Ducati Dominates as Toprak Gains Ground in MotoGP Debut

Ducati wrapped up the 2026 MotoGP Sepang Test in style, with Álex Márquez fastest on Day 3 at the Sepang International Circuit, leading a commanding final-day showing for the Italian manufacturer.

Álex Márquez topped the timesheets on his Gresini Ducati, ahead of brother Marc Márquez, while Francesco Bagnaia completed a Ducati lockout of the top three as the final official pre-season test in Malaysia came to a close.

While Ducati’s pace set the benchmark, one of the most watched storylines remained Toprak Razgatlıoğlu’s MotoGP adaptation. The World Superbike champion completed another solid day with Prima Pramac Yamaha, focusing on braking technique, electronics and Michelin tyre behaviour as he continues his transition to the premier class. Though outright lap times were not the priority, Toprak’s steady progress added intrigue to Yamaha’s 2026 campaign.

Elsewhere, Pedro Acosta continued to impress for KTM, while Honda logged valuable mileage as it builds towards the new season. After earlier technical setbacks, Yamaha returned to full running on Day 3, prioritising data collection and reliability across both its factory riders and Toprak’s programme.

With the Sepang Test complete, attention now shifts to final preparations before the opening round of the 2026 MotoGP season, with Ducati emerging as the early reference — and all eyes watching how quickly Toprak can shake up the grid.

2 Wheels Circuit Racing

Yamaha Stops Test After Technical Setback

Yamaha’s 2026 MotoGP pre-season test in Malaysia took an unexpected turn as the factory team halted all running on Day 2 at the Sepang International Circuit due to a technical issue with its new M1 V4 engine.

The stoppage came after Fabio Quartararo’s bike stopped on track following an earlier crash that had left him with a broken finger. Engineers soon discovered a technical problem with the new V4, prompting Yamaha to keep all riders — including Alex Rins, Jack Miller, and Toprak Razgatlioglu — in the garage for safety while the issue was investigated.

Technical director Massimo Bartolini said the precise cause remains unclear, underlining the need for caution before returning to track action. The pause cost Yamaha valuable test time, especially as rivals continued development in mixed conditions, and added a dramatic subplot to the early 2026 MotoGP season.

2 Wheels Circuit Racing

Day 1: Marquez Leads, Toprak Begins MotoGP Journey

The 2026 MotoGP pre-season officially got underway at the Sepang International Circuit, with Day 1 of the Sepang Test delivering early pace, technical insight and compelling storylines as teams began fine-tuning their packages for the season ahead.

Marc Marquez set the early benchmark, topping the combined timesheets with a 1:57.018 lap aboard the Ducati GP26. While outright lap times remain secondary at this stage of testing, the reigning world champion’s late-session effort highlighted Ducati’s strong baseline performance in hot and demanding Sepang conditions.

Several riders showed encouraging early form, including Fabio Di Giannantonio, Maverick Viñales and Alex Marquez, while Marco Bezzecchi and Honda riders focused on consistency and long-run evaluation as development work continued across the paddock.

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu’s First Steps in MotoGP

One of the standout narratives from Day 1 was Toprak Razgatlıoğlu’s first official MotoGP test appearance with Prima Pramac Yamaha. The World Superbike champion completed a measured opening day, finishing 21st overall, with his programme centred on adapting to Michelin tyres, MotoGP electronics and braking characteristics.

Rather than chasing lap time, Razgatlıoğlu focused on building confidence and understanding the Yamaha package — a key phase in his transition to the premier class.

Early Drama and Focus Ahead

The day was not without incident, as Fabio Quartararo suffered a crash that limited his running as a precaution, adding pressure to Yamaha’s remaining test days.

With two more days of testing to follow at Sepang, teams are expected to ramp up performance runs while continuing development work, as anticipation builds toward the start of the 2026 MotoGP season.

Uncategorized

PETRONAS MAM Malaysian Cub Prix Returns in 2026

The PETRONAS MAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship will return for its 33rd season in 2026, continuing its legacy as Malaysia’s premier national motorcycle racing series.

The championship will once again bring thrilling on-track action to cities across Peninsular Malaysia, while reinforcing its role as a key platform for national motorsport development. The long-standing partnership between PETRONAS and Safe Aim Mutual remains at the heart of the series, driving the development of local riding talent, strengthening industry involvement, and expanding the sport’s reach nationwide.

Promotions Director of Safe Aim Mutual, Ron Hogg, reaffirmed the championship’s commitment to raising national racing standards and identifying riders with professional potential. Community engagement will continue to be a core focus, with riders, teams and industry stakeholders connecting with fans across multiple locations throughout the season.

He also expressed appreciation to all partners and contributors, particularly PETRONAS, for their continued support, and looked forward to another exciting and competitive season in 2026.

Uncategorized

ARRC Confirms 2026 Championship Calendar

The FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) has announced its 2026 Championship Calendar, with the season set to begin in April and feature six rounds across Asia.

Ron Hogg, Promotions Director of Two Wheels Motor Racing, said the 2025 season reinforced ARRC’s growth through strong partnerships, rider development and fan engagement, while expressing optimism for the year ahead. He added that Season 2026 will include regulatory refinements aimed at ensuring fair competition and raising performance standards in line with global best practices.

FIM Asia President Stephan Carapiet described 2025 as a defining season, acknowledging the challenges faced and praising the collective effort of partners, teams, riders and officials in driving the championship forward.

With six rounds scheduled at familiar circuits, ARRC enters the 2026 season with renewed motivation, a stronger competitive platform and a continued focus on talent development across Asian motorsport

2 Wheels Circuit Racing

KBS Rally Sprint 2025: Thrills, Legacy, and Affordable Rallying

MAEPS, Serdang witnessed the thrilling season finale of KBS Rally Sprint 2025, organised by X-One Motorsports Club, with over 20 rally cars battling it out on tarmac, heating up the atmosphere and captivating motorsport fans.

Inclusive Format

This edition introduced a flat-surface driving format, opening participation to drivers from various disciplines — drift, gymkhana, and circuit racing. The result was a race that was more inclusive, spectator-friendly, and appealing to all rally enthusiasts.

Car Diversity: From Classic to Modern

From the classic Toyota KE70, factory-standard Axia, Kelisa, Suzuki Swift Sport, to the iconic Subaru Impreza WRX STI, the lineup showcased the wide-ranging appeal of the event. This variety reinforces KBS Rally Sprint as a safe, practical, and affordable platform for both novice and experienced drivers.

Highlights Full of Drama

Fans were drawn to the participation of seasoned drivers Saladin Mazlan and Arish Qutb, who competed with the Subaru Impreza GC8. Unfortunately, mechanical issues forced them to retire early — proving that rallying is as much about mechanical endurance as it is about speed.

Family legacies were also in the spotlight. Ibrahim Saladin, son of Saladin Mazlan, teamed up with Shazwan Akif, continuing their father’s legacy. Similarly, Shanice Dana Udhaya & Mark Levon Gregory represented the next generation of MRU Motorsport in the Junior & Ladies categories.

The return of Wan Mohammad Nasir with a Toyota KE70 Corolla demonstrated that age is no barrier to competition. His approach, “Driving a slow car fast,” highlighted the joy of handling classic cars competitively and showed that rallying can be accessible and fun for everyone.

“Alhamdulillah, I’m blessed to have friends who are willing to help and support me. My main goal is to promote rally so new people can join without spending huge amounts but still enjoy rallying like works teams with tens of thousands budgets.

If just one or two people follow my example, I’d be very happy. I spent less than RM6,000, including the car, to build a complete rally car. A single Turbo Saladin’s car already costs more! ”

Wan Mohammad Nasir shared his philosophy.

Final Results

  1. 1st Place: Mitch Chong & Muhammad Fazli Ishak – Proton Satria 2WD
  2. 2nd Place: Haji Sutan Mustafa Salihin & Haji Kamarul Anuar – Subaru Impreza WRX
  3. 3rd Place: Faidzal Alang & Zamri Muhamat – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo

The fierce competition between experienced drivers and high-performance machines made the 2025 edition a thrilling and unforgettable finale for spectators.

Beyond Just a Race

With official support from motorsport authorities, diverse participation, and a spectator-friendly format, KBS Rally Sprint 2025 closed the season on a positive note for Malaysian rallying, pushing it closer to mainstream recognition.

More than just a race, it’s a platform for talent development, family legacies, and competitive entertainment for motorsport fans across the nation.

Rally

Amazing Thailand Souped Up Grand Prix 2025 officially concludes its 18th edition!

Amazing Thailand Souped Up Grand Prix concluded its 18th edition of Thailand’s Drag Racing with groundbreaking legacy of 132 racing cars and over 16 thousand spectators

Grand Prix International Public Company Limited, together with XO Autosport Magazine have successfully hosted the “Amazing Thailand Souped Up Grand Prix 2025”. With international standards competition format, rigorous safety measures, and professional racing management, the event is well prepared to accommodate both local and international racers from Brunei, New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Kuwait. The competition was fully packed with more than 16,300 spectators throughout the 3-day event from 5-7 December 2025, at Bangkok Drag Avenue, Klong 5.

“Souped Up” was originated from the magazine column that talk about top-class modified cars in XO AUTOSPORT before developing to be an official time record of Quarter-mile Racing (402 meters) event. Even since, it has been continuously elevated till become the national competition and has further expanded to be an international competition dubbed “Souped Up Grand Prix”, that attract many racers from overseas to participate the event. This year marks the 18th edition and is confirmed of its recognition as the “Greatest Ranking Competition of the Fastest Drag Car in Asia”, which is also a significant milestone for Thailand’s motorsport development in all aspect.

This year, the event has been well supported by many grateful sponsors and partners ranging from Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Toyota, Penpark, Wise, Sinthorn Steakhouse, Top Secret Thailand, Isuzu, Viu, and Leo, including the racing teams, custom car garages, car tuners, and Thai fans. With all the support from every party, the competition has literally become the biggest year-end event of Thailand’s Drag Racing that officially meet the international record ranking standard.

There were 132 cars attend the competition, by which 106 cars are from Thailand, and the remaining 26 cars are from other countries. This year is even more exciting as “Toyota Racing Mania” has joined the event as the Support Race with additional 31 cars, making this year as one of the hottest years ever. The success of this year’s event is guaranteed by more than 16,300 of onsite spectators and over 30,000,000 views of online spectators, who witnessed the race via Facebook and YouTube Live, as well as the live broadcast directly to Malaysia, creating a massive regional viewership experience.

Besides the heat at the racetrack, the competition also concretely promotes the local economy in various sectors, namely tourism, hospitality, transportation, restaurant, and automotive industry. The abovementioned economic benefits circulated more than 1 billion baht in the local economic system, that reaffirm the competition’s role as a truly “National Motorsport Event”. For more information and updates, please follow Facebook: XO Autosport and Souped Up Grand Prix, as well as other social media platforms.

Drag Racing

🏁 Official Livestream Announcement – Souped Up GrandPrix 2025 🇹🇭

We’re going LIVE from Thailand!

Adrenaline Impact is proud to be the Official Livestream Partner for Souped Up Thailand 2025, in our first-ever collaboration with XO Autosport!

🔥 Support our Malaysian dragsters as they take on the best in Asia!
🎙 Full Bahasa Malaysia commentary by Encik Bob & Bam Man Mekanika
🎤 Exclusive interviews with Malaysian teams
📲 Live updates before and during the event
💥 Exclusive content & race coverage available only on YouTube Pay-Per-View

🎟 Subscribe now – RM50/month for full access to all streams and behind-the-scenes content.
👉 Watch here: https://www.adrenalineimpact.com/soupedup

Don’t miss the roar, the rivalry, and the rush — only on Adrenaline Impact YouTube!

#SoupedUpThailand #AdrenalineImpact #XOAutosport #Dragholics #Mekanika #DragholicsMalaysia #TeamMalaysia #MalaysiaDragRacing #DragRaceAsia #CarCultureAsia #LiveFromThailand #BamManMekanika #EncikBob

Drag Racing

Hakim Danish Joins Moto3™ Grid for PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia 2025

Malaysian rider Hakim Danish Ramli is set to make his Moto3™ world debut on home soil with the AEON Credit SIC Racing MSI Team at the upcoming PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia 2025, taking place from 24 to 26 October at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).

The Moto3™ Wildcard Team Reveal Ceremony held at SIC was attended by YB Hannah Yeoh, Minister of Youth and Sports Malaysia, alongside representatives from AEON Credit Service (M) Berhad, SIC, and ZK Racing Sdn. Bhd.

During the event, AEON Credit and ZK Racing signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their collaboration under the Malaysian Motorsports Development (MDEV) Blueprint, a national programme spearheaded by KBS and SIC to nurture local racing talent.

YB Hannah Yeoh praised the initiative, noting that it showcases how government and private sectors can work together to help Malaysian athletes reach the world stage.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has allocated RM3 million under the High-Performance MDEV Programme, with another RM1 million through KWASN to support Hakim Danish’s international campaign. In addition, AEON Credit has contributed RM1 million to support Hakim’s Moto3™ wildcard debut.

SIC CEO Azhan Shafriman Hanif said, “Hakim Danish is the first product of our development programme. His journey from the SIC MiniGP to the MotoGP™ grid proves that the MDEV ladder works.”

Fans can cheer for Hakim Danish live at Sepang. In support of the Malaysia MADANI initiative, Tiket Rahmah K2 Hillstand tickets are priced at RM49.90 via www.sepangcircuit.com.

2 Wheels

Hafizh Conquers Sepang in Scorching Style!

Malaysian hero Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah thrilled the home crowd with a dominant victory in Race 1 of the ASB1000 class at the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2025, held at Sepang International Circuit.

Racing under blistering 41°C heat, the JDT Racing Team rider led from the start and never looked back. Rivals Azroy Hakeem Anuar and Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi tried to challenge, but crashes and tyre wear reshuffled the pack. Hafizh managed the tough conditions with skill, crossing the line in 25’26.781s, ahead of Zaqhwan and Thailand’s Nakarin Atiratphuvapat.

“The last four laps were really tough managing the front tyre,” Hafizh said. “When Keito crashed, I told myself to stay calm and enjoy the moment. This win is for the team, my family, and all the fans who came to support.”

Top 5 – Race 1 (ASB1000)
1️⃣ Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah – JDT Racing Team
2️⃣ Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi – Idemitsu Honda Racing Malaysia
3️⃣ Nakarin Atiratphuvapat – Honda Racing Thailand
4️⃣ Lachlan Epis – Savitar Racing Asia
5️⃣ Maiku Watanuki – Team TATARA Aprilia

2 Wheels Circuit Racing