Malaysian Riders Face Tough Moto4 Asia Cup Round at Motegi

Crashes, injuries and a technical issue disrupted Round 3 for the Malaysian contingent, with Muhammad Naqib Rifqi salvaging a ninth-place finish in Race 2.

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The Malaysian riders faced a challenging weekend at Round 3 of the Idemitsu Moto4 Asia Cup at Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, with crashes, injuries and technical problems affecting the ZK Racing team throughout the round.

The difficulties began during qualifying when Qayyim Razin Razali suffered a crash and was taken to hospital for further medical examination. As a result, he was forced to miss Race 1 on Saturday.

Meanwhile, fellow Malaysian rider Qabil Irfan Azlan was ruled unfit to compete by the race medical panel due to a leg injury that had not fully recovered.

Qabil has also been confirmed to miss the upcoming round at Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit, Indonesia, as he continues to focus on his recovery.

With both riders unavailable, Muhammad Naqib Rifqi became Malaysia’s sole representative in Race 1, starting from 13th on the grid.

However, Naqib’s race ended early after he crashed during the opening stages while fighting within the leading group. The race was eventually won by home rider Hayato Chishiki.

The Malaysian camp received some positive news ahead of Race 2 on Sunday when Qayyim was cleared by the race doctor to return to competition. His return, however, was cut short after his motorcycle developed a technical issue as early as the third lap, forcing him to retire from the race.

Naqib then bounced back from his Race 1 disappointment with a more consistent performance. He maintained his pace throughout the 12-lap race before crossing the finish line in ninth place (P9). The result earned Naqib seven points for Malaysia, with Japanese rider Haruki Matsuyama taking the Race 2 victory.

For ZK Racing, the Motegi round proved to be a difficult one, but Naqib’s Race 2 result provided a positive takeaway for the team. The team will now turn its attention to the next round at Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit, with rider recovery, motorcycle checks and preparations among its key priorities.

Malaysian fans will also have the opportunity to watch the country’s young riders compete on home soil at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia 2026 at Sepang International Circuit.