With the challenges of Covid continuing, the 2021 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship has been called off, with racing teams facing many difficulties with travel, alongside the varying local regulations in force.
Differing quarantine procedures, lack of flights, and many other roadblocks have made it impossible for the Asian grid to re-assemble for 2021. As such it’s just been officially confirmed that the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will not be held in 2021.
The ARRC season had been planned as a six-round competition, kicking off in Malaysia with two rounds in June, before moving to China’s Zhuhai International Circuit in August, The Bend Motorsport Park in Australia in September and finishing off the year with two rounds at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand.
In June both Chinese and Australian rounds were cancelled due to Covid, while the season opener in Sepang had originally been delayed.
Ron Hogg – Two Wheels Motor Racing Director
“I would like to start off by expressing our gratitude to the Thai government and especially to the Chang International Circuit. Working together, we have left no stones unturned in our bid to bring the grid together in 2021. We especially want to thank the Chang International Circuit , the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Federation Motor Sports Club of Thailand. With the help of these agencies, we can confirm that we were trying as hard as possible up to the last moment. We worked hard to make it happen. However, not everything is within our control. Restrictions among the Asian countries are more stringent as compared to the other regions like Europe. Bringing the grid together will be a very costly affair, especially with the required quarantine procedures when teams return home to their respective countries. Therefore, we believe that it would be better to consolidate all our resources to kick start the 2022 season. Rest assured, plans for 2022 will be announced in due time. In the meantime we would also like to say thank you to all our partners, teams, riders and our fans. Stay strong, stay safe, let’s get ready to roar next year!”
Stephan Carapiet – FIM Asia President
“The FIM Asia supports the decision of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship to call off the 2021 season. Asia is a more populous region as compared to the other parts of the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Asian governments are imposing stricter restrictions with regards to international sporting events. Matters were made worse with regulations that seem to be constantly in flux. I am just as disappointed as everyone else about this inevitable decision. However, let’s look forward to a great year in 2022.”
Broc Parkes confirms ARRC campaign Entries surge for 2020 opener
With Barry Russell
The FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) starts its 25th season on March 5, with more entries and more international attention than at any time since in its history. A total of 80 riders from 12 different countries will contest the seven-round, 14 race-championship.
The introduction of the Asia Superbike (ASB) class in 2019 replaced Supersport 600 as the series flagship. This move attracted European manufacturers for the first time and added a whole new level of racing to the series.
The Asia Superbike class provided close racing in 2019, with a championship battle that went down to the last race of the season between Broc Parkes and ultimate winner, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman. The contrast in styles and machinery between the top two protagonists made the seven-round, 14-race battle especially entertaining.
Broc Parkes and Yuki Ito
Broc will again partner Japan’s Yuki Ito in the Yamaha Racing ASEAN squad to face Azlan, as well as a much deeper field of potential champions.
The Malaysian stays with the ONEXOX TKKR SAG BMW with additional motivation on the other side of the garage in the shape of his new team-mate, former European Superstock champion and WSBK rider, Markus Reiterberger.
Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman
Third in the 2019 standings was Zaqhwan Zaidi, who made Honda Asia Dream Racing with Showa’s vintage Fireblade go much faster than it should have. This year Zaqhwan will be on the brand-new Honda and carrying the marque’s expectations for the title.
Thitipong Warakorn
Kawasaki Thailand’s Thitipong Warakorn, who had his 2019 championship chances curtailed by horrific back injuries, starts the new season fit, determined and leading the charge for Team Green. Katsuake Fujiwara continues as team manager, bringing in rookie Ryusuke Iwato, following his impressive showing in the Japan Superbike (JSB) 1000 class last season.
Ryusuke Iwato (pictured) joins Thitipong Warakorn with Kawasaki Thailand
Yamaha Thailand’s Apiwat Wongthananon is another frontrunner from the land of smiles. The 2016 AP250 champion earned himself two seasons in the CEV Junior Moto3 World Championship with the VR46 Academy before returning home to partner Ratthapong Wilairot in ASB’s inaugural season.
He got up to speed quickly, qualifying on the front row at The Bend in round two and bothering the men at the front during the early laps. Mastering the YZF R1’s electronics over race distance took a little longer, but he scored a brace of thirds at Buriram in round three and at Sepang in round six.
Anuparb Sarmoon, Apiwat Wongthananon & Ratthapong Wilairot who will compete in Supersport
Former Thai superstock champion, the highly rated Anuparb Sarmoon, joins Apiwat in the premier class for 2020, after some impressive CEV Moto2 outings. Ratthapong, meanwhile returns to Supersport 600 as a former champion, having won the title in 2018.
Anuparb could quickly establish himself at the front. Although he is known in ARRC circles as a top AP 250 rider, he is supremely confident on a superbike and fans are in for a treat as they watch him wringing the neck of the YZF R1.
Anuparb Sarmoon
Meanwhile, another AP 250 champion, Indonesia’s Gerry Salim, returns from his CEV Moto2 adventures to partner Zaqhwan in the Honda Asia Dream Racing with Showa squad. Team manager, Makoto Tamada, made no secret of his desire to run two ASB riders and is rewarded accordingly for last season’s results.
Zaqhwan Zaidi and Gerry Salim
It will be Gerry’s first campaign on a one-litre machine, so Honda’s management and his legions of Indonesian fans will be watching to see how quickly he can get to grips with the marque’s new flagship superbike.
Staying with Honda, Musashi, a well-known name in ARRC, comes in with a brand new team, Musashi HARC-PRO.HPI.ASIA and one of Japan’s most exciting riders, Ikuhiro Enokido. The 21-year-old finished second in the J-GP2 class of the All Japan Road Race Championship in 2019. The Japanese series is known for producing fast, tough riders and Musashi is no stranger to winning in ARRC, with a fair few fistfuls of Supersport titles already on the shelf.
Ducati Philippines added a great deal more than a touch of glamour to the grid in 2019. The team worked hard to find the right direction for the development of the Panigale and improved results steadily through the season with TJ Alberto finishing 11th in the standings.
The most conspicuous highlight was the sight of Italian wildcard, Frederico Sandi, leading race one at Sepang in round six before dropping back with tyre wear. Good news for the 2020 grid is that Sandi has signed to do the full season in 2020, so his participation is eagerly anticipated.
Mazspeedingrods Chieton China Racing Team
The much-anticipated entry of Mazspeedingrods Chieton China Racing Team is likely to be curtailed by travel restrictions following the spread of the nova coronavirus. With a pair of gleaming red BMW S 1000s ready for Ma Sai and Huang Zhi Zhao we can only wait and hope for a fast end to the prevailing global health crisis. The appearance of another Chinese superbike star, Li Zheng Peng, who has signed for Victor Racing Team, also looks likely to be delayed.
The official pre-season test, now less than two weeks away, will provide clues to how the season will pan out. Australian fans can note that a strong showing by Broc in the 2019 test, was followed by third and fifth place finishes, so the Hunter Valley man will be looking to get his 2020 title campaign off to a stronger start and to add to his tally of three ASB race wins. Round two will be at Tailem Bend, May 7-10, and will again be a double bill with ASBK. Last year Broc scored second and first place finishes at his first visit to the track.
Azlan, meanwhile, will be out to continue the winning run that earned him the 2019 championship and to get ahead of his new team-mate. Then there’s Zaqhwan, Thitipong, Apiwat and Anuparb, all with their own markers to put down.
The 2020 ARRC Superbike Calendar
2020 Asia Superbike 1000 Entry List
Here’s a look at the final standings in the 2019 Asia Superbike 1000 championship, for reference.
Pos.
Rider
Nat.
Points
1
Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman
MAS
238
2
Broc Parkes
AUS
225
3
Md Zaqhwan Zaidi
MAS
211
4
Apiwat Wongthananon
THA
161
5
Yuki Ito
JPN
160
6
Thitipong Warokorn
THA
139
7
Ratthapong Wilairot
THA
116
8
Ahmad Yudhistira
INA
83
9
Bryan Staring
AUS
79
10
Chaiwichit Nisakul
THA
79
11
Timothy Joseph Cua Alberto
PHI
69
12
Federico Sandi
ITA
40
13
Farid Badrul Hisham
MAS
35
14
Kazuma Tsuda
JPN
35
15
Shinichi Nakatomi
JPN
32
16
Ali Andriansyah Rusmiputro
INA
30
17
Jonathan Serrapica
SUI
27
18
Li Zheng Peng
CHN
15
19
Bastien Mackels
BEL
12
20
Huang Zi Zhao
CHN
12
21
Mark Aitchison
AUS
10
22
Shahrulnizam Ramli
MAS
10
23
Masahiro Shinjo
JPN
9
24
Yannis Shaw
AUS
8
25
K. Rajini Krishnan
IND
8
26
Lachlan Epis
AUS
6
27
Stephanie Redman
AUS
4
28
Robert Daniel Kruger
CAN
4
29
Koji Teramoto
JPN
2
30
Chen Peng Yuan
CHN
1
2020 Asia Road Racing Championship Calendar
Pre-Season Test – Sepang International Circuit, MALAYSIA – March 2–4, 2020
Round 1 – Sepang International Circuit, MALAYSIA – March 6–8, 2020
Round 2 – The Bend Motorsports Park, AUSTRALIA – May 7–10, 2020
Round 3 – Suzuka Circuit, JAPAN – June 26–28, 2020
Round 4 – Zhuhai International Circuit, CHINA – July 24–26, 2020
Round 5 – Chang International Circuit, THAILAND – August 21–23, 2020
Round 6 – Sepang International Circuit, MALAYSIA – September 25–27, 2020
Round 7 – Chang International Circuit, THAILAND – November 27–29, 2020
Supersport shapes up for an epic season after ARRC lifts age cap
With Barry Russell
Having been ARRC’s premier class for 18 years, Supersport was repositioned in 2019 as a stepping stone for riders on their way up to ASB. In the process, an upper age limit of 25 was introduced.
The development category experiment was successful to the extent that stars like runaway champion, Peerapong Boonlert, Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin, and Andi Farid Izdihar found themselves drawn into CEV and Moto2 championships.
Zaqhwan Zaidi
The downside was that it thinned out the field. To ensure the ongoing health of the class promoter, TWMR has lifted the age cap to make it a true intermediate category. So, looking back at 2019 won’t tell you a thing about what could happen in 2020.
Teams have welcomed the move by springing surprises that promise a year of unpredictable, hard-fought battles. The result is also that out of 19 entries, 12 are riders who were not on the 600 grid in 2019. Of those, just three are above the erstwhile age limit.
Soichiro Minamimoto
Starting at what, for now, is the top, Yamaha Thailand are replacing 2019 champion Peerapong with their 2018 champion, Ratthapong Wilairot, who moves back to 600s after an indifferent year in ASB.
Next on the list comes Soichiro Minamimoto, the rider who, as a wildcard, broke Peerapong’s 2019 six race winning streak in round four at Suzuka. The 20-year-old will again be aboard the Akeno Speed Yamaha and starts the season as a top contender. Joining him is Yusuke Nakamura.
Soichiro Minamimoto and Yusuke Nakamura
Another promising young Japanese rider, Rei Toshima, emerges from the Japanese Superbike (JSB) paddock to join the grid for the evocatively monikered Speed Heart DOGFIGHT Racing Yamaha team. He has previously had outings in AP 250 and ran as a wildcard at Suzuka in 2019.
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises is Victor Racing’s Ahmad Yudhistira, who was the stand-out ASB privateer in 2019. As with other international and top-level domestic series, factory involvement in ASB makes it difficult for those without it to compete at the front. It is less of a factor in Supersport, which gives a rider of Yudhistira’s quality a real shot at the title.
Adam Norrodin and Ibrahim Norrodin
Zulfahmi Kairuddin’s Sepang-based team takes on a slightly new name, IUSB ZK Racing, and doubles in size, signing both Adam and Ibrahim Norrodin for 2020. Adam was the team’s regular rider in 2019, causing all kinds of discomfort to Peerapong, scoring seven podiums from 12 starts, including wins in China and Thailand. Ibrahim stepped in for his big brother in Australia and surprised everyone with brilliant fourth and third place finishes. Sibling rivalry should keep both riders well and truly focused.
Yamaha Indonesia has promoted former AP 250 rider, Faerozi Toreqotullah to the intermediate class for 2020. Although always fast on a 250, Faerozi didn’t quite get into title contention and could well be one of those riders who goes better on bigger capacity bikes.
Kyle Paz and Afif Amran
Cross border collaboration between Hong Leong Yamaha and Yamaha Motor Philippines brings together Filipino prodigy, McKinley Kyle Paz and 2019’s highest scoring class rookie, Afif Amran. Under the Yamaha GENBLU Racing Team banner, the hugely popular UB 150 champion is expected to harness the extra horses quickly, as well as drawing thousands of extra eyeballs to the championship, while Afif should continue build on his impressive debut season.
He is sure to enjoy the additional 450cc and should work his way quickly into contention. At the time of writing there is speculation that another Filipino could join the class. If that indeed proves to be true, then expect to see McKinley’s erstwhile UB150 partner, Fernando Masato included in an announcement about the team they’ll be riding for.
ONEXOX TKKR SAG have just announced their full line-up for 2020. Ramdan Rosli is the only top rider from 2019 to reappear and he’ll be joined by Nazirul Izzat, whom the team promotes from AP 250. He’s a rider who showed good speed and was marked out as one to watch by some of us, despite a lack of consistency.
Muklada Sarapuech
With all the riders mentioned so far being Yamaha-mounted, the question has to be asked whether Honda can be competitive with its ageing CBR600RR. During 2019 there was an almost perfect split in qualifying and finishing positions, with Yamaha’s continually upgraded YZF-R1 occupying the top half, so it’s to be hoped that Honda will be helping their teams to find more speed.
There are some hugely talented riders aiming to break Yamaha’s stranglehold on the class, led, at least in terms of media attention, by AP Honda Racing Thailand’s Muklada Sarapuech. The 2015 Asia Dream Cup champion, having spent the last few seasons showing her male counterparts how to ride a 250, steps into the 600 class. The 26-year-old already has glittering supersport credentials, having won the Suzuka 4 Hours in 2019 and will immediately be on the pace.
Muklada is joined by Passawit Thitiwararak, who returns for a third season in the class. He established himself as one of the quickest Honda riders in 2019, finishing sixth overall in the standings.
Irfan Ardiansyah & Rheza Danica Ahrens
One of the most exciting riders to move up is Irfan Ardiansyah, who is rewarded by Astra Honda for his third place finish in the 2019 AP 250 championship. The young Indonesian has the maturity and confidence of a champion as well as the physical size to dominate a bigger machine, so expect him to get up to pace quickly. Rheza Danica Ahrens, the 2018 AP 250 champion, starts his second year in the class looking for strong results after a lacklustre inaugural season.
Musashi Boon Siew Honda are again fielding Malaysian underbone graduates, Azroy Hakeem Anuar and Helmi Azman, who won the UB150 title in 2018. Azroy, who starts his third supersport season, was the best of the Honda contingent in 2019, finishing fourth in the standings and will again be looking to get amongst the Yamahas and onto the podium. Helmi had a difficult first season after sustaining a nasty leg injury in round two. He should start 2020 with his fitness and confidence restored and will be aiming to mix it up with the leaders.
Azroy Hakeem Anuar and Helmi Azman
Another new team, Honda Philippines Okada Manila Access Plus Racing, will be in the next garage to the Ducati team of almost the same name. On board will be Troy Jacob Cua Alberto, younger brother of Timothy Joseph ‘TJ’ Cua Alberto. Troy, 18, has had some decent outings in the Asia Talent Cup and the Thailand Talent Cup and entered SS600 rounds last year at Sepang and Zhuhai for Yuzy Honda.
2020 ARRC Supersport 600 Entry List
With the age cap lifted, it could be anyone’s game, however here’s a look at the final standings in the 2019 Supersport 600 category.
2019 ARRC Supersport 600 Final Standings
Pos.
Rider
Nat.
Points
1
Peerapong Boonlert
THA
300
2
Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin
MAS
224
3
Muhamad Adam Mohd Norrodin
MAS
170
4
Azroy Hakeem Anuar
MAS
125
5
Andi Farid Izdihar
INA
115
6
Passawit Thitivararak
THA
108
7
Md Helmi Azman
MAS
105
8
Ahmad Afif Amran
MAS
105
9
Md Ramdan Rosli
MAS
90
10
Javier Orellana Malloy
ESP
78
11
Rheza Danica Ahrens
INA
78
12
Kritchaporn Kaewsonthi
THA
68
13
Fakhrusy Syakirin Rostam
MAS
52
14
Soichiro Minamimoto
JPN
41
15
Ma Sai
CHN
36
16
Liam Taylor MacDonald
NZL
34
17
Kyusuke Okude
JPN
30
18
Md Ibrahim Md Norrodin
MAS
29
19
Yuto Sano
JPN
23
20
Muhammad Izam Ikmal
MAS
20
21
Katsuto Sano
JPN
12
22
Nazirul Izzat Md Bahaudin
MAS
11
23
Md Akid Aziz
MAS
11
24
Sha Juntong
CHN
9
25
Ao Leong Fu
MAC
8
26
Chen Hpng Yan
CHN
8
27
Kota Arakawa
JPN
7
28
Chen Yuan Hang
CHN
5
29
Md Khairul Ikhwan Ajis
MAS
4
30
Rei Toshima
JPN
1
2020 Asia Road Racing Championship Calendar
Pre-Season Test – Sepang International Circuit, MALAYSIA – March 2–4, 2020
Round 1 – Sepang International Circuit, MALAYSIA – March 6–8, 2020
Round 2 – The Bend Motorsports Park, AUSTRALIA – May 7–10, 2020
Round 3 – Suzuka Circuit, JAPAN – June 26–28, 2020
Round 4 – Zhuhai International Circuit, CHINA – July 24–26, 2020
Round 5 – Chang International Circuit, THAILAND – August 21–23, 2020
Round 6 – Sepang International Circuit, MALAYSIA – September 25–27, 2020
Round 7 – Chang International Circuit, THAILAND – November 27–29, 2020
Predictions for the AP250 are practically impossible, with big gaps in team announcements and some top riders moving up to Supersport.
Andy Fadly
After much off-season uncertainty, it was confirmed last week that Manual Tech Kawasaki will return with their 2019 pairing of reigning champion Andy Fadly and Aiki Aiyoshi. That makes Fadly only the second AP 250 champion to defend his title.
Indonesia’s Astra Honda have announced three riders again, with Lucky Hendriansyah now leading the line, chased by class rookies, Herjun Atna Firdaus and Adenanta Putra.
Lucky Hendriansyah, Herjun Atna Firdaus and Adenanta Putra
With Muklada Sarapuech moving to the 600s, AP Honda Racing Thailand keep the promising Piyawat Patoomyos and bring in rookie, Kantapat Yakantai. Piyawat scored his first class win in the very last race of 2019 and has been tasked with breaking Indonesia’s stranglehold on the championship.
ONEXOX TKKR SAG are fielding three entries, keeping frontrunners, Muzakkir Mohamed and Rey Ratukore and bringing in Syafieq Aiman.
Rafid Topan Sucipto is a potential title winner who has yet to make an announcement. His fans will be hoping to see him on the Bike Corner Honda once again, which transformed his 2019 season following his switch from Yamaha.
Rafid Topan Sucipto is another rider yet to announce a ride
Anggi Setiawan is in again for Yamaha Indonesia, joined this year by Wahyu Nugroho, one of the most exciting Underbone riders we saw in 2019. Although he managed only one podium appearance, Nugroho’s speed is beyond doubt and he should grow as an all-round racer in AP250.
Yamaha Thailand will not have any AP250 entries this year. For now, the team is delegating young rider development to satellite outfit, Yamaha HiSpeed, which is expected to run wildcards at selected races. The team made their mark in the last race of the season, when Vorapong Malahuan brought his banana-yellow R25 through to second place behind AP Honda’s Piyawat.
Cao Viet Nam
Turning to some of the sport’s emerging countries in the region, the highly rated Cao Viet Nam joins the class for another year. The 2019 Thailand Talent Cup champion clearly has the ability to run at the front, so will be hoping for the full support of Honda Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Honda India are going for continuity with Sethu Rajiv and Senthil Chandrasekaran and Victor Racing bring in Chinese rider, Leong Nang Tse.
Asia Production 250
Finally, and as widely expected, Indian motorcycle giant TVS is in for 2020. The company’s racing division put a large toe in the water at Buriram last December, when they contracted World Supersport star Hikari Okubo to take the Apache 310RR for a spin in the final round. What they learned there will be taken forward by Vorapong Malahuan.
The popular Thai has a bagful of AP 250 trophies from several seasons with AP Honda and it’s hard to think of a more capable development rider. There are plenty of challenges for the mono-powered machine, such as rear wheel locking and chassis and suspension development, but there is no doubting the commitment and resources of TVS, so we should see their results on an upward curve during the season.
2019 AP250 Standings – Top 15
Pos.
Rider
Nat.
Points
1
Andy Muhammad Fadly
INA
214
2
Awhin Sanjaya
INA
198
3
Irfan Ardiansyah
INA
187
4
Muklada Sarapuech
THA
143
5
Lucky Hendriansya
INA
133
6
Reynaldo Christiano Ratukore
INA
126
7
Tatchakorn Buasri
THA
118
8
Rafid Topan
INA
112
9
Piyawat Patoomyos
THA
108
10
Aiki Iyoshi
JPN
104
11
Muhammad Faerozy Toreqqotullah
INA
86
12
Md Muzakkir Mohamed
MAS
75
13
Nazirul Izzat Mohd Bahauddin
MAS
52
14
Cao Viet Nam
VIE
50
15
Anggi Setiawan
INA
44
Late announcements leave pieces missing in UB150 jigsaw
Underbone racing fans know that this is a class apart. While many racers from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand go on to international fame and fortune from Underbones, for many more, racing these hopped-up family bikes is what they end up doing for a living.
Underbone 150cc
The ARRC Underbone 150 class is the pinnacle of Underbone racing and a place where we get to see a mixture of young, ambitious teenagers fight it out with fast, clever riders, who are in some cases, older than their parents. It provides heart-stopping on-track competition that thrills and fascinates fans from far beyond the geographical limits of South East Asia.
While much of the interest comes straight from the intensity of the racing, Underbones also evoke a gone and golden age of racing, when you would buy a street machine, strip it, add the lightest, trickest parts you can find and tune the engine to breaking point.
Underbone 150cc
UMA Racing Yamaha (Philippines), which took the 2019 championship with McKInley Kyle Paz, return with Fernando Masato, who won race two in the first round, and the highly-rated Kerwin Chang.
Meanwhile, UMA Racing Yamaha (Malaysia) are back in with former champion Akid Aziz and Haziq Fairues, who gave notice of his potential last season by taking his first victory in round six at Sepang. Akid finished just two points behind McKinley in 2019, after two DNFs from mechanical failures in the final round.
Wawan Wello, who was in title contention until a foul run of luck at the end of 2019, has re-signed for SND Factory Racing. The team, which has parted company with former double champion, Gupita Kresna, also announced the signing of rookie, Hildan Kusuma.
Gupita Kresna
Gupita himself, who was has been dogged by a mix of bad luck and inconsistency in the past two seasons, joins Philippines outfit 41SM, where he will run together with John Emerson Inguito. It should be a good match – 41SM has strong domestic underbone credentials and the Indonesian’s experience and quality should help the team step up to international competition and enable him to set his sights on a third title.
Team One for All keeps its rider line-up for 2020, with another former champion, Malaysia’s Affendi Rosley and Thailand’s Peerapong Luiboonpeng. The pair will once again be making their presence felt under the watchful eye of 125 GP legend and team owner, Youichi Ui.
ONEXOX TKKR SAG is fielding a mix of established and emerging talent. Indonesian double champion, Wahyu Aji Trilaksana and the evergreen, ever-threatening Ahmad Fazli Sham are joined by Hafiza Rofa, who proved himself as a front-runner in 2019 and newcomer, Faiz Zekri.
Fazli Sham and Wahyu Aji
Aldi Satya Mahendra, the youngest rider in the class at 13, and who sensationally won a wet race two at Suzuka in 2019, will be flying the flag for Yamaha Indonesia. He is sure to cause plenty more upsets for senior riders this season.
Cardinals Racing Malaysia brings in two new riders, Fazrul Sham and Iqbal Amri from the Petronas Cub Prix talent pool for 2020.
RCB Yamaha YY Pang Racing are fielding three riders with Vietnam’s To Ha Dong Nghi joining regular frontrunners, Izzat Zaidi and Adib Rosley.
Proliner RCB 549 Kaboci Racing Team also have a three rider team, with Richard Taroreh, Iswandi Muis and Aldy Taufil.
Conspicuous by their absence are UMA Racing Yamaha’s 2018 champion, Akid Aziz and team mate Haziq Fairues. The duo just missed out to McKInley Kyle Paz in 2019, finishing second and third in the standings and it is hoped they will squeeze themselves onto the entry list within the next few days.
2019 UB150 Standings – Top 15
Pos.
Rider
Nat.
Points
1
McKinley Kyle Paz
PHI
121
2
Md Akid Aziz
MAS
119
3
Md Haziq Md Fairues
MAS
113
4
Wahyu Aji Trilaksana
INA
110
5
Ahmad Fazli Sham
MAS
106
6
Aldi Satya Mahendra
INA
96
7
Wawan Wello
INA
94
8
Fernando Masato
PHI
93
9
Richard Richie Taroreh
INA
78
10
Md Affendi Rosli
MAS
72
11
Peerapong Luiboonpeng
THA
71
12
Wahyu Nugroho
INA
69
13
Md Amirul Ariff Musa
MAS
65
14
Md Faiz Zekri Sabri
MAS
60
15
Rozaiman Md Said
MAS
54
–
…31
Travis Hall
AUS
5
2020 Asia Road Racing Championship Calendar
Pre-Season Test – Sepang International Circuit, MALAYSIA – March 2–4, 2020
Round 1 – Sepang International Circuit, MALAYSIA – March 6–8, 2020
Round 2 – The Bend Motorsports Park, AUSTRALIA – May 7–10, 2020
Round 3 – Suzuka Circuit, JAPAN – June 26–28, 2020
Round 4 – Zhuhai International Circuit, CHINA – July 24–26, 2020
Round 5 – Chang International Circuit, THAILAND – August 21–23, 2020
Round 6 – Sepang International Circuit, MALAYSIA – September 25–27, 2020
Round 7 – Chang International Circuit, THAILAND – November 27–29, 2020
ASB 1000 championship leader, Broc Parkes, knew the heat would be on for Round 6 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Sepang. As the home race for his two main title rivals, Zaqhwan Zaidi and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, keeping them at bay for two races was always going to be a big ask.
With Loris Baz as his stand-in for YART in the 2019/20 Bol d’Or, the Australian was giving his full attention to consolidating and building on his 188 points total – and the 35 point lead over Zaqhwan – that he took to Malaysia.
Asia Superbike Free Practice
Two Malaysian riders on very different bikes and with very different styles took control of free practice. It was the smooth riding Zaqhwan on the Honda Asia Dream with Showa SP2 who ended up quickest on combined times after stopping the clock at 2:06.502 in Friday’s final session. Meanwhile, the hard charging Azlan on the ONEXOX TKKR SAG BMW led FP1 and FP2 and recorded his best time of 2:06.665 early in the day’s final session.
Yamaha Thailand’s Apiwat Wongthananon impressed again and was placed third ahead of championship leader, Broc whose best time was 2:06.919. Ahmad Yudhistira took the privateer Victor Racing Yamaha to a strong fifth in front of lap record holder, Thithipong Warakorn, who was battling flu as well as his back injury. Yuki Ito had a quiet day by his standards and ended up seventh.
Italian wildcard, Frederico Sandi, made an excellent debut on the third Access Plus Racing Ducati, recording a best lap of 2:08.266 to end up eighth in front of team regular, TJ Alberto. Thitipong’s Kawasaki Thailand team-mate, Chaiwichit Nisakul, was tenth on 2:08.719, while Yamaha Thailand’s Ratthapong Wilairot spent the day lapping in the 2:09s and finished 11th.
Asia Superbike Qualifying
When it got to business time in Saturday morning’s 40 minute qualifying session, Broc put it all together on his Yamaha Racing ASEAN R1 to take pole position with a best lap of 2:06.107, 0.24s better than second placed Azlan and more than half a second quicker than Apiwat, who completed the front row.
Zaqhwan, on 2:06.735 led row two from Yuki Ito and Thitipong, for Kawasaki Thailand. Frederico raised more than a few eyebrows by qualifying seventh, in front of Yudhistira and team-mate, TJ Alberto.
Asia Superbike Race 1
It was the platinum version of Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman who jumped aboard the ONEXOX TKKR BMW at Sepang on Saturday afternoon. The two-times ARRC 600 champion kept himself within striking distance of the front during the frantic early laps, made a decisive move into the lead on lap eight and never looked threatened thereafter.
We were also treated to the first ever sighting of a Ducati leading an ARRC race, thanks to a convincing performance by Italian wildcard, Frederico Sandi on the Access Plus Racing Panigale.
Broc and Azlan had leisurely launches from the grid, while Apiwat scorched away from the outside of the front row to take the lead. Zaqhwan chased him, followed by Sandi and Azlan, Broc and Thitipong. Zaqhwan took the lead into turn one on lap two, but then dumped his Honda Asia Dream Racing with Showa SP2 – and his realistic title hopes – into the gravel a few corners later.
Frederico took his Ducati into the lead on lap three and, chased by Apiwat and Azlan, looked comfortable until his Dunlop-munching Panigale made him increasingly wayward from lap seven. Meanwhile, the man flu stricken Thitipong Warakorn, worked his way past Broc onto the rear of the front group as Azlan made his decisive move into the lead. Yuki pulled off the track with a mechanical failure on lap nine.
Thitipong kept pushing and got close enough to Apiwat to make his second place look vulnerable. Azlan made himself comfortable at the front as the two riders behind him, who have a few tales to tell from the Thai championships, locked horns. Thitipong got into second on lap 11 of 12, only for Apiwat to sweep back past him.
However, the Kawasaki Thailand man was not done and, going into the last corner wide and then cutting inside, managed to out-drag the Yamaha to the line by one tenth of a second to finish 1.4 seconds behind Azlan. Broc got the better of Frederico for fourth, leaving Ratthapong Wilairot in sixth, 16 seconds behind the winner and six seconds in front of seventh-placed Chaiwichit Nisakul.
Azlan’s fourth win of the season and Zaqhwan’s DNF put the ONEXOX TKKR SAG pilot into second in the standings on 168 points, 33 behind Broc, whose fourth place lifted his total to 201.
Asia Superbike Race 2
It was doubles all round at Sepang as Azlan Shah chalked his fifth win of the year and a Round 6 double. Thitipong Warakorn and Apiwat Wongthananon sealed braces of seconds and thirds respectively.
The ailing Thitipong shot his ZX-10RR through from row two at the start of the 11 lap race to lead into turn one, chased hard by Apiwat and Broc, who already looked in better shape than he had in race one. Zaqhwan and Azlan, who had made another languid start, led the chase behind the first three.
Zaqhwan soon began to slip back and Frederico Sandi showed that his race one performance had been no fluke by moving his Access Plus Ducati past both Malaysians and Ahmad Yudhistira into fourth place on lap five.
Then Azlan began to move up, passing Frederico, Broc and Apiwat to take second and put Thitipong under pressure. Apiwat stayed close as Azlan went through to take the lead on lap 8, but was unable to get past Thitipong, who was hanging on to the back of the BMW.
Broc remained fourth until lap 10, when Zaqhwan got through. The Honda man almost immediately lost the front, but found his inner Marc Marquez and recovered without losing his track position. Frederico dropped down the order after lap seven, as traction and directional issues again kept him out of contention. Yudhistira lowsided out of the race on lap 10.
Looking nice and comfy on the last lap, Azlan stroked his BMW to win number five in 2019. He crossed the line 1.2 seconds ahead of Thitipong, who just managed to keep Apiwat at bay Zaqhwan finished fourth, while Broc took fifth place just behind him. Yuki, Frederico, Ratthapong, Chaiwichit Nisakul and Ali Adriansyah Rusmiputro completed the top ten.
That means that Broc Parkes will go into the final round at Chang International Circuit on 212 points, 11 ahead of Azlan’s 193. Zaqhwan is now adrift in third place on 166.
Of the 100 riders competing at Suzuka this year in the Asia Road Racing Championship, 17 were wildcards, from young Japanese riders looking for international experience to tough veterans of the All Japan series intending to teach the regular stars a lesson or two.
Broc Parkes of Yamaha Racing ASEAN arrived at Suzuka leading the ASB 1000 Championship after retaining his position with second and fourth place finishes at Chang International in Round 3. Behind the Australian, Azlan Shah Kamuruzaman of ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team was heading to Japan on a wave of momentum after his double win at Buriram.
Bryan Staring made his third appearance for Kawasaki Thailand, once again replacing the injured Thitipong Warakorn. Staring placed seventh in both ASB 1000 races in the previous round.
14-year-old Travis Hall was returning to Suzuka for his second year in the Underbone 150 class, riding a Hi Rev SCK Honda Racing Team machine.
The premier ASB 1000 class was making its first appearance at the legendary Japanese track, having been announced there just one year ago.
The full motorcycle circuit is 5.8 kilometres long, with 18 bends for the riders to manoeuvre. Suzuka has one of the most notable elevation changes in motorsport, with the highest point being at the infamous Spoon Curve, and the lowest 40 metres under it at turn 2, following the 900 metre, downhill straight. Uneasy weather looked set to play a part over the weekend, with rain forecast for all three days of racing.
Asia Superbike 1000
Broc Parkes’s experience and endurance racing credentials made this the closest thing to a home race for him in the ARRC calendar. With the far less familiar Zuhai, Sepang and Chang International circuits coming up for the last three rounds, Yamaha Racing ASEAN were aiming for nothing less than a double to set up his title run for the second half of the season.
By contrast, ASBK championship leader, Bryan Staring, was making his racing debut at the Suzuka Circuit, and therefore leaning on the advantage of superbike experience he held over most of the field.
Parkes’s main title rival, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, arrived at Suzuka with plenty of track time too in the 8 Hours and holding the Supersport qualifying lap record, which he set in 2018.
Despite forecasts of rain and an overnight typhoon on Thursday, threatening clouds made way for blue skies on Friday, leaving a dry track and a sense of relief with teams and riders.
Honda Asia Dream Racing’s Zaqhwan Zaidi posted a strong 2:09.874 in free practice two to record the fastest time of the day, pipping Apiwath Wongthananon of Yamaha Thailand who stopped the clock at 2:09.893, and Yamaha ASEAN’s Yuki Ito who was less than a tenth further back.
Zaqhwan used track experience and skill to post the fastest time despite a heavy tumble in the third practice session, escaping unscathed. Similarly, Ito also crashed heavily in second practice but without injury.
Championship frontrunner Broc Parkes of Yamaha ASEAN placed fifth with a steady ride, under half a second off pacesetter Zaidi. Azlan Shah fared less well, placing seventh with a fastest lap time of 2:10.849 set in the third session of practice.
Kawasaki Thailand stand-in Bryan Staring ultimately finished twelfth, after wrecking his Kawasaki in FP1 and having to sit out FP2. Koji Teramoto of Teramoto@J-Trip was the best of the wildcards, recording the sixth fastest lap of the day in 2:10.84, under a second behind Zaidi.
Suzuka, as ever, had her say in free practice, claiming 28 fallers, the worst of which belonged to Yuki Ito, who broke an ankle and skinned his left little finger. However, Yuki’s well-tested lionhearted nature ruled out any suggestion him going home early. While podiums seemed unlikely, he resolved to ride for as many points as possible.
Despite continuing rain forecasts, qualifying on Saturday also went ahead on a dry track.
Zaqhwan continued his imperious run through to securing pole, improving his practice time by a hundredth of a second, relegating Yamaha Thailand teammates Ratthapong Wilairot and Apiwath Wongthananon to second and third.
Broc Parkes grabbed fourth spot, having been unable to better his practice time after losing much of the session due to a nasty crash on the spoon curve. The incident also caused plenty of damage to his Yamaha, placing his spot on the starting grid in jeopardy. His rival Azlan placed fifth, three hundredths of a second down.
Asia Superbike Race 1
The Suzuka veteran Broc Parkes claimed victory in his first race of the weekend, but he had to dig deep and use every morsel of his track knowledge to earn it following some mechanical issues.
Broc Parkes was quick out the blocks, quickly overtaking Apiwath Wongthananon and Azlan Shah Kamarusaman and slotting in nicely to second place behind poleman Zaqhwan Zaidi, as Ratthapong Wilairot fell backwards through the field, uncomfortable on a new Dunlop medium compound rolled out for Suzuka.
As pressure on Parkes mounted on lap three, he seemed to find a false neutral under braking the Spoon corner, causing him to run wide and dropping back behind Apiwat and Azlan. Suzuka debutant Bryan Staring overcame a difficult start to the weekend to carve through to forth in the opening scramble. Staring slipped down into fifth shortly after, succumbing to a determined Broc Parkes.
Zaqhwan dropped back following a mistake of his own, yielding first place to Azlan and second and third to Apiwat and Parkes. Broc Parkes moved into second as Azlan’s BMW struggled with his soft compound tyre choice, and then into the lead with a blistering drive around the outside onto the start-finish straight.
Meanwhile, there was an ongoing battle behind the top three for fifth place between Kawasaki Thailand’s Bryan Staring and Yuki Ito.
After momentarily regaining the lead Azlan was swiftly passed by Broc, who rode two fast laps to create an impregnable three second lead.
In the meantime, Zaqhwan recovered from his losses to take second place from Azlan, and wrestle Apiwat off the podium. Bryan Staring claimed fifth place from a threatening Yuki Ito, whilst Ratthapong trailed a further eight seconds back in seventh place in front of the weekend’s best Superbike wildcard, Belgian Bastien Mackels.
Broc further entrenched his lead with this win to 130 points, 17 in front of his nearest rival Azlan, who held on to second place over Zaqhwan.
Asia Superbike Race 2
Despite an eventful afternoon interrupted by torrential rain, wildcard Shinichi Nakatomi of HiTMAN RC-KOUSHIEN Yamaha took a brilliantly judged win on a wet track in the second ASB 1000 race of the weekend.
Sitting on pole position was Zaqhwan Zaidi of Honda Asia Dream Racing, who got off to a solid start, but was soon passed by Yamaha Thailand’s Ratthapong Wilairot, followed by Nakatomi, who astonishingly shot up the standing after starting ninth on the grid, championship leader Broc Parkes, and the injured, but not broken Yuki Ito. Azlan Shah slipped to eighth despite a fifth place start. Yamaha Thailand’s Apiwat who also fell down the places after a weak start.
Ratthapong gripped on to the lead until lap three, when Nakatomi stormed through, spraying water from the damp track as he went. The courageous Yuki Ito claimed second place from Ratthapong, who slipped back to fourth.
At mid distance Broc Parkes sat in fourth place, with a sizeable gap between himself and Ratthapong in third, but progressively wound him in and claimed the third spot. At the front of the race meanwhile, Nakatomi was fleetingly passed by Ito, before regaining his place and heading away through the spray to victory.
With two laps remaining, Broc began closing in on his teammate, the second placed Ito. On the last lap he got a good drive out of Spoon and carried past Ito.
While remaining close, Ito had to settle for second. Ratthapong ultimately finished fourth, five seconds behind the podium finishers, with a similar gap between himself and the fifth place Zaqhwan Zaidi. Azlan found his way past Apiwat and Victor Racing’s Ahmad Yudhistira to claim sixth. Apiwat placed eighth, winning a battle for the place with Victor Racing’s Kazuma Tsuda and Chaiwichit Nisakul and Bryan Staring of Kawasaki Thailand.
Broc Parkes had played his home advantage well, gaining 45 points, and extending his points total to 150, 27 clear of his nearest rival, Azlan who came away with 26.
The final day of the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) official tyre test came to a close yesterday evening at the Chang International Circuit.
25-year-old Yamaha Thailand ace Anupab Sarmoon knocked Kawasaki’s Thitipong Warokorn out of top spot in the penultimate session on Wednesday afternoon with a 1m36.003.
Glenn Allerton improved his pace markedly to end the two-day test fifth quickest on 1m36.713.
The hot Thailand conditions were once again hard to deal with, Allerton finding the temperature and humidity so oppressive and physically draining, that his stints were not as long as otherwise he would have preferred.
“To end up as close as we did to the fastest time was good work by everyone and a credit to them.”
Allerton’s goal for test was to produce a 1m36s lap time around the 4.554km circuit, which he was happy to achieve, but the 37-year-old also suffered a low-side crash at turn eight.
“I managed to pick the bike up and get it back to the pits and the guys got the bike fixed. I was back on track in the same session and we went faster again in that same session, when we managed to produce a 1min37.227 on our thirteenth and final lap of that session.”
Wednesday also saw the team eliminate the braking issues which Allerton suffered on the opening day of testing.
“The team did a fantastic job to dial out the issues we had on Tuesday, which made my job so much easier. This was proven by the stopwatch.”
The primary task for Allerton in making the Thai trip was to familiariase himself with the Chang International Circuit, and secondly, to help test the tyres being evaluated by Dunlop that will be used in the new FIM Asia Road Racing Championship ASB1000 Superbike category that will debut in 2019.
Previously the premier category for the ARRC was 600cc Supersport, but with the increasing importance of road racing throughout Asia, to both Dorna and motorcycle manufacturers, organisers have chosen 2019 as the ripe moment to add a full litre sportsbike class to the series.
The 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will feature four main classes – the ASB1000 (Asia Superbike), SuperSports 600cc, Asia Production 250cc, and the Underbone 150cc.
With the FIM AARC again adding an Australian round to their 2019 calendar, it made the moment ripe for Australian Superbike competitors to investigate joining the burgeoning series.
Of course, it is a massive financial commitment in order to try and compete successfully across both the ASBK and ARRC Championships, as such Next Gen Motorsports are open to potential partnerships which would be keen to join a growing Superbike team.
Glenn Allerton
“It was good fun and I’m really excited for what the future holds for both myself and the team. I was really amazed by the level of competition amongst the ASB1000 riders. They were all super-fast and I can’t wait to be able to race against them in 2019.”
The next time Next Gen Motorsports team will be on track in Asia will be for the official test at the Sepang International Circuit on 5-6 March, ahead of the curtain raiser round, which is scheduled for 8-10 March.
South Australia’s The Bend Motorsport Park will host ARRC round two on the Anzac Day long weekend.
2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship Calendar
Official Test – Sepang – March 5–6
Round 1 – Sepang – March 8–10
Round 2 – The Bend Motorsport Park – April 25–28
Round 3 – Chang International Circuit – May 31–Jun 2
Round 4 – Suzuka – June 28–30
Round 5 – Korea International Circuit – Aug 9–11
Round 6 – Sepang – Sept’ 19–22
Round 7 – Chang International Circuit – Nov 29–Dec 1
FIM ARRC ASB 1000 Test Times
Anupad Sarmoon Yamaha Thailand 1:36.003
Thitipong Warokorn Kawasaki Thailand 1:36.167
Andi Farid Izdihar Honda Asia Dream Racing 1:36.329
Chaiwichit Nisakul Kawasaki Thailand 1:36.460
Glenn Allerton NextGen BMW S 1000RR 1:36.713
Ratthapong Wilairot Yamaha Thailand 1’36.774
Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman ONEXO X TKKR 1:37.060
TJ Alberto Access Plus Ducati Philippines 1’37.246
The ARRC’s Supersport 600 season reached a dramatic climax at Chang International Circuit on the weekend, as Yamaha Thailand’s Ratthapong Wilairot put it all on the line to convert what was a mathematical long shot on Friday, into the 2018 championship by the middle of Sunday afternoon.
Anthony West, under provisional suspension by the sport’s governing body, the FIM, since mid-September, following positive results to an anti-doping test after the WSBK Misano on July 8, was again forced to watch from the sidelines. No explanation for the lengthy delay in resolving the 37-year-old Queenslander’s case has been forthcoming from the FIM, which has left both him and the ARRC in limbo for the past three months.
Despite having missed three of the championship’s six rounds, West took 136 points into the final weekend: a lead of 34 over his nearest challenger, 2017 champion, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman. Azlan’s Manual Tech KYT Kawasaki team-mate, Ahmad Yudhistira, Astra Honda protégé, and Farid Izdihar were tied in third position on 99, former champion Zaqwan Zaidi was next on 94, while Ratthapong had 91.
To help defend West’s championship lead, his Webike Ikazuchi team drafted in Randy Krummenacher, who had won the World Supersport round at Buriram in March. Krummenator’ joined South Africa’s Sheridan Morais, who was having a second run out for the team, following his debut at round five, in Indonesia.
In the end it was Ratthapong who stepped up, with the help of his mentor at Yamaha Thailand, Decha Kraisart, himself a former two-times ARRC Supersport champion. The 25-year-old Thai went to the top of the combined timing screens for Friday’s third free practice session, managing a lap of 1:38.939, almost three tenths quicker than Decha and half a second faster than Yudhistira and Krummenacher.
The Yamaha Thailand pair stayed in formation for qualifying on Saturday morning, as Ratthapong brought his time down to 1:39.903 and Decha managing 1:39.219. Keminth Kubo, for Yamaha Racing ASEAN, completed a solid blue line at the front of the grid, while Yudhistira led row two from Krummenacher and Musashi Boon Siew Honda’s Tomoyoshi Koyama. Zaqwan, Azlan and Keisuke Kurihara made up row three.
Decha Kraisart made the best start in race one to lead the first lap from Ratthapong, Yudhistira and Kubo. Azlan Shah made a good start from the third row and slotted into fifth in turn one only to get forced into the run-off area at turn three as Zaqwan Zaidi low-sided into him. The 2017 champion stayed upright, but was in last place by the time he got himself back between the white lines.
With Decha and Ratthapong formation flying at the front, attention focused on the fight for third between Yudhistira and Kubo. The 19-year-old Thai got through on lap six, only to forfeit the place again to the Kawasaki. As they fought, Koyama began to reel them in.
Ratthapong got past Decha on lap 10. Mindful of championship positions, Decha tucked in behind his team-mate and managed a gap of almost five seconds back to Yudhistira who, after half distance, had the pace to manage his margin over Kubo.
Azlan, meanwhile, charged his way through the field, working his way back up to seventh by lap 14, dragging Andi Farid Izdihar with him, who had started from 15th on the grid.
At the end, Ratthapong and Decha stayed in formation to cross the line 1.3 seconds apart and more than five seconds clear of Yudhistira. Keminth just got the better of Koyama to seal fourth and Keisuke Kurihara was sixth on the road, despite going off track at the last turn. Azlan was seventh from Andi Farid, Yuki Ito and Azroy Hakeen Anuar, who completed the top ten.
Webike IKAZUCHI’s World Supersport stars, Sheridan Morais and Randy Krummenacher finished 11th and 12th.
Ratthapong’s 25 points brought his total to 116, 20 points behind West, while Yudhistira’s third place kept him in title contention with 115. Azlan, on 112, was also within a win of the championship.
Super Sport 600 Race 1 Results
Ratthapong Wilairot (THA) Yamaha 29:56.061
Decha Kraisart (THA) Yamaha +1.370
Ahmad Yudhistira (INA) Kawasaki +5.372
Keminth Kubo (THA) Yamaha +5.919
Tomoyoshi Koyama (JPN) Honda +6.107
Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (MAS) Kawasaki +17.511
Andi Farid Izdihar (INA) Honda +24.252
Sheridan Morais (RSA) Yamaha +24.746
Randy Krummenacher*** (SUI) Yamaha +25.026
Passawit Thitivararak (THA) Honda +25.103
Race Two
It was rinse and repeat at the start of race two, as Decha got another perfect launch from the middle of the front row, initially stretching away from title protagonists, Ratthapong and Yudhistira. A determined Azlan also made his way into contention, slotting into fifth, behind Keminth Kubo.
Yudhistira briefly got ahead of Ratthapong, before the Thai rider reasserted himself to get back in front and open up a gap on the Kawasaki. Yudhistira subsequently fell into the clutches of Kubo, who engaged him while Ratthapong moved closer to Decha.
Azlan, chased by Koyama, closed in on the battle for third, passing Kubo, who fought back, only to low-side out of the contest on lap eight. Meanwhile, Decha gave way to his team-mate at the front to put him five points clear in the live standings and Yudhistira began to consolidate third place. Koyama passed Azlan for fourth.
At the end of lap 12 and with one third of the race distance remaining, the gap between the blue duo at the front and Yudhistira was four seconds, as Koyama moved closer the back of the Indonesian’s Kawasaki. Decha looked as though he had the pace to win, but the more important job of helping Ratthapong become the first Thai to win the title since he himself last claimed it in 2010, prevailed.
Yudhistira finished three seconds back from Decha, just holding off Koyama for third, while Azlan was fifth, a further 3.5 seconds in arrears. Krummenacher was 11th, 13 seconds behind the winner and Morais was another two seconds and two places further behind.
Ratthapong’s win brought his points total to 141, five clear of the sidelined Anthony West. Yudhistira’s third place brought his total to 135 and therefore placed him third in the final standings.
Emotion spilled over as Ratthapong was greeted not only by his team, but by his brother, Ratthapark, and his mother, who held a memorial photo of his late father, Christmas Wilarot. It was the eighth anniversary of the Thai racing legend’s passing, as well as Ratthapong’s 26th birthday.
Super Sport 600 Race 2 Results
Ratthapong Wilairot (THA) Yamaha 30:00.360
Decha Kraisart (THA) Yamaha +0.341
Ahmad Yudhistira (INA) Kawasaki +2.972
Tomoyoshi Koyama (JPN) Honda +3.052
Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (MAS) Kawasaki +6.567
Keisuke Kurihara (JPN) Honda +9.619
Andi Farid Izdihar (INA) Honda +12.211
Yuki Ito (JPN) Yamaha +12.239
Muhammad Zulfahmi Khairudin (MAS) Kawasaki +12.487
Passawit Thitivararak (THA) Honda +12.633
Super Sport 600 Final Standings
Ratthapong Wilairot THA Yamaha 141
Anthony West AUS Yamaha 136
Ahmad Yudhistira INA Kawasaki 131
Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman MAS Kawasaki 123
Andi Farid Izdihar INA Honda 117
Tomoyoshi Koyama JPN Honda 107
Decha Kraisart THA YAMAHA 96
Md Zaqhwan Zaidi MAS Honda 94
Yuki Ito JPN Yamaha 86
Keminth Kubo THA Yamaha 83 …28 Liam Taylor MacDonald NZL Yamaha 2 …29 Scott Nicholson AUS Suzuki 2 …30 Patrick Li AUS Yamaha 0
Asia Production 250cc Wins for Rafid and Fadly and sin bin for Muklada
Both AP 250 races featured up to 15 bikes battling for podium positions and penalties from race direction that changed the on-track results. The fact that Astra Honda’s Rheza Danica Ahrens had already put the intermediate class title out of reach in round five did not prevent two of the most dramatic races of 2018 unfolding at Chang International.
With four riders within close reach of the runner-up spot and another eight capable of winning on any given Sunday, official eyes were glued to the 38 CCTV TV screens in race control.
AP Honda Racing Thailand’s Kritchaporn Kaewsonthi won the qualifying battle decisively a lap of 1:52.339 that was almost fourth tenths faster than Anuparb Sarmoon, with the Manual Tech KYT Ninja 250 of Andy Muhammad Fadly close behind and completing the front row.
In race one, more than half the grid managed to stay within one camera shot for the full ten lap distance. In the early stages Kritchaporn Kaewsonthi, Anuparb Sarmoon, Andy Mohammad Fadly, Awhin Sanjaya and Muklada Sarapuech spent most time at the front until Anuparb seemed to lose his cutting edge and Fadly pulled into the pits with a nasty top-end rattle coming from his Kawasaki’s engine. Rafid Topan Sucipto, who had started from the fourth row, moved up to join the list of potential winners and Rheza Danica also decided to get himself involved.
Muklada, clearly determined to make up for a season marred by race direction penalties and injury, increased an already formidable effort on the last two laps, swapping the first four places with Awhin, Rheza, Krithchaporn and Rafid, who led into Chang’s notorious final turn.
As they braked, Muklada hit Kritchaporn’s rear wheel, causing both bikes to go offline. They made contact again, and this time Kritchporn was unable to recover and crashed. Muklada lurched upright, across the track and clattered into Mario to make it a fourth successive DNF for the young Indonesian.
Race Direction took a dim view of Muklada’s last corner pinball performance, disqualifying her and dishing out a one race suspension that would keep her in the garage for race two. That elevated Anuparb to third, making a three-way fight for second place in the championship, with Anuparb on 142 points, Rafid on 138 and Awhin on 137.
Asia Production 250cc Race 1 Result
Rafid Topan Sucipto (INA) Yamaha 19:03.592
Awhin Sanjaya (INA) Honda +0.223
Anupab Sarmoon (THA) Yamaha +0.734
Rheza Danica Ahrens (INA) Honda +1.050
Piyawat Patoomyos** (THA) Honda +1.211
Kanatat Jaiman (THA) Yamaha +1.416
Galang Hendra Pratama*** (INA) Yamaha +1.536
Peerapong Boonlert (THA) Yamaha +1.896
Ahmad Afif Amran (MAS) Yamaha +19.972
Reynaldo Chrisantho Ratukore (INA) Yamaha +23.392
Race Two
The usual suspects, minus Muklada, put a similar show on for Sunday. As the last lap lottery began Mario, Fadly, Awhin and Anuparb had a small gap back to Rheza, Kritchporn and Peerapong Boonlert, who helped each other to close back in by the time they reached turn five.
As they braked for the final corner, Anuparb was forced onto the grass and lost just enough momentum for Awhin, Fadly and Kritchaporn to beat him to the line. Mario, Peerapong and Rheza were all within six tenths of the winner to complete the top seven positions. Five seconds further back, race one winner, Rafid Topan Sucipto, held off Galang Hendra Pratama and Kanatat Jaiman for eighth place.
Race Direction subsequently intervened to penalise Awhin, Kritchaporn, Peerapong and Mario by dropping them five places each for exceeding track limits. That handed Fadly his first AP250 win and brought Rheza and Anuparb up to second and third places.
Rheza’s total points haul for the year increased to 226 and Anuparb held onto second place with 158 points from Rafid, who finished with 151.
Asia Production 250cc Race 2 Result
Andy Muhammad Fadly (INA) Kawasaki 19:01.944
Rheza Danica Ahrens (INA) Honda +0.539
Anupab Sarmoon (THA) Yamaha +0.105
Rafid Topan Sucipto (INA) Yamaha +5.581
Galang Hendra Pratama*** (INA) Yamaha +5.780
Awhin Sanjaya (INA) Honda — 10 laps —
Kanatat Jaiman (THA) Yamaha +5.793
Kritchaporn Kaewsonthi (THA) Honda +0.087
Piyawat Patoomyos** (THA) Honda +6.220
Mario Suryo Aji (INA) Honda +0.168
Asia Production 250cc Standings
Rheza Danica Ahren INA Astra Honda 226
Anupab Sarmoon THA YAMAHA 158
Rafid Topan Sucipto INA Yamaha 151
Awhin Sanjaya INA Honda 147
Andy Muhammad Fadly INA Kawasaki 130
Mario Suryo Aji INA Honda 128
Muklada Sarapuech THA Honda 86
Peerapong Boonlert THA Yamaha 82
Reynaldo Chrisantho Ratukore***INA Yamaha 64
Anggi Setiawan INA Yamaha 64
Underbone 150cc Wawan and Gupita win and Helmi takes the title
With 27 entries, the mono class served up two of the best races of the season, despite SCK Rapido Hi Rev Honda’s Helmi Azman beginning the final round needing just one eighth place finish to seal 2018 title.
Indonesian wildcard, Wawan Wello, wowed underbone fans again, in just his second ARRC outing and his first trip to Buriram. After finding his way round in the first Friday session, he shot to the top of the timing screens in FP2 and recorded the quickest qualifying time – the only sub-two minute lap of the weekend – at the end of the afternoon to lead the fastest fifteen into Saturday’s Superpole shootout. Helmi had an engine problem in qualifying and found himself dropped 16 places to 19th when his team pushed his bike into the pit box during the session.
Helmi’s Australian team-mate, Travis Hall, got through to superpole by clocking 2:03.545, putting himself into the thick of a field of race winners and former champions and subsequently improved by four places from qualifying to start tenth.
In race one, attention inevitably focused on Helmi, who treated his challenge as a normal day’s work. Wawan and Affendi Rosli led the swarm into turn one, as Helmi sliced his way through to the top ten. Ahmad Fazli Sham showed well throughout the race, while two times former champion, Gupita Kresna, threatened and Reza Fahlevi, another Indonesian wildcard, had an impressive outing. Izzat Zaidi’s long-shot challenge for the championship didn’t materialise and he wasn’t able to get close to the front of 15-bike leading group.
As the last lap bare knuckle fight ensued, Wawan got clear to take the win from Helmi, Affendi Fazli Sham, Gupita and Reza, who completed the first six. With Izzat finishing 14th, Helmi’s title winning margin stood at 60 points. Travis finished 12th, just two seconds behind the race winner.
Wawan out-dragged the rest of the field into turn one again on Sunday and briefly opened a gap until the chasing peloton sucked him back in on the long straight between turns three and four. Helmi Azman, along with Syahrul Amin, Ahmad Fazli Sham, Peerapong Luiboonpeng and Akid Aziz hounded the Indonesian upstart, forcing him back into the middle of the leading group by lap three.
Clearly believing in his right to lead the race, Wawan had charged back to the front one lap later, as his SND team-mates, Gupita and Syahrul, along with Helmi, Akid and Fazli Sham stayed close, trying to work out a way past the wild card.
As is often the case at the Thai circuit, the last corner and race direction played a major role in the finishing order. After leading much of the final lap, Wawan got caught in a melee as the leaders fanned out under braking for turn 12.
A total of seven bikes, including Travis Hall’s, went down and Syahrul scrambled through to the chequered flag first, one tenth ahead of Gupita who was chased across the line by Aiman Azman and Fazli Sham. After Race Direction had handed out a sheaf of five place drop penalties for exceeding track limits, Gupita was elevated to first position from Aiman, McKinley Kyle Paz, Helmi and Wawan.
Underbone 150cc Race 2 Results
Gupita Kresna (INA) Yamaha 16:22.140
Md. Aiman Azman (MAS) Honda +0.972
McKinley Kyle Paz*** (PHI) Yamaha +1.018
Md Helmi Azman (MAS) Honda +1.347
Wawan Wello** (INA) Yamaha +1.398
Syahrul Amin (INA) Yamaha — 8 laps —
Md Amirul Ariff Musa (MAS) Honda +1.422
Ahmad Fazli Sham (MAS) Yamaha +0.473
Reza Fahlevi** (INA) Yamaha +1.485
Md Izzat Zaidi (MAS) Yamaha +2.794 …DNF. Travis Hall
Underbone 150cc Standings
Md Helmi Azman MAS Honda 197
Md Izzat Zaidi MAS Yamaha 130
Ahmad Fazli Sham MAS Yamaha 117
Gupita Kresna Wardhana INA Yamaha Yamaha 110
Md Akid Aziz MAS UMA Yamaha 95
Md Amirul Ariff Musa MAS Honda 87
Md Affendi Rosli MAS Yamaha 84
Wahyu Aji Trilaksana INA Yamaha 83
Syahrul Amin INA Yamaha 83
Md Haziq Md Fairues MAS Yamaha 77 …14. Travis Hall AUS Honda 50
Local riders were the pace setters on the first day of the ARRC Official Tyre Tests as eight riders set about laying down some rubber in preparation for the 2019 launch of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship ASB1000 class (Superbike).
Anupab Sarmoon holds the Superstock 1000 lap record at the 4.5km Chang International Circuit – a time of 1’35.3 – which was also the target time set by Dunlop for the first day of tests.
The weather had been ideal for the test and most of the riders, especially those from teams with existing race data at the Chang International Circuit, had been able to get up to pace quickly. It came as no surprise that the Thai riders were the quickest on the first day.
Anupab, astride the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team’s R1, was consistently the fastest rider for most of the day but Thitipong Warokorn knocked Anupab out of top spot with a 1m36.167 in the final practice session.
Thitipong’s Kawasaki team-mate, Chaiwichit Nisakul, was third quickest on 1’36.460s.
Young Indonesian rider Andi Farid Izdihar, filling in for an injured Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi, gave good account for himself. With a bike that is fresh out of the box, Andi had to complete the hard work of running in the engine before he could put in any laptimes. Regardless, Andi was able to get the Honda Asia Dream Racing bike home in fourth fastest with 1’36.703s.
Seasoned Malaysian campaigner Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman clocked in for his first day of work with his new team, Onexox TKKR Racing. Now racing on a BMW, Azlan was the fifth quickest rider of the day with 1’37.060s.
Newly crowned SuperSports 600cc rider Ratthapong Wilairot was sixth fastest (1’37.498s), ahead of Australia’s Glenn Allerton on the NextGen Motorsports BMW.
The Victorian based Superbike team ended the day in seventh place on the overall combined times with a 1min37.543, which Allerton posted in the second of the four sessions. The three-time Aussie Superbike Champion completed 68-laps of the 4.554km Buriram circuit.
Glenn Allerton
“I feel as if we should have been able to do 36’s today but it’s hard to do fast lap times simply because of the hot conditions.”
The opening day primarily centred around testing of the Dunlop control tyres while Allerton and the team were frustrated by a few small braking issues, which they hope to iron out ahead tomorrow’s final day of testing.
“The heavy braking areas took their toll and caused us some dramas today. The team and I will sit down tonight and work on our braking package, and also on acceleration out of the slower corners.”
Overall, the 37-year-old New South Welshman was happy with how his day went, which marked his first ever time riding around the Chang International Circuit.
“It’s a very wide and open flowing track, it was good to be able to get our bearings on which way the track went and of course get our heads around the Dunlop tyres. These Dunlops are a different spec’ to what we use back in Australia, so it was always going to be a learning day. With a day under our belt, we can now start working on bike set-up tomorrow and hopefully push for faster lap times.”
Next Gen Motorsports Team Manager Wayne Hepburn explained that today has been a positive day for both Allerton and the team.
Wayne Hepburn
“As a whole, I’m happy and the team are also very happy. Our testing program today saw us testing a bunch Dunlop tyres, which we got through. We had five different rears and three different front tyres we had to go through. At the completion of tyres, Glenn seemed to like the softer compound tyres, so we then focused on them and trying to make the tyres last a bit longer.”
With tyre testing done and dusted for the day, Hepburn also explained that tomorrow will see Allerton and the team trying to adapt the BMW S 1000RR to the conditions, now that Allerton knows which tyres works for him best.
“As we just focused on tyres today, we now have to work on the bike set-up for tomorrow. We have a lot of work to do to be competitive with the local riders. It’s great to see that the field is so competitive and the local riders are keeping us honest. We are now looking forward to tomorrow, where we know we will improve a lot. Overall however, I’m very happy with how Glenn rode and of course how the team worked today. It’s a huge credit to them and I can’t wait to see how we will go tomorrow.”
Access Plus Ducati Philippines’ TJ Alberto rounded out the day’s practice on 1’37.749s as the eighth and final rider in the ASB1000 field.
The final day of testing gets underway tomorrow at 0940 GMT +7. In total, there will be three one-hour sessions, before finishing with a forty-minute session in the later part of the afternoon.
ASB 1000 Test Day One Times
Thitipong Warokorn Kawasaki Thailand 1:36.167
Anupad Sarmoon Yamaha Thailand 1:36.391
Chaiwichit Nisakul Kawasaki Thailand 1:36.460
Andi Farid Izdihar Honda Asia Dream Racing 1:36.703
Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman ONEXO X TKKR 1:37.060
Ratthapong Wilairot Yamaha Thailand 1’37.498
Glenn Allerton NextGen BMW S 1000RR 1:37.543
TJ Alberto Access Plus Ducati Philippines 1’37.749