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FIM ASIA ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIPOFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR 2025

The FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) is pleased to announce the ARRC Championship Calendar for Season 2025. The season will commence in the month of April and will see through a 6-round race series throughout the year. Commenting on the championship, Promotions Director of Two Wheels Motor Racing (TWMR), Ron Hogg said, “Season 2024 was yet another year of achievements for us especially with the extended outreach and recognition gained not just in Asia but globally. It was a year of trying new things, learning and advancing the way we operate in a bid to enrich our motorsport community with the right exposure and enhanced standards. I thank all our partners, sponsors, teams and riders for their endless support in realising the goals of ARRC. “Kudos” to all those who have showcased their outstanding strengths in creating milestones. FIM Asia Road Racing Championship Season 2024 would not have been possible without you!” “Moving forward, we are all about aligning our goals in parallel with the global motorsport standards and sustainable efforts. Motorsports is no longer just a sport but an industry game-changer that spurs creativity and growth in innovation and technology, the much-needed elements that challenges the growth and capacities of man versus machine. With ARRC, that is what we wish for our community – a test that would push our teams and riders beyond record-breaking achievements. Season 2025 is looking good at the moment with a 6-round format lined-up for the year. Round 5 however is still under discussion and will be notified in due course. In terms of engagement, various initiatives are already in the pipeline and will be realised accordingly to ensure progressive visibility and recognition not only within the Asian front but globally. All in all, we are confident that Season 2025 will be an exciting opportunity for all!” Stephan Carapiet, President of FIM Asia said, “First and foremost, thank you and Congratulations to our ARRC community for a well-performed Season 2024. Our collective efforts and shared goals have definitely contributed to positive insights and this is exactly what we hope for in the coming season. At ARRC, we strive to provide an environment that would accelerate not just success for our teams and riders but make possible a well-rounded experience that would take them closer to their career aspirations and mission.” “We have planned out six rounds once again for the coming season and of course, we hope to see renewed motivation and strength among our members as well as an enhanced level of competence among our teams and riders. With the championship, we will continue our efforts in expanding reach and cultivating seeds of interest among the younger audience in motorsports, inspire and unleash potential talents within Asia while continuously fuelling the racing spirit of our existing riders. With that, we announce the ARRC Championship Calendar for Season 2025.

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HAFIZH, THE LONE DUCATI CONTENDER

Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah is gearing up for a thrilling showdown in the final round of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Chang International Circuit Buriram, Thailand. The JDT RACING TEAM rider has navigated a challenging season, and with just two races remaining, he finds himself in a gripping battle for the ASB1000 title. Currently holding third place with 137 points, Hafizh is a mere five points shy of the championship leader, Yuki Kunii of SDG Team HARC-PRO Honda Ph., and only three points behind Andi Farid Izdihar of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo. The competition is fierce, with both Yuki and Andi showcasing exceptional skills throughout the season. In fourth place, Nakarin Atiraphuvapat of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo has 128 points and has an upper hand coming into the final round, having logged more laps at the Chang International Circuit Buriram than his rivals. Despite the odds stacked against him, Hafizh remains resolute. He understands that the path to the championship is fraught with challenges, especially after a difficult start at the Chang International Circuit Buriram, where he left without scoring any points in Race 1. “I hope we don’t have any problems like Round 1; Race 1 was a nightmare for us. We did not score any points. I think if we had scored more points in Round 1, maybe we would be more calm now,” he reflected, acknowledging the impact of that setback on his mental state. Yet, Hafizh’s determination shines through as he prepares for the final showdown. “But anyway, this is our first year with a new team. I know that I have experience, but everything is new. We need to put all of that together to prepare for the final round,” he stated, highlighting the importance of teamwork and preparation. As the only Ducati rider fighting at the top for the title in the ASB1000 category, Hafizh is keenly aware of the challenges posed by the predominantly Honda lineup. “We will work hard even though we are the only Ducati rider in the grid. We know that Buriram is a Honda track, and there are many Honda riders competing in the ASB1000 category. But we will see. This is a race where anything can happen; we will focus on doing our best,” he asserted, ready to tackle the races head-on.

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DOUBLE WIN CHECKED, YUKI EYES DOUBLE CHAMPIONSHIP

First, a remarkable comeback. After a DNS (Did Not Start) in Race 1, Yuki Kunii triumphed in Race 2 during Round 3 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Then, he claimed a double win later in Round 5 of the ARRC, followed by celebrating the ST1000 overall champion title at the All Japan Road Race Championship! This year has showcased impressive growth from Yuki Kunii of the SDG Team HARC-PRO Honda Philippines. What else is there to pursue? We can only think of one goal: to claim the ASB1000 overall champion title in the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship! Yuki is aiming for something that seems almost impossible—well, not when you’ve given your best. The double champion title is what Yuki is hunting for this year! Yuki expressed his determination, saying, “Yes, of course I want to win again! I will definitely give it my all in the races. However, I have to be honest—there are some incredibly strong riders here in Buriram. It’s tough to confidently say, ‘I will win’ you know? Haha! But I will stay focused on my performance and do my best to compete at the highest level.” “Winning the championship title in the All Japan Road Race Championship has been such a tremendous boost to my confidence, and I can’t describe how excited I am at the prospect of becoming a champion again! The thrill of chasing another title really motivates me to push my limits and strive for greatness!” Yuki said, brimming with excitement. Reflecting on his journey from Round 1 to the penultimate round, Yuki noted, “If I compare where I started at the beginning of the season to where I am now, I can see how much I’ve grown. I’ve gained valuable experience and significantly improved my skills. I’m eager to see how I can perform and hopefully secure a spot in the top three.” “I believe that making history is a rare achievement, and I’m determined to become a double champion. It’s a goal I’m setting for myself, and I will put in the hard work and dedication necessary to reach it.” Yuki is well aware that there is no easy path to achieving this big dream. But daring to dream big means you have to go all in for it. “I’m particularly aware that riders like Hafizh, Andi, and Nakarin will be very strong competitors. Since we’re all fighting for the championship, I know they’ll be pushing themselves to the limit. It’s going to be an intense battle, and I’m ready to rise to the challenge!”

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ASB1000 TITLE CHASE WIDE OPEN AS YUKI KUNII SNARES THE DOUBLE

Just when the ASB1000 title chase seemed all but sewn up by Andi Farid Izdihar of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo, Yuki brought a twist in the tale with a double win at Round 5 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship today. After winning Race 1 on Saturday, the SDG Team HARC-PRO Honda Ph. rider ended a successful outing at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia with another commanding victory clocked at 25’26:318s. Yuki’s dominance in the ASB1000 race began in lap 3 when he edged past Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo and pole sitter, Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of JDT RACING TEAM. The Japanese rider wasted no time pulling a lead ahead of the chasing duo. As naakrin finished second, Hafizh’s dream of gifting a Malaysia Day victory to local fans were dashed when he was forced to concede in third place. Yuki’s so,id performance in PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit has propelled him to the top of the championship standings ahead of Andi Farid Izdihar. PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit had not been kind to Andi. The Indonesian rider, barely defended his leadership of the title chase when he finished fourth in Race 1 and fifth in Race 2. With one final round to go, Yuki heads to Chang International Circuit, Buriram, Thailand with 142 points in hand. Yuki said, “Be honest, today I was really happy about this double win. Until today, I was a little bit nervous. In the beginning, Hafizh was really strong at the lead. I was afraid of him because he’s strong on the bike and with braking. But I know I’m good at my pace, so I waited until he started to drop. After that, it was the same as yesterday. I’m really thankful for the team and fans. I will keep focused until the last round in Buriram.” Top 5 Fastest – Race 2

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AZROY GIFTS MALAYSIA DAY VICTORY TO MALAYSIA FANS

Team IDEMITSU Boon Siew Honda Racing Team’s Azroy Hakeem Anuar proudly waved the Malaysian flag from the hop of the SS600 podium as he celebrated his third win of the season in front of his home crowd. At athe start of the 10 laps SS600 race, all attraction were naturally on championship leader, Apiwath Wongthananon of YAMAHA TEKHNE Racing Team ASEAN who was the first to steal the hole shot. The Thailand rider held the lead up to lap 3 but behind his blue Yamaha, loomed a menacing group of Honda riders. Backed up only buy his teammate Mckinkley Kylle Paz, the leading group saw 2 blue Yamahas surrounded by a sea of red-and-white Hondas. Apiwath lost his lead on lap 6 when Mohammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM and Azroy broke past his defences. The two Honda riders proceeded to dictate the race pace, leaving Apiwath and McKinley to fend off the attack from the rest of the Honda coup. Azroy pipped Adenanta to the finishing line, stealing the win with a time of 22’01:801s. Adenanta settled for second with 22’01:890s More drama of the final lap as McKinley kyle Paz made an unforced error of the last corner, allowing Veda Ega Pratama of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM an easy passage to third place, completing an all-Honda clean sweep with a Malaysian and Indonesian rider. Azroy said, “Big thanks to my team after the struggle yesterday. Today, we still faced challenges, but my target was to stay in the front group no matter what. When the race started, I fought very hard every lap to stay in the first position. In the last lap, I knew Adenanta was very strong, so I needed to pass him quickly. In the last corner, I knew I could be in the front, and Alhamdulillah, this finished in a good way. We will be stronger than this weekend for the upcoming round in Buriram.” Top 5 Fastest – Race 2

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REDEMPTION FOR FAEROZI, HERJUN LEADS CHAMPIONSHIP

In a thrilling contest during Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, Muhammad Faerozi Toreqottullah of YAMAHA Racing Indonesia secured a remarkable victory in the Asia Production at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit this weekend. The race showcased intense competition as Faerozi emerged victorious after a dramatic battle that saw frequent lead changes. The event began with Faerozi leading the pack on opening lap, closely followed by IDEMITSU Boon Siew Honda Racing Team duo, Muhammad Irfan Haykhal Amidi and Muhammad Syarifuddin Azman. By lap 2, Faerozi maintained his position while Aiki Iyoshi of Motul Sniper Manual Tech and Irfan moved up, with Cao Viet Nam of Honda Racing Vietnam Team also joining the front runners. The final lap intensified with Vietnam initially leading, but Faerozi and Aiki fought back strongly. In the decisive final lap, Faerozi executed a crucial overtaking maneuver on Aiki in the last turn, securing his position at the front and won the race at 19’37:060s, 0:013s ahead of Aiki. While Viet Nam took third place at 19’37:319s. Faerozi’s victory was a remarkable redemption after a challenging Race 1, where he failed to score any points. Herjun, despite finishing outside the top three in Race 2, earned 13 points, placing him at the top of the overall standings with 132 points, 10 points ahead of his teammate, Muhammad Kiandra Ramadhipa. Faerozi said, “After the crash yesterday, I stayed focused, taking it step by step and lap by lap. As I checked my bike in the last corner, I saw it was in great shape, so I seized the golden opportunity to secure the win. I hope to stay at the top in every race and ultimately grab the championship title.” Top 5 Fastest – Race 2

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FAZRUL CLINCHES FIRST VICTORY OF THE SEASON

Ahmad Fazrul Sham of CARDINALS FACTORY RACING TEAM ARRC did the near impossible in Underbone racing with an amazing performance at Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship underway at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia this weekend. In a race category where close finishes are more the norm than the exception, Fazrul served up a surprise in the final lap when he broke free from the group and proceeded to demonstrate superior top speed as he pulled a gap at the back straight of the 5.543km PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit. Fazrul ended this season’s winning drought with a time of 15’41:525s, 0:526s seconds ahead of the main group. The intensity of the race saw a photo finish having to be decided between Adytya Fauzi of RACETECH SIXTY Racing Team and Nazirul Izzat Md Bahauddin of UMA Racing YAMAHA Maju Motor Asia Team. Upon investigation, Adytya was declared second with 15’42:051s and Nazirul placed third at 15’42:054s. Fazrul expressed, “This race was relatively straightforward to win, and I gave it my all from start to finish. Starting from the back, I managed to secure the top spot. A big thank you to my team for providing me with the fastest bike.” Top 5 Fastest – Race 2

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FIRST GERMAN TO CLAIM WIN IN TVS, ROCCO

Race 2 of Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia saw history created with Rocco Sessler became the first German to pick up a race win in the single-make championship. The race began with veteran rider Vorapong Malahuan rocketing into the lead, closely trailed by Mohd Ramdan Rosli and Chiranth Viswanath. Deep within the group, championship leader Hiroki Ono’s hopes of another successful round was dashed when he tumbled at Turn 3, effectively putting paid to his dreams of another podium. After swapping leads for six laps, the flag came down in Rocco’s favour. The German rider clocked his first ever TVS Asia victory with 14’31:021s, 0:090s ahead of Vorapong. Sarthak rounded up the winning trifecta in third place. Rocco said, “For sure, it was a difficult race. The start wasn’t the best, but I pushed hard into the first corner and managed to get into the top 5. From there, I focused on staying in the front. I had some challenging moments but managed to regain my position. In the last lap, I took the lead because I thought there might be some battling behind me. Although I was overtaken in the final lap, I rode as well as I could, held my line, and ultimately took the win.” Despite finishing tenth, Hiroki Ono picked up 6 points to stay at the top of the championship table with 201 points, 57 points ahead of Ramdan. TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2TVS Asia One Make Championship

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YUKI DOMINATES IN SEPANG

Race 1 of Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship in the Asia Superbike 1000cc category at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia, saw Yuki Kunii of SDG Team HARC-PRO Honda Ph. clinch a commanding victory, securing the top spot on the podium. During the qualifying session, Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of JDT RACING TEAM earned pole position with the fastest lap time of 2’05.224s. Yuki Kunii followed in second with a time of 2’05.300s, while Sho Nishimura of TKKR BMW Racing Team took third with a time of 2’06.092s. As the race commenced, Hafizh quickly took the lead, with Yuki and Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo close behind. On Lap 2, Hafizh experienced a slight wobble, allowing Yuki and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of TKKR BMW Racing Team to overtake him, taking the top two positions respectively. While Yuki and Azlan held onto the top spots, Nakarin, who was in fourth place, moved up to overtake Hafizh for third on Lap 5. The positions remained unchanged as Yuki raced across the finish line to claim victory with a time of 25’31.250s. Yuki commented, “I’m very happy with the result and thrilled to have won. Since yesterday, I felt great with the bike and the track, and I had confidence in my pace. Although Hafizh delivered an incredible lap time in qualifying, I knew my strength was in the race. I focused on my own performance, and in the end, I achieved the victory. I’m delighted, especially as my championship standings are improving. I’m really looking forward to Race 2 tomorrow and hope to build on this momentum.” Azlan finished in second place with a time of 25’34.412s, while Nakarin took third with a time of 25’36.101s. TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1ASB1000

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HELMI MARKS FIRST VICTORY OF THE SEASON

Race 1 of Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship in the SuperSport 600cc category saw Muhammad Helmi Azman of the IDEMITSU Boon Siew Honda Racing Team secure his first victory of the season at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. During the qualifying session, Apiwath Wongthananon of the YAMAHA TEKHNE Racing Team ASEAN claimed pole position with a fastest lap time of 2’08.742s. Muhammad Helmi Azman qualified in second with a time of 2’09.403s, and Kiattisak Singhapong of Honda Racing Thailand took third with a time of 2’09.614s. As the race commenced, Kiattisak initially surged to the front but was soon overtaken by Helmi, who then led the pack. Apiwath trailed closely behind Helmi. Throughout the race, Helmi maintained his lead with Apiwath closely pursuing in second place. Meanwhile, Azroy and Kiattisak engaged in a battle for third position. The positions remained consistent, and Helmi crossed the finish line in first place with a time of 21’54.779s. Helmi commented, “In this race, I knew I could perform even better. Having already completed the MSBK ride, I was confident in my pace and knew it could be fast, so I focused on maintaining control. I noticed Apiwath was trailing behind me and kept an eye on the gap. I was determined to increase the distance, and I successfully did just that. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported me. This victory is for all of you.” Second place went to Apiwath, who finished the race with a time of 21’55.511s, while Kiattisak secured third place with a time of 22’04.425s. TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1SS600

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