National Moto2 rider Hafizh Syahrin will compete in this weekend’s MSBK 2016 season finale at the Sepang International Circuit.
With his world Moto2 championship campaign on a hiatus until next season, national Moto2 rider Hafizh Syahrin isn’t sitting idle in the off-season as he accepts an offer to race in this weekend’s season-ending Malaysia Superbike Championship 2016 (MSBK) double-header at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).
The young 22-year-old native of Ampang, Selangor will be competing for the Project X Racing Team in the MSBK’s 1000cc Superbike Open Class. Here, Hafizh will pilot the local team’s specially prepared Yamaha YZF-R1 superbike racer that he’s affectionately nicknamed ‘Black Mamba’.
With MotoGP’s ban on testing until March taking affect in all classes, Hafizh says that he’s using this opportunity as a means to keep himself fit over the off-season.
He further added, “It will also be good for me to further enhance my familarisation with the Sepang track. We race in Sepang every year, although it was different this year as the whole track had been resurfaced. Hence, I will take this opportunity to learn more about the fresh Sepang track.”
Though he is a world Moto2 championship rider, Hafizh modestly admitted that he isn’t the weekend’s main favourite. He was quick to note that competition levels in the MSBK are high thanks to the presence of world class international riders competing in it.
“For me, Cameron Donald would definitely be the favourite. He is very experienced, having won the Isle of Mann TT race. He is also a former Australian superbike champion. We also have top local riders in the race, with the likes of Ahmad Fuad Baharuddin, who had competed in the Malaysian Super Series, the Malaysian Cub Prix and the Asia Road Racing Championship,” added Hafizh in regards to that.
Nevertheless, Hafizh is eager to put his superbike riding skills to the test against the finest of the MSBK 1000cc Superbike Open Class. Rest assured that Hafizh will be one to look out for this weekend in Sepang.
Special treat for all race fans
This weekend, the MSBK season finale features a double-header where Rounds 4 and 5 will be competed on the same weekend. It will run alongside the season finale of the Malaysian Championship Series 2016 (MCS 2016) for cars as well where a 300km endurance race will serve as the series’ thrilling season finale.
Supplementing this will be a special carnival called the ‘Kempen Bikers Bebas Dadah 2016’. The campaign features special activities including a mini concert on Saturday evening headlined by a number of local acts plus daily a lucky draw that’s offering a 150cc motorcycle as its grand prize.
Tickets for the Kempen Bikers Bebas Dadah 2016 carnival is priced at RM19 for three-day access whilst fans aged 17 and below can enter for free.Ticket holders will have three-day access to both the Main Grandstand and the K1 Grandstand areas.
Fans can also purchase Paddock passes priced at RM85 that can be obtained at the paddock entrance during the event days. You can refer to the official event program we’ve provided below for further references as well.
RACE SCHEDULE – MCS 2016 & MSBK 2016 Season Finale
Friday, 2 December 2016
0945 hrs – Briefing for MSBK riders
1015 hrs – 1045 hrs – Superstock Practice Session
1055 hrs – 1125 hrs – Production 250 / MGP3 Practice Session
1135 hrs – 1205 hrs – Superbike Practice Session
1215 hrs – 1245 hrs – Supersport Practice Session
Break / Friday Prayers
1445 hrs – 1515 hrs – Superstock Qualifying
1530 hrs – 1600 hrs – Production 250 Qualifying
1615 hrs – 1645 hrs – Superbike Qualifying
1700 hrs – 1730 hrs – Supersport Qualifying
Saturday, 3 December 2016
0910 hrs – 0950 hrs – Superstock Race 1 (12 laps)
1010 hrs – 1040 hrs – Production 250 Race 1 (8 laps)
1100 hrs – 1130 hrs – Superbike Race 1 (12 laps)
1130 hrs – Malaysia Championship Series Drivers Briefing
1150 hrs – 1240 hrs – Supersport Race 1 (12 laps)
1300 hrs – 1330 hrs – Malaysia Championship Series – Free Practice
1400 hrs – 1440 hrs – Superstock Race 2 (12 laps)
1500 hrs – 1530 hrs – Production 250 / MGP3 Race 2 (8 laps)
1550 hrs – 1640 hrs – Superbike Race 2 (12 laps)
1700 hrs – 1730 hrs – Supersport Race 2 (12 laps)
1745 hrs – 1815 hrs – Malaysia Championship Series – Qualifying
Sunday, 4 December 2016
0910 hrs – 0950 hrs – Superstock Race 3 (12 laps)
1010 hrs – 1040 hrs – Production 250 Race 3 (8 laps)
1100 hrs – 1140 hrs – Superbike Race 3 (12 laps)
1200 hrs – 1240 hrs – Supersport Race 3 (12 laps)
1300 hrs – 1340 hrs – Superstock Race 4 (12 laps)
1400 hrs – 1430 hrs – Production 250 Race 4 (8 laps)
1450 hrs – 1530 hrs – Superbike Race 4 (12 laps)
1550 hrs – 1630 hrs – Supersport Race 4 (12 laps)
1700 hrs – 1930 hrs – Malaysia Championship Series – Race (300km)
