KUALA LUMPUR: After a two-year silence, the Malaysian Superbike Championships will roar back at the Sepang Circuit this weekend. And spectators will be back too.
Entry to the grandstand is free but only fully vaccinated fans above the age of 18 are allowed in amid strict SOP.
Some of the biggest names in Malaysian motorcycle racing will battle it out in three classes: MSBK1000, MSBK600 and MSBK250.
The MSBK1000 is set to feature an exciting duel between former champions Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman and Zaqhwan Zaidi. Both riders are acknowledged as among the best superbike riders in this region.
The MSBK600 class is abuzz with expectations of former Moto3 race winner Khairul Idham Pawi making his comeback with the ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team after a one year break.
Rising star Syarifuddin Azman, who is slated to make his full season GP racing next year, will also be on the grid with the ZK Racing Team.
The Honda camp will have Azroy Hakeem Anuar and Mohd Helmi Azman pushing their spanking new Honda CBR600RR through their paces.
Zaqhwan said he expects all the riders to feel excited after missing the track for two years.
"We have not raced for some time. Everyone will have to adapt to the bikes, so I think everyone has an equal chance to win," said the former Moto2 rider.
Organiser Ron Hogg, Two Wheels Motor Racing director, said: "The last two years have been quite challenging for the motorcycle racing industry. We are grateful to be back and looking forward to the day when our foreign friends can also join in the race.
"Meanwhile, the entries for Round 1 are looking promising with all our top riders in the country competing."
For the competing teams, RK Takasago Chain will sponsor additional prize money for teams that use their products.
On top of that, a one-of-a-kind trophy awaits the MSBK1000 champion. The special trophy from RK Japan, called the "RK Shogun" Kobuto, was inspired by the helmets used by the ancient Japanese shoguns.
