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Plucky Thai rider Muklada Sarapuech will be coming back into the thick of action following a three-month hiatus brought about by a crash in Round 3 at Suzuka. Muklada collided with team mate Kritchaporn Kaewsonthi in Race 2 at the Suzuka Circuit, and sustained an injured hand as a result of the incident. The injury broke Muklada’smomentum in the Asia Production 250cc class. Not only did she have to sit out of Round 4 in India, but at the same time, Muklada lost the opportunity to debut in the prestigious Suzuka4 Hours Endurance. With only two rounds remaining on the 2018 calendar, Muklada will have to beat out Indonesian riders Awhin Sanjaya and Andy Muhammad Fadly to make it back into the top five.

There is no sweeter moment for any rider than to seal a major title in front of his or her home crowd. Gerry Salim experienced that magic in 2017 when he lifted the Asia Production 250cc title at the Sentul Circuit. That ‘moment’, unfortunately, will not happen for this year’s championship leader, Rheza Danica Ahrens. At 148 points after four rounds, Rheza leads by 26 points ahead of his own team mate Mario Suryo Aji. Even if Mario’s presence were to be discounted on account of team orders from the Astra Honda Racing Team, Anupab Sarmoon is still a mathematical threat, standing in third with 108 points. Therefore, the Asia Production 250cc title chase will not end in Indonesia. On the other hand, there is a small probability that the Astra Honda Racing Team will pick up the AP250 Team Award for the second consecutive year in the coming round. The Indonesian-based team has pulled ahead by 51 points to the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team in the team rankings. A double win from either Rheza, Mario or Awhin will clinch the deal for the Astra Honda Racing Team. If a double win is not on the cards, then the team will need one win and one second place to seal the title by a single point.

The anticipated sixth consecutive win from Rheza Danica Ahrens did not materialize in Race 2 of the Asia Production 250cc category. The Astra Honda Racing Team’s rampage in the Asia Production 250cc class came to an abrupt end when both their top riders crashed out of Race 2 at the Madras Motor Race Track. The Astra Honda Racing Team’s winning streak was finally routed when two out of their three riders crashed out in Race 2. Rheza had a bad start from pole position, allowing Rey Ratukore to steal the holeshot. However, Rey was unable to fend off a revigorated Anupab Sarmoon who went out on Race 2 fitted with a brand new engine. Rheza began making progress as he fought to stay relevant in the front group. By Lap 3, he had gone up to third while behind him, his reliable team mate Mario Suryo Aji crashed out. A lap later, Rheza picked up another spot, overtaking Rafid Topan to get in behind the leading Anupab. Meanwhile, Andy Muhammad Fadly had gone from P13 to P4 within the space of five laps. As the race progressed, the front group became increasingly crowded instead of thinning out. On Lap 8, Rafid Topan, Anupab Sarmoon, Peerapong Boonlert, a very aggressive Andy Muhammad Fadly and Rey Ratukore began trading spots at each corner. Fadly ran wide on Lap 10, which momentarily pushed him down to P5. Up in front, Lap 11 became a Rafid-Anupab battleground as things got serious in the closing stages of the race. By the final lap, there was still no clear winner for the AP250 Race 2. Any one of the top five were capable of claiming the chequered flag. In the heat of the battle, Rheza low-sided out of the race while up in front, a daring Fadly took a bold outside racing line and almost caused a crash with Rafid Topan Sucipto as both determined riders bumped shoulders. However, Rafid Topan was able to hold on to his advantage to take the first AP250 win of his career. Andy Muhammad Fadly’s second place was also his best finishing in the class to date. Anupab Sarmoon, who was clearly gunning for the win, had to be contended with third place. The winning trio was followed by a mixed group of riders – Rey Ratukore in fourth followed by Peerapong Boonlert fifth. AP Honda Racing Thailand’s Tatchakorn Busari, replacement for the injured Muklada Sarapuech, finished a very impressive sixth while Awhin Sanjaya was the sole finisher for the Astra Honda Racing Team in seventh. Anggi Setiawan, Richard Taroreh and Kritchaporn Kaewsonthi completed the top 10. More progress was seen further down the grid as Vietnamese rider Cao Viet Nam inches closer to the top 10. He finished 11th ahead of Malaysian rookies Daniel Syahmi, Hafiza Rofa, and Mohd Khairul Ikhwan Ajis. Team One For All’s Takashi Suzuki picked up the final point from the race.

Rheza Danica Ahrens took another leap towards clinching the 2018 Asia Production 250cc title with a fifth consecutive win at the Madras Motor Race Track, host to Round 4 of the 2018 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. The Astra Honda Racing Team rider who has been on a winning streak, effortlessly notched up another victory in Race 1 with 21’53.387s.   Meanwhile, Rheza’s team mate, Mario Suryo Aji again finished second with 21’53.515s for the fifth time this season. The Astra Honda Racing Team duo managed to stretch out a big gap ahead of the chasing group, especially on Lap 3 when their closest competitor, Anupab Sarmoon retired from a busted engine.   By Lap 9, Rheza, Mario and compatriot Rey Ratukore had extended a 5-second lead, leaving Awhin Sanjaya, Anggi Setiawan, Peerapong Boonlert, Rafid Topan Sucipto and Richard Taroreh to fight for P4.   As the chequered flag came down on Lap 12, Rey Ratukore who had been racing conservatively in P3 since Lap 4, brought home another podium finish for the ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team.   Rafid Topan Sucipto won the second group battle in fourth place followed by Awhin Sanjaya in fifth. Peerapong Boonlert’s race ended in disappointment when he crashed out at the last corner.