The Asia Superbike 1000cc will once again roar its way into Chang International Circuit this weekend at the season opener of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. The race to victory is defined only by one proposition – being a champion and with an entry list of highly driven and competitive riders, Season 2025 is bound to get feisty.
The fast and fury of the Asia Superbike 1000cc ended last season with Yuki Kunii of SDG Team HARC-PRO Honda Ph. marking a blistering speed towards stardom on the Asian front. With him out of the equation this season, it’s an open goal for the likes of Andi Farid of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM and Hafizh Syahrin of JDT RACING TEAM who have both showcased equal-level sportsmanship throughout the season. What may possibly add on to the strain though is the competitive strike by Nakarin Atiratphuvapat who has posed indefinite threats since signing his entry into the big boys’ league.
According to Andi, 1st runner of Season 2024, “Personally, I think all riders have what it takes to be competing at this level but what really matters would be personal goals and growth. Staying focused on developing my technical abilities and fine-tuning my tactics is the drive that keeps me motivated. The past experiences are crucial to help me evaluate my capacities and I will move from there. I am happy to be back with ASTRA HONDA and I can’t wait to work with them closely in marking the benchmark and creating milestones collectively. We have started training and are quite amped up for the coming season so it’s just a matter of time right now to get the ball rolling.”
Adding on to the pressure is the All Japan’s 600cc race category’s 2024 Champion, Keito Abe who will be replacing Yuki Kunii in living up to the team’s aspirations. The Japanese may first need to come around facing the likes of other Honda riders, Zaqhwan Zaidi and his new teammate, Azroy Hakeem Anuar of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA who will be graduating from SS600. The stakes are high nevertheless for all riders, considering the amalgamation of different performing standards, level and machine capacities. Will Keito fit into the scene and rise above the ordinary?
Commenting on his entry, Keito Abe said, “I have never ridden aboard a Honda CBR1000RR R before and as such, the experience would be entirely brand new. Of course, the goal is to quickly find my footing and manage my technical abilities to compliment the high-powered engine performance. I personally am motivated and feel that I can fight competitively in ASB1000. Yuki Kunii made double-win in the race category for one of the rounds with the experiences he has gained from the Japanese championship. So, I believe that I have some valid experience that would help me with my momentum in the race category. Being with a new team is an exciting phase for me. I feel positive vibes with the team and they support me well. We also have a lot of data with is useful for me to move forward. Overall, I will do my best for sure and try to grow not only on a professional level but also on a personal one.”
Azroy on the other hand said, “This season will surely be a tough one but no excuses. I have to learn as quickly as I can. My goal is to deliver the best results for my team. One major challenge would be the riding styles and techniques. But on the bright side, I have an excellent teammate with extensive knowledge and experience to work with and learn from. So, that’s a plus for me although at the end of the day, its my ability to adapt and the drive to succeed that matters most. While it may seem a little far-fetched, I would definitely want to make a mark on the podium or at the least, be at the top five positions, consistently.”