Malaysia’s rising young sensation, Qabil Irfan Azlan, made an impressive first step onto the European stage after finishing fourth in the opening race of the 2026 Moto4 European Cup at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain.

Competing with SIC-GRYD Racing, Qabil wasted no time adapting to the bike as he immediately slotted into the leading group once the race got underway, proving his ability to challenge more experienced European riders.

In the 13-lap race, the 14-year-old rider, who started from eighth on the grid, traded positions several times within the top five before breaking into the podium places midway through the race. However, an intense battle all the way to the final lap saw Qabil settle for fourth place after a thrilling dash to the finish line.

Throughout the race, Qabil showed tremendous fighting spirit as he remained competitive among the frontrunners despite the narrow time gaps separating the leading riders. He eventually crossed the line in fourth place, just 0.192 seconds behind race winner Álvaro Lucas of Spain, who recorded a total time of 24 minutes 19.948 seconds. Italy’s Edoardo Savino finished second, followed by compatriot Lorenzo Pritelli in third.

The result saw Qabil collect 13 championship points, giving him a highly encouraging start to his maiden Moto4 European Cup campaign. More importantly, the Malaysian youngster’s impressive performance underlined his credentials as a genuine podium contender.

His showing in Barcelona serves as an early indication that Qabil has the potential to be a serious challenger throughout the remainder of the season, while further strengthening his status as one of Malaysia’s brightest prospects on the road to the highest level of motorcycle racing.

Qabil Irfan:

“From my point of view, the start of the race went really well. I started from eighth on the grid and managed to move up to fourth place, so I was really pleased with the start. To get into the leading group, I needed a strong start and tried to overtake as many riders ahead of me as possible. However, I did face a slight issue in terms of confidence with the front tyre, but I still did my best to maintain my position.

For me, the difference here is quite noticeable because the riders in Europe are very quick. The way they ride is also different and more aggressive compared to ESBK. So, this has been a valuable lesson and a new experience for me. For the next round in Portugal, I will try to be a little more aggressive than before as I continue pushing for a podium finish.

With this team, everything has been going really well and we’re happy. Whatever I need, they will do their best to provide, and I’m very happy to be working with this team.”

Zulfahmi Khairuddin Team Manager:

“Qabil showed excellent maturity for such a young rider. He was not intimidated competing against more experienced European riders and managed to stay with the leading group throughout the race. What was most encouraging was that he was not simply following the pace of the race, but genuinely fighting for a podium finish. That shows the scale of his potential, and we believe he is capable of going even further.

Fourth place in the opening race is a positive start, but more importantly, the focus remains on the learning process and his development. We will continue working hard to ensure Qabil becomes even more competitive in the coming rounds.”