Hafizh Syahrin Crowned ARRC ASB1000 Champion in Nail-Biting Finale at Chang Circuit!

BURIRAM, Thailand - The 2025 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) concluded today with an absolutely electrifying Race 2 in the Asia Superbike 1000cc (ASB1000) class at the Chang International Circuit. In a dramatic, season-defining showdown, Malaysia's Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah (JDT Racing Team) clinched the coveted championship title, securing the crown by a razor-thin margin of just three points over home-hero, Thailand’s Nakarin Atiratphuvapat (Honda Racing Thailand).

The final race of the season was a tense affair, with the championship title hanging in the balance. As the lights went out, the drama was immediate. Thai favourite Nakarin Atiratphuvapat launched a brilliant attack, seizing the lead and immediately setting a blistering pace. Nakarin, needing a victory and favorable results from his rivals to secure the title, pushed his Honda CBR1000RR-R to the absolute limit, establishing an early gap and leaving the rest of the elite pack to battle for the remaining podium spots.

The real championship-deciding fight quickly materialized for the crucial P2 position, involving two Malaysian titans: Hafizh Syahrin and Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi (IDEMITSU Honda Racing Malaysia). The former MotoGP rider, Hafizh, entered the race knowing that a strong finish was paramount to hold off Nakarin.

For laps on end, the battle between Hafizh and Zaqhwan was a relentless display of skill and nerves, with neither rider giving an inch. However, in the closing stages, Zaqhwan began to lose pace, allowing Hafizh to execute a decisive overtaking maneuver for P2. This move was the critical difference-maker.

While Nakarin Atiratphuvapat crossed the finish line to take the dominant Race 2 victory and collect the maximum 25 points, it was Hafizh Syahrin's clinical execution for second place that sealed the championship.

With his second-place finish, Hafizh accumulated enough points to secure the 2025 ASB1000 Championship with a total of 193 points. Nakarin's Race 2 victory brought his final tally to 190 points, leaving him agonisingly close, just three points shy of the ultimate prize.

"This is an incredible feeling. We fought so hard all season, and today was purely about managing the pressure and maximizing the points," said a jubilant Hafizh Syahrin. "Nakarin rode a fantastic race, but my team and I executed our plan perfectly. To win the ASB1000 Championship is a dream come true, and a testament to the hard work of JDT Racing Team."

The dramatic conclusion to the 2025 season will be remembered as one of the most exciting title deciders in ARRC history, showcasing the intense rivalry and world-class talent in Asia's premier superbike category.