Hakim Danish heads to home Sepang MotoGP ninth in Moto3 after Phillip Island race is cancelled

Hakim Danish heads into his first home Moto3 Grand Prix as a full-time rider without a race since Indonesia's Mandalika round earlier this month. Sunday's Moto3 Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, where the Terengganu-born rookie was due to start 23rd, was cancelled because of rain, wind and poor visibility, leaving him ninth in the standings ahead of the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Sepang from 30 October to 1 November.

A washed-out weekend in Australia

Race Direction called off both the Moto3 and Moto2 races at Phillip Island on Sunday, 25 October, after lengthy delays. Reports from the circuit said the medical helicopter could not operate safely in the conditions, which ruled out running the races. Qualifying had taken place on Saturday, when Indonesia's Veda Pratama took Moto3 pole for Honda Team Asia by 0.021 seconds from championship leader Maximo Quiles.

For Hakim, Saturday had been difficult. Qualifying 23rd meant a long afternoon in prospect, so the cancellation at least protected his points total. It does mean he arrives at Sepang without the race mileage he would have wanted before his home event.

Where Hakim Danish stands

According to the Speedweek standings, Hakim sits ninth in the Moto3 championship on 103 points, level with Italy's Matteo Bertelle and eight points behind Pratama, who is eighth on 111. Quiles leads on 351, a margin over second-placed David Almansa (217) that is already greater than the 100 points left on offer across the final four rounds.

Hakim, who rides for the MSi team backed by AEON Credit, has already given Malaysian fans plenty to cheer in his rookie season. He finished third at the Italian Grand Prix on 1 June and then won the Czech Grand Prix at Brno on 22 June, becoming a Grand Prix winner in his first full year. Sepang Circuit chief executive Azhan Shafriman Hanif acknowledged earlier this month that the season had brought "ups and downs" since then, and said he hoped the rider would bounce back.

What Sepang means

The Malaysian round is Round 19 of 22 in Moto3, with the Moto3 race scheduled for Sunday, 1 November. After Sepang, the championship moves to Qatar on 8 November, Portugal on 22 November and Valencia on 29 November.

Sepang International Circuit has built much of its promotion around the local rider. Bernama reported on 11 October that about 80 per cent of seats in the "Hakim Danish Tribune" and Premier Seat categories had already been sold. The circuit is targeting 200,000 spectators over the weekend and is offering free entry to the circuit grounds on Friday, 30 October, with parking rates held at last year's levels. This year marks Malaysia's 35th year on the Grand Prix calendar since 1991, and Sepang has hosted the race since 1999.

The regional rivalry

Hakim's closest rival on the points table is a familiar one. Pratama, a fellow Southeast Asian rookie, is just ahead of him, and their battle has drawn attention in both Malaysia and Indonesia. In the Rookie of the Year standings, Red Bull KTM Ajo's Brian Uriarte leads Pratama by 87 points with 100 still available, meaning Uriarte could wrap up that award at Sepang.

For Hakim, the target is simpler: a clean weekend and a strong result in front of a home crowd that is expected to turn out in big numbers.

Key takeaways

• The Moto3 Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island was cancelled on 25 October because of weather; Hakim Danish had qualified 23rd.
• Hakim is ninth in the Moto3 standings on 103 points, eight behind Indonesia's Veda Pratama.
• He won the Czech Grand Prix on 22 June and was third in Italy on 1 June.
• The Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix runs at Sepang from 30 October to 1 November, with free entry to the circuit grounds on Friday.
• Maximo Quiles leads the championship by more points than remain available.

FAQ

When does Hakim Danish race at Sepang? The Moto3 race at the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday, 1 November, with practice and qualifying earlier in the weekend from Friday, 30 October.

Why was the Australian Moto3 race cancelled? Rain, strong wind and poor visibility meant the medical helicopter could not fly safely, so Race Direction cancelled the Moto3 and Moto2 races on 25 October.

Has Hakim Danish won a Grand Prix? Yes. He won the Czech Grand Prix at Brno on 22 June 2026, after finishing third at the Italian Grand Prix three weeks earlier.

Sources: Bernama, Asian Motorsport, Red Bull KTM Ajo, Speedweek, Malay Mail, Wikipedia