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Astra Honda Racing Team trio, Rheza Danica Ahrens, Mario Suryo Aji, and Awhin Sanjaya has got the Asia Production 250cc front row locked down tight as Round 2 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship got down to the business end of its race weekend at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.   Rheza, who had been consistently among the top runners during the free practice session, confirmed his right to park on pole position with a fast 2’08.039s. Rheza’s rookie team mate, young Mario Suryo Aji, was able to match Rheza pace-for-pace with 2’08.561s. Awhin got onto the front row during the  closing minutes of the qualifying session. Thanks to a little bit of a tow from Mario, Awhin shaved more than a second off his personal best time to secure P3 with 2’08.773s.   Apart from Rheza, Mario and Awhin, the rest of the Indonesians on the field had also taken well to the 4.9km Bend Motorsport Park. Rafid Topan Sucipto will lead the second row with the fourth fastest time on the grid, 2’09.004s. Anupab Sarmoon is one of three Thai riders in the top-10, qualifying P5 with 2’09.004s. Anupab will start the race sandwiched between Rafid Topan and M. Faerozi who will start the race from P6 with 2’09.086s.   Andy Muhammad Fadly and Anggi Setiawan qualified within the top 10 – P7 with 2’09.166s and P8 with 2’09.482s respectively. Muklada Sarapuech’s qualifying strategy unraveled when her bike malfunctioned in the last few minutes of the qualifier. The AP Honda Racing Thailand rider will be starting both races from P9, just ahead of her P10 team mate, Kritchaporn Kaewsonthi.

Astra Honda Racing Team duo Rheza Danica Ahrens and Mario Suryo Aji were in dominating form as Round 2 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship got underway at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.   The two Indonesian riders were quickest to adapt to the demands of the new 4.9km circuit. Rheza, the more seasoned of the two, set the pace in the Asia Production 250cc class with a swift 2’08.675s. The team’s rookie rider Mario Suryo Aji continued to impress with 2’08.724s.   Meanwhile, Thai rider Muklada Sarapuech is clearly on fire after her first win in Round 1. The AP Honda Racing Thailand rider clocked third fastest, 2’08.846s, after the first day of practice.   Yamaha Thailand Racing Team’s Anupab Sarmoon posted the fourth fastest time, 2’09.014s followed by Kawasaki rider Andy Muhammad Fadly in fifth with 2’09.535s.

Thailand’s Anupab Sarmoon is under intense pressure this season, fighting to keep his title lead in the Asia Production 250cc.   As one of the most experienced rider in the sophomore class of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, the 25-year-old Yamaha Thailand Racing Team rider is expected to be a shoo-in for the 250cc title in 2018. However, the results from the season opener at the Chang International Circuit has indicated that Anupab will need to be on his toes all season long to avoid being swamped by the rising tide of young talents eager to make their mark in the 250cc class.   With only a 5-point lead under his belt, Anupab’s main competition is expected to come from Muklada Sarapuech, Rafid Topan Sucipto, Peerapong Boonlert, Mario Suryo Aji and Kanatat Jaiman.   Over the past four seasons, the 2017 Suzuka 4 Hours Champion has watched many of his peers depart for the talent developmental circuits in Europe. 2016 winner Apiwat Wongthananon and 2017 champion Gerry Salim are both racing in the CEV this year. Indonesia’s Galang Hendra Pratama has also been moved to the World Supersport 300cc.   The Australian Round 2 will be Anupab’s best chance to extend his title lead. By the time the Asian series moves to Suzuka for its mid-season round, 2015 champion Takehiro Yamamoto will be crafting a comeback with the Trickstar team.

He was once the toast of the Asian paddock, especially in 2011 when he won the Underbone title. Since then, Rafid Topan Sucipto’s racing career has had more than its fair share of ups and downs.   After his Underbone title-winning performance, Rafid was given the opportunity to jump straight into the Moto2 class in 2012 and 2013. With little time to prepare himself, Rafid found it hard to make an impact. He disappeared off the radar in 2014 and 2015 but re-emerged in 2016 when he raced in the CEV.   2018 brought Rafid back to the ARRC where he is making a comeback in the Asia Production 250cc class with team Yamaha Yamalube KYT TJM WR Super Battery.   Unlike his previous international moves, this homecoming had been relatively low-key. His on-track performance, however, spoke volumes at the opening round in Thailand. While the flamboyant Thai riders stole the limelight, Rafid put up a stunning ride by finishing 5thin Race 1 and a podium 2ndin Race 2.   Following that creditable performance from Round 1, Rafid may not stay as the underdog for much longer. He shares the 2ndoverall rung with Muklada Sarapuech with 31 points apiece, only 5 points adrift of championship leader Anupab Sarmoon. After six turbulent years on the world stage, perhaps this could finally be the turning point for Rafid Topan’s career.