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The Thai riders have fired the opening salvo as the final round of the 2016 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship got underway at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand this weekend. Yamaha Racing Thailand’s Decha Kraisart was the fastest SuperSports 600cc rider of the day, setting a benchmark of 01’39.586s during the second free practice session. Decha can expect to face stiff competition from the main title contenders. Zaqhwan Zaidi posted second fastest with 01’39.716s followed by wildcard entry Chalermpol Polamai in third with 01’39.830s. Current championship leader Tomoyoshi Koyama was fourth fastest with 01’39.889s while Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman netted the fifth fastest time when he stopped the clock at 01’39.898s. The lap record of 01’39.3s, notched in under the name of Yuki Takahashi, remains unbroken as the lap record holder himself paced sixth fastest in the first day of practice with 01’40.076s. “Today was just the start. With so many top riders on the grid this weekend, I’m sure the level of competition will skyrocket by tomorrow,” said the provisional pole sitter Decha, who is also 2007 and 2010 SuperSports 600cc champion. “We had a team practice here two weeks ago, but the weather conditions were very different then. I can’t say that I am satisfied just yet because my target for the first day of practice was to break the 600cc lap record. Ideally, my target lap time is inside 01’38s. If I can achieve that, I am confident I can win the race.” Further down the order, Decha’s compatriots are clearly at ease on their home track. Most of the Thai riders made it into the top-10 with Thitipong Warokorn, Anucha Nakcharoensri and Rattaphong Wilairot crowding in at seventh, eighth and ninth fastest respectively. Malaysian wildcard rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin ended the first day of practice in 10th fastest, 0.7 seconds off Decha’s best pace. Ahmad Yudhistira was the best performing Indonesian rider, clocking 01’40.418s to land in 11th spot. The previous round’s double winner, Anthony West, posted the 12th fastest time of 01’40.780s.

It may be the final leg of the 2016 season in the Asia Road Racing Championship, but the SuperSports 600cc provisional entry list looks to be promising a cracker of a race on December 3 and 4. At the top of the agenda, is of course, the 4-way fight for the SuperSports 600cc title. Tomoyoshi Koyama, Zaqhwan Zaidi, Yuki Takahashi and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman are still scrabbling for the ultimate Asian motorcycling prize. Apart from Koyama, the other three protagonists have all won the titles in previous years. Takahashi is the defending champion while Zaqhwan took the honours in 2014, Azlan in 2013. Statistically, Takahashi has the best track record at the Chang International Circuit. In 2015, the MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda rider was unbeatable on this battlefield – with four wins to his name. But earlier this year, both Koyama and Zaqhwan have taken one win each during the second round. But title fight aside, a number of interesting wildcards and replacement entries will be adding spice to an already exciting race. Current WSS riders Zulfahmi Khairuddin and Hikari Okubo will be making an appearance. The Malaysian rider will wildcard as Azlan’s team mate for team BikeART Racing Kawasaki. Okubo, the first Asia Dream Cup Champion in 2012, will be replacement rider for T.Pro Yuzy Honda NTS WoW, taking the place of Sarath Kumar who was injured during the Indian round. Yamaha Thailand has brought in 2009 champion Chalermpol Polamai who had just wrapped up the All Japan Championship as the vice-champion in the JRR ST600 class. He will be racing alongside long-time team mate Decha Kraisart and Anucha Nakcharoensri. AP Honda Racing Thailand has also decided to add a wildcard with Japanese ace Tatsuya Yamaguchi. Andhi Farid Izdihar will be filling in for Gerry Salim who was injured in a national championship prior to the ARRC finale.

Zulfahmi Khairuddin will be participating as a wildcard entry in the final round of the 2016 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. The Malaysian World SuperSports (WSS) rider will be racing on board the Kawasaki ZX-6R as part of team BikeART Racing Kawasaki. This will make him team mates with Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman for the weekend at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand. “I am looking forward to pitting my skills against the best riders in Asia. For me, this is a great opportunity to hone my race craft as part of the off-season preparations for the 2017 season. Racing against the riders in the ARRC will certainly keep me on my toes,” said Zulfahmi. This will be the Zulfahmi’s ARRC debut. Unlike most of his peers, Zulfahmi was one of the lucky few who were able to jump straight from the Malaysian Cub Prix to the MotoGP. “The team has set no targets for me. As a wildcard, I think they view this as an opportunity to test the limits of their machine without dealing with the pressure of winning the Asian title. For me, I just hope to hold my own against the front group,” he added. credit photo : WSBK

Team Musashi Boon Siew Honda’s Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi will need to win big this weekend during the Asia Road Racing Championship finale at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand. Currently trailing the SuperSports 600cc championship leader Tomoyoshi Koyama by seven points, Zaqhwan will need to elevate his game to an even higher level. “There’s no way around it. To confirm the title, I must win both races (Race 1 and Race 2). There is literally no room for mistakes because Koyama has also consistently delivered strong performances in Buriram,” said the MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda rider who also won the SuperSports 600cc crown in 2014. Zaqhwan is one of four riders still in contention for the top honours in the premiere class. Tomoyoshi Koyama leads by 150 points followed by Zaqhwan with 143 points. Defending champion Yuki Takahashi is currently third with 128 points while Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman who is fourth with 116 points still holds an outside chance of overturning the odds. “I will have to win this one on my own. Back in 2014, I had help from Mohd Zamri Baba. This time, my own team mate (Yuki Takahashi) is also a title contender. We will each have to win on our own merits because team orders will not be forthcoming,” said Zaqhwan. The 21-year-old Malaysian rider will also have to contend with a crowded SuperSports 600cc grid due to a high number of strong wildcard entries. “In addition to the season regulars, the SuperSports 600cc class will see wildcard performances from riders like Hikari Okubo (2012 Asia Dream Cup Champion and current WSS rider), Zulfahmi Khairuddin (WSS), Chalermpol Polamai (All Japan Champion), as well as Tatsuya Yamaguchi (former Moto2 rider). If I were a fan of Asian motorcycle racing, I will be glued in front of my television this weekend. Where else would you see so many strong Asian riders competing together on a single track? It would be fun for the fans; but less fun for us riders,” Zaqhwan added in jest.

Team Akeno Speed WJR Racing had plenty to celebrate at the Buddh International Circuit when their high profile international rider Anthony West ended his ARRC winning drought in spectacular style. The Australian rider extended his domination at the Formula 1 circuit with a second convincing win in Race 2 of the SuperSports 600cc class. Kicking off the race from pole position, West’s sole competitor in the 16-lap race was Yamaha Thailand Racing’s Decha Kraisart. The 2007 and 2010 SuperSports 600cc champion was the only one able to match West pace-for-pace for at least two thirds of the race. By Lap 13, West was able to carve out a 1-second gap ahead of the field and he rode unchallenged to his second ARRC victory with a time of 31’06.383s. Decha crossed the line 3.199s behind to take second place. Meanwhile, BikeART Kawasaki Racing’s Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman rode a defensive race to complete his comeback in third place. “Race 2 was a whole different race. It was a lot tougher because the other teams had obviously caught up with us and improved their setup. The race was also longer today but I’m glad I was able to still hang on in the front to win,” said West. West’s domination at the Buddh International Circuit has thrown a spoke into the wheels of the championship table. As the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship heads to its finale at the Buriram International Circuit this December, four riders are now in contention for the SuperSports 600cc title. Koyama leads the pack with 150 points while Zaqhwan Zaidi is only seven points behind in second place. Defending champion Yuki Takahashi is third with 128 points and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman bettered his ranking to fourth overall with 116 points. Indonesian rider Dimas Ekky Pratama and Anthony West, courtesy of his double win, are tied in fifth with 99 points apiece. In the team standings, the unexpected results from Buddh had also dashed team MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda’s hopes of winning the Team Award title with a round to spare. The Malaysian outfit still leads with 186 points but will have to be wary of team T.Pro Yuzy Honda NTS with Wow who are closing in with 150 points.