crashed on the last lap,” he said.

“I learned from that, today I stayed calm, improved lap by lap, and managed the tyres better. In the final laps, I knew I could push. Alhamdulillah for the win.”

He added that the victory is a valuable confidence boost ahead of his next challenge.

“This is important for my experience, and now I’m ready for Round 2 of ARRC in Buriram.”

Top 5 Results – MSBK1000 A Race 2

1. Mohammad Adenanta Putra (Astra Honda Racing Team) – 17:14.132
2. Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (AMI Suzuki Motorsport) – 17:16.001
3. Muhd Zaqhwan Zaidi (Malaysia) – 17:16.937
4. Adam Norrodin (AMI Suzuki Motorsport) – 17:17.188
5. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin (Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia) – 17:25.305