Qabil Irfan Aims for First Podium in Estoril, Wants to Be More Aggressive in Moto4 European Cup

The SIC-GRYD Racing riders are determined to take advantage of their experience in Barcelona to chase better results at Round 2 in Portugal.

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After making a positive impact on his debut in the 2026 Moto4 European Cup, young national rider, Qabil Irfan Azlan, now shifts his full focus to Round 2 at the Estoril Circuit, Portugal this weekend with the aim of chasing his first podium of the season.

Qabil arrives at Estoril with high confidence after showing impressive performance at the opening round in Barcelona, ​​Catalunya. However, this time the challenge is expected to be more difficult as the SIC-GRYD Racing team did not conduct any private testing sessions at the circuit, unlike several other teams who have gathered important data through early testing.

This makes every official session that starts on Friday very important for the team to get the most optimal settings of their machines for the race. Furthermore, there is no unofficial practice session on Thursday as it is usually held before a race.

Two Races, Two Important Opportunities

This round in Estoril also offers an additional challenge as two races will take place on Sunday, namely Race 1 and Race 2, with each race consisting of 15 laps.

This format makes every championship point on offer quite valuable in the racers’ efforts to strengthen their position in the overall season chart.

Excellent Performance in Barcelona Boosts Confidence

In the opening race in Barcelona, ​​Qabil proved his ability to compete with European racers when he finished the race in fourth place despite starting from eighth place.

The 14-year-old racer showed maturity when he managed to be in the front group from the start of the race and exchanged positions with the main championship contenders several times. Qabil also managed to be in the fight for the podium before finishing the race just a little behind the top three.

The result allowed him to collect 13 championship points and be in fourth place overall after the first round.

This impressive performance not only boosted his confidence, but also proved his ability to adapt quickly in a championship that was more competitive than any he had participated in before.

Estoril Presents New Test

The Estoril circuit is known for its combination of technical corners and long straights, thus demanding a balance between speed and riding precision.

Qabil, however, has fond memories of the circuit after winning Round Six of the Spanish Superbike Championship (ESBK) last year.

However, the challenge in the Moto4 European Cup is much different because the championship brings together more than 50 regular riders from over 20 countries, in addition to wildcard riders who add to the fierce competition.

Qabil Wants to Be More Aggressive in Portugal

According to Qabil, the experience gained in Barcelona provided many valuable lessons that can be used to face the competition in Estoril.

“The first round in Barcelona gave me a lot of new experiences. I was able to see firsthand how the European riders race and how they manage the race in a very close group.

“I learned a lot over the weekend. Each session taught me something different and I think the experience will help me perform better in Portugal.”

“For me, one of the biggest differences is that the riders here are very fast and aggressive. They always put pressure on and don’t make mistakes easily.”

“For the round in Portugal, I want to be more aggressive than before. My target is to be in the front group and try to chase a podium position. I will try to make the most of all the experience I gained in Barcelona and give my best throughout the race weekend,” said Qabil.

Zulfahmi Satisfied With Qabil’s Development

Meanwhile, SIC Racing Team Manager, Zulfahmi Khairuddin, described the progress shown by Qabil so far as very positive.

“Qabil has shown quite good maturity for a 14-year-old rider. It didn’t take him long to adapt to the machine, the team and the level of competition in the Moto4 European Cup.

“What’s most pleasing is that Qabil not only gave a fierce competition in the front group, but really competed for a podium position until the end of the race.”

“That is a very positive sign because it shows Qabil has great potential to develop further.”

“Of course there are still many things to learn and improve, but we are happy with the progress shown so far. My hope is that Qabil will give his best performance starting from the training session and grab the best position in the qualifying session,” he said.

With growing confidence and valuable experience from the opening round, Qabil is now ready to take on another important weekend in Estoril in his quest for the first podium of his career in the Moto4 European Cup.