Hafizh Syahrin Crowned 2026 ASB1000 Champion at Sepang

The JDT Racing Team rider secured his second consecutive ASB1000 title after winning Race 1 and finishing second in Race 2 at his home round.

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Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah has been crowned the 2026 ASB1000 Overall Champion with one round still remaining after a dominant performance at Round 5 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) 2026 at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit.

Racing in front of his home crowd, the JDT Racing Team rider delivered another impressive weekend, taking his ninth consecutive victory of the season in Race 1.

The result also secured the ASB1000 Team Championship for JDT Racing Team, before Hafizh completed his weekend with a second-place finish in Race 2 to officially seal the overall riders’ title.

The former MotoGP rider now has 245 points, with Japan’s Keito Abe second on 188 points and Thailand’s Nakarin Atiratphuvapat third with 120 points. Both Abe and Nakarin compete on the Honda CBR1000RR-R.

The championship marks Hafizh’s second consecutive ASB1000 title, adding another significant achievement to his career and further establishing the Malaysian rider as one of the leading names in Asian superbike racing.

Hafizh Delivers at Home

Hafizh admitted that securing the championship at Sepang carried plenty of emotion, particularly after a difficult period leading into the weekend.

“Syukur Alhamdulillah. Truly, there isn’t much more I can ask for, and words can hardly describe what this means. Everyone in the paddock knows just how hard we have fought together in this third season.

“We went through a very difficult, unsettling time leading into this weekend. It felt heavy, but a huge thank you to my crew who pushed tirelessly from before dawn every single day. A big credit also goes to the organisers for making sure our race went ahead.”

Reflecting on Race 1, Hafizh said he focused on maintaining his composure and trusting his pace despite the pressure of racing at home.

“In the race earlier, I got a great launch. I didn’t let the nerves take over. I simply stayed in my zone, trusted my pace, and focused entirely on the ride.

“In the end, all that sacrifice paid off just like it did across the previous four rounds. Having my team standing firmly beside me was all I needed.”

Hafizh also thanked JDT Racing Team owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, the Crown Prince of Johor, for continuing to support him throughout his three-year journey with the team.

“I really want to thank everyone involved in this project. Most of all, thank you to our boss, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, the Crown Prince of Johor, who has trusted me for three years now.

“In this third year, we made several changes to myself and within the team, and everyone played their part. The race was so tough out there. Battling Keito mid-race was intense. Every time I tried to pass him in the corners, he fought back hard.”

A Championship Dedicated to His Late Brother

For Hafizh, the title was about more than another championship. The Malaysian rider dedicated his victory to his late brother, Farres.

“Honestly, this weekend has been overwhelming, and I felt so much heavy emotion inside me. I want to express my deepest gratitude to our boss, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, the Crown Prince of Johor, for making all of this possible.

“I gave everything out there for him, for my family, my father, and everyone who has been part of my training journey. But most of all, this victory is for my late brother, Farres.

“I raced every single lap for him. Over the final three laps, I couldn’t hold back the tears under my helmet. The emotions completely took over. I laid my heart on the track today.”

JDT Racing Team Also Secures Team Championship

Hafizh’s riders’ championship was accompanied by another major achievement for JDT Racing Team, which secured the 2026 ASB1000 Overall Team Championship.

JDT Racing Team currently leads the standings with 347 points, finishing ahead of SDG HARC-PRO Honda Philippines and Idemitsu Honda Racing Malaysia.

With one round still remaining in the 2026 ARRC season, Hafizh and JDT Racing Team can now head into the final round without championship pressure as they look to end another dominant ASB1000 campaign on a high.