The SS600 category delivered a captivating battle at Mobility Resort Motegi as Japan’s wildcard rider, Hikari Okubo of SANWA RACING TEAM produced a perfectly executed charge to claim a memorable home victory in Race 1 of Round 3 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026.
Okubo overcame pole-sitter Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING after an intense duel that lasted almost the entire race distance, crossing the finish line in 22’51.414s to secure victory on home soil.
Kasma made a flawless launch from pole position and immediately asserted control of the race. The Malaysian quickly established himself at the front ahead of Hikari, while Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND and Apiwath Wongthananon of Nitro Ryota Racing battled closely behind.
By Lap 2, Kasma had already laid down a marker with a fastest lap of 1’58.909s before lowering the benchmark further on Lap 4 with a blistering 1’53.549s. Despite Kasma’s relentless pace, Hikari refused to let the race leader escape, responding with a 1’53.943s effort on Lap 3 to remain firmly in contention.
The battle evolved into a fascinating two-rider contest. Kasma and Hikari steadily pulled away from the chasing pack, building a gap of more than three seconds over the riders fighting for the final podium position. Behind them, Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM, Apiwath and Herjun Atna Firdaus of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM became embroiled in the battle for third position.
After spending much of the race studying Kasma’s lines and preserving his tyres, Hikari began applying relentless pressure. On Lap 10, the Hikari finally found his opportunity, making a decisive move to take the lead before immediately increasing his pace.
While the fight for victory intensified, Herjun was making headlines of his own. Herjun charged through the field and set the fastest lap of the race with a stunning 1’53.282s on Lap 8. His late-race duel with Anupab developed into one of the highlights of the race as both riders exchanged positions in a tense battle for the final podium place.
On the final lap saw Kasma launched one last attack. The Malaysian managed to edge ahead of Hikari, but he carried too much speed into the downhill corner and ran wide, allowed the Japanese rider to fight back immediately. Hikari reclaimed the lead and held firm through the final corners to secure a hard-earned victory in front of the home crowd.
Kasma crossed the line in second place at 22’53.758s, while Herjun completed the podium in 22’56.658s, finishing just 0.249s ahead of Anupab following their intense battle.
Hikari said: “It was a very difficult race because Kasma was incredibly fast and consistent throughout. I knew from the beginning that if I wanted to win, I had to be patient and manage my tyres carefully. He had a very strong bike and for most of the race I felt he had a small advantage, so I focused on staying close and waiting for the right opportunity. Honestly, this result means a lot to me because I don’t normally ride this bike. Since arriving at the circuit, the team and I have been working tirelessly to improve the setup and understand how to get the best performance from it. Every session we made small improvements, and during the race I kept thinking about how to maximize what we had. When I finally got in front, I pushed as hard as I could. I knew Kasma would try to attack again, especially on the final lap after the back straight. He made his move, but I trusted my braking and was able to regain the position. To win here in Japan, in front of my home fans, is a very special feeling. I want to thank my team, all the staff and our sponsors for their incredible support. Without their hard work, this result would not have been possible. For tomorrow, we still need to study the data because there are areas where we can improve. This championship is very competitive and everyone gets faster every session. I don’t know if I can win again in Race 2, but I will give everything I have and do my absolute best.”
TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1
1. HIKARI OKUBO – SANWA RACING TEAM (22’51.414s)
2. KASMA DANIEL KASMAYUDIN – HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING (22’53.758s)
3. HERJUN ATNA FIRDAUS – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (22’56.658s)
4. ANUPAB SARMOON – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (22’56.907s)
5. THANAT LAOONGPLIO – HONDA RACING THAILAND (22’57.618s)