The country’s sensational young rider, Hakim Danish Ramli, expressed his delight after completing his debut qualifying session at the Malaysian Grand Prix (GP) and is ready to give his best in tomorrow’s race.

In the session, Hakim Danish, competing with the AEON Credit SIC Racing MSi team via a Moto3 wildcard entry, finished qualifying in 14th fastest before moving up one place to 13th following a grid penalty applied to another rider. Despite making a few minor mistakes during the session, Hakim Danish remained motivated and determined to address his weaknesses to deliver a stronger performance in his Moto3 World Championship debut.

This debut at the Sepang International Circuit not only marks a new chapter in his career but also serves as important preparation for the 2026 season, when the Terengganu-born rider will compete full-time with the MSi Racing Team. Hakim Danish described today’s qualifying session as a valuable experience, particularly in terms of mental and physical preparation, which is very different from the races he previously contested in the JuniorGP Championship and Red Bull Rookies Cup, which laid the foundation of his career in Europe. He also anticipates a more intense battle in tomorrow’s race and is ready to devise the best strategy to compete with the more experienced riders.

In tomorrow’s race, Hakim Danish will start from 13th on the grid after recording a time of 2 minutes 11.487 seconds. Leopard Racing’s David Almansa claimed pole position with the fastest time, followed by Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) in second, while 2025 World Champion Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completes the front row.

Hakim Danish:

“My feelings during today’s qualifying session were very different from the races I’ve competed in before, such as the JuniorGP and Red Bull Rookies Cup. I made a few mistakes and nearly fell, but managed to keep things under control. I will try to improve my weaknesses in terms of lap times and race position.

For tomorrow, I expect the race to be more intense as this is the World Championship. It will certainly be fast at the start, and I will do my best to manage the situation and achieve a better position.”

Zulfahmi Khairuddin Team Manager:

“I’m a little disappointed with the qualifying session, but in my view, what Hakim Danish has done since the first practice session has been very good. He managed to show consistent performance from FP1 and qualified for Qualifying Two (Q2), even securing sixth place in this morning’s session. However, the qualifying session took place in the hottest conditions of the week. The track temperature this morning was around 45 degrees Celsius, rising to 68 degrees in the afternoon, so the bike’s response was naturally different.

For me, the results Hakim achieved today are already very good for his first wildcard appearance. We hope that tomorrow he can compete for a strong position perhaps not for the podium, but in a race, anything can happen. If it rains, who knows, miracles can happen. The important thing is that we will give our best as a team.”

Hakim Danish admitted he was happy with his performance in the Moto3 World Championship race at the Malaysian Grand Prix (GP), despite failing to finish the race after his bike suffered a technical failure, forcing him to retire early. Even though he had to retire from the race, the 18-year-old rider, competing with the AEON CREDIT SIC RACING MSi team, proved his ability to compete at the highest level by setting the fastest lap of the race, clocking 2 minutes 11.066 seconds.

Hakim Danish had the opportunity to finish the race and score points, as the Terengganu-born rider was fighting within the top 10 at the time, which could have earned him at least six points. This impressive performance is a clear indication of his potential ahead of a full-season campaign in 2026, following the confirmation of his contract with the MSi Racing Team. Hakim Danish acknowledged that his team is currently investigating the main cause of his bike suddenly losing power at Turn 1, which dashed his hopes of achieving a strong finish in front of thousands of Malaysian fans who packed the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).

Although the final result was disappointing, the weekend was considered an invaluable learning experience. The opportunity to compete directly with the world’s elite riders provided priceless exposure to the level of competition and the strategies required on the global stage.

As a record, Hakim Danish began his wildcard campaign at the Malaysian GP with a strong performance in the Free Practice 1 (FP1) session, setting the 8th fastest time of 2 minutes 11.317 seconds, and went on to qualify for Qualifying 2 (Q2) with a lap of 2 minutes 11.820 seconds. His excellent form continued in FP2, where he recorded the 6th fastest time of 2 minutes 10.576 seconds.

Commenting on his wildcard appearance, Hakim Danish expressed his gratitude to all parties involved in making the programme a success, which has inspired him to continue striving in Moto3 next year.

Hakim Danish:

“I had to retire from the race early due to a technical issue with my bike. At the moment, I’m still unsure of the exact cause as my team is inspecting the bike to identify the problem; my bike suddenly lost power at Turn 1, so I had to stop early. Even so, I’m very happy to have competed against the world’s top riders, including World Championship riders. This was an invaluable experience because they are all very fast, and I was able to gauge the level of competition on the world stage.

If the technical issue hadn’t occurred, I believe I had a chance to finish the race in a points-scoring position. Overall, I felt comfortable with the bike and the setup provided by my team. I want to thank my team for giving their best throughout the weekend. Although I’m a little disappointed not to finish my first race in the World Championship, I was thrilled to see the massive support from Malaysian fans in the grandstand; their cheers and shouts were a huge motivation for me.

I’m also looking forward to competing full-time in the World Championship next year, but I know I still need to improve to be ready for a full season. Over the weekend, I learned a lot, especially about how riders on the world stage ride, control their bikes, and approach race strategy, all of which will help me become a better rider.”

Zulfahmi Khairuddin:

“Today has been a rather disappointing day for both me and the team, as the bike ridden by Hakim Danish suffered a technical failure midway through the race. I am confident that Hakim Danish gave his best throughout the week, from the practice and qualifying sessions right through to the main race, to remain competitive.

However, the unexpected occurred, and after analysing the post-race data, it was confirmed that the failure happened in the engine. This was beyond our control, and there was nothing that could be done at the time. Nevertheless, I remain grateful to all parties who have continuously supported this programme and Hakim Danish’s career journey.

Before the Moto3 race began, we also received the rather upsetting news of serious accidents involving Jose Antonio Rueda and Noah Dettwiler. I hope both riders are in good condition and recover quickly. Overall, the atmosphere today was somewhat somber for everyone at the circuit, but I greatly appreciate the extraordinary support from the Malaysian MotoGP fans who were there to cheer on Hakim Danish. Thank you once again for all your support.”