The Supersports 600cc category came to an exhilarating conclusion at Race 2 of the season finale of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. On his home turf, Apiwath Wongthananon of the YAMAHA TEKHNE Racing Team ASIA sealed the championship title in dramatic fashion with a fierce victory at Chang International Circuit, Buriram, Thailand.
The race got off to an intense start, with Apiwath quickly asserting himself at the front. Following closely behind were his fierce competitors, Thanat Laoongplio and Kiattisak Singhapong of Honda Racing Thailand, both of whom were determined to challenge his lead.
Having a deep understanding of Apiwath’s strength at the Chang International Circuit, the Honda riders, including Muhammad Helmi Azman of IDEMITSU Boon Siew Honda Racing Team, Thanat, Kiattisak, Azroy Hakeem Anuar of IDEMITSU Boon Siew Honda Racing Team, and Mohammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM, surrounded Apiwath, attempting to prevent him from fulfilling his championship aspirations. Meanwhile, Apiwath’s teammate, McKinley Kyle Paz, was trying to make his way into the front group to join the battle.
However, the race took a devastating turn on Lap 11, when one of the main championship contenders, Adenanta, crashed out. His unfortunate exit not only pushed him out of the top 3 in the race podium, but also ended his bid for the title, leaving Apiwath with a clearer path to the crown.
Throughout the race, the battle for the lead was dynamic, with Yamaha and Honda riders exchanging positions multiple times. Despite the relentless pressure from the Honda riders, Apiwath proved his dominance, pulling away in the final laps and speeding past the finish line with a time of 20’00:313s. This victory marked his second double win at Chang International Circuit and officially confirmed him as the 2024 Supersports 600cc Champion.
Completing the podium were his fellow Thai riders, Honda Racing Thailand’s Thanat and Kiattisak, who finished in second and third place at 20’00:431s and 20’00:569s, respectively.
A visibly emotional Apiwath reflected on his journey: “There are no words to express how I feel. This victory is not just for me but for everyone who has been by my side throughout this journey. From my team, my family, to all the supporters who have been with me every step of the way. They’ve motivated me to push harder in every race. Finally, I get to claim the championship, it’s unbelievable! I’m beyond grateful to my team, my family, and to all the fans who believed in me.”
TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2
- Apiwath Wongthananon – YAMAHA TEKHNE Racing Team ASIA (20:00.313s)
- Thanat Laoongplio – Honda Racing Thailand (20:00.431s)
- Kiattisak Singhapong – Honda Racing Thailand (20:00.569s)
- Muhammad Helmi Azman – IDEMITSU Boon Siew Honda Racing Team (20:00.763s)
- McKinley Kyle Paz – YAMAHA TEKHNE Racing Team ASIA (20:01.061s)
TOP 5 OVERALL STANDING
- Apiwath Wongthananon – YAMAHA TEKHNE Racing Team ASIA (205 points)
- Mohammad Adenanta Putra – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (161 points)
- Azroy Hakeem Anuar – IDEMITSU Boon Siew Honda Racing Team (145 points)
- Muhammad Helmi Azman – IDEMITSU Boon Siew Honda Racing Team (142 points)
- Kiattisak Singhapong – Honda Racing Thailand (125 points)
TOP 5 TEAM OVERALL STANDINGS
- YAMAHA TEKHNE Racing Team ASIA (300 points)
- IDEMITSU Boon Siew Honda Racing Team (287 points)
- ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (246 points)
- Honda Racing Thailand (207 points)
- YAMAHA Racing Indonesia (147 points)