A mere 0.031s separated the two fastest riders in the AP250 class as Round 3 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 got underway at Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, with Indonesia’s Candra H of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA narrowly emerging on top of combined practice session.
Candra set the benchmark early in Practice 1 with a scorching lap of 2’07.639s, a time that ultimately remained unbeaten throughout the day. However, his grip on the top spot was far from comfortable as local challenger Riichi Takahira mounted a relentless attack in front of his home fans.
Takahira responded in Practice 2 with a blistering 2’07.670s, falling just 0.031s short of displacing Candra from the summit. The Tianyu Asia Racing MFZ rider’s performance immediately ignited anticipation for what could become one of the defining rivalries of the Motegi weekend.
The opening session belonged largely to the Indonesian contingent. Alongside Candra, Fahmi Basam of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM, and Muhammad Fadhil Musyavi of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA secured places inside the top four, demonstrating the strength of Indonesian riders around the iconic Japanese venue. Fahmi also recorded one of the day’s standout top speeds at 192.513kph, the highest among the Practice 1 frontrunners.
Yet as the sessions unfolded, the chasing pack began to close in. Irdan Ardiansyah delivered a strong performance for ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM to claim third overall with a lap of 2’08.200s, while experienced Japanese rider Hiroki Ono ensured local representation remained strong in fourth overall for HONDA RACING VIETNAM.
The final practice session saw another shift in momentum. Fadhil topped Practice 3 ahead of Fahmi and fellow Japanese contender Ryuji Yokoe of TEAM TECH2 & SANWA RACING TEAM, proving that the battle for supremacy remains wide open despite Candra’s position atop the combined standings.
What makes the AP250 field particularly intriguing heading into qualifying is the sheer depth of contenders. The combined top five were covered by less than eight-tenths of a second, while multiple riders took turns leading individual sessions throughout the day. Thailand’s Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM, Ryuji, Musyavi and Fahmi all demonstrated race-winning pace at various points, suggesting that no single rider has yet established complete control.
Candra stated, “Alhamdulillah, I was able to finish as the fastest rider today. This result is the reward for the hard work and dedication of both myself and my mechanics. We made several adjustments to the suspension and fine-tuned the engine setup, and thankfully everything worked very well. The bike felt great, and I was able to achieve a strong lap time. I am feeling confident and positive heading into Qualifying and the race tomorrow. Hopefully, I can continue this momentum and give my very best performance. Amin.”
TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE
1. CANDRA H – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (2’07.639s)
2. RIICHI TAKAHIRA – TIANYU Asia Racing MFZ (2’07.670s)
3. IRDAN ARDIANSYAH – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (2’08.200s)
4. HIROKI ONO – HONDA RACING VIETNAM (2’08.314s)
5. FAHMI BASAM – YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM (2’08.374s)