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TEAM MUSASHi BOON SIEW HONDA’S 3-MAN STRATEGY FOR 2018

2018, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Honda’s recent line-up announcement has revealed the depth of planning that has gone into the motorcycling giant’s strategy for the Asian title. For the first time in six years, team MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda will field a 3-rider line-up comprising of Malaysian duo Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi and Azzroy Hakeem Anuar as well as Japanese rider Tomoyoshi Koyama. While the team has yet to name the lead rider, expectations are that Koyama will assume the leading role in the team’s 2018 campaign. This impression is further reinforced by recent updates about Zaqhwan’s full-season ride in the JSB1000 class of the All-Japan. This development leads to the logical conclusion that the 2-time Asian Champion is being groomed to win the ASB1000 crown when the litre class is finally introduced in 2019. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4688″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] Name: MOHD ZAQHWAN ZAIDI Age: 23 (1995) Nat: MAS Bike No: 21 Make: Honda Team: MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda Class: SuperSports 600cc CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2014 CHAMPION – SuperSports 600cc, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship CHAMPION – CP130, PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship 2015 Moto2 World Championship (4 rounds) 10th overall – SuperSports 600cc, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2016 CHAMPION – SuperSports 600cc, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 4th overall – CP130, PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship 2017 2nd overall – SuperSports 600cc, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Along the same veins, Malaysian-based MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda will still need a strong local rider to eventually fill Zaqhwan’s slot when he moves up to the 1000cc. 19-year-old Azzroy Hakeem Anuar fits the bill to a T. Azzroy, alongside young riders like Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin, are increasingly viewed as the next rising motorsports star in Malaysia. This will be Azzroy’s first full-season astride the 600cc bike.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4708″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] Name: AZROY HAKEEM ANUAR Age: 19 (1999) Nat: MAS Bike No: 20 Make: Honda Team: Yuzy Honda Vietnam Racing Class: Underbone 150cc CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2013 13th overall – Honda Future One Make Challenge, Malaysian Cub Prix Championship 2014 2nd overall – Honda Future One Make Challenge, Malaysian Cub Prix Championship 2015 14th overall – Asia Talent Cup 2016 15th overall – Underbone 130cc, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2016 4th overall – CP115, Malaysian Cub Prix Championship 2017 5th overall – Underbone 150cc, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] But with all that planning going towards 2019, let’s not forget that there is still a title to be won in 2018! This is where Tomoyoshi Koyama comes in. Nicknamed ‘The Shadow’ by the Asian racing fraternity, Koyama’s neat, precise and flawless rider often has him overlooked on a track filled with drama and theatrics. Overlooked, that is, until he powers his way up to the podium. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4709″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] Name: TOMOYOSHI KOYAMA Age: 35 (1983) Nat: JPN Bike No: 71 Make: Honda Team: RAMA Honda Class: Asia Production 250cc CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2002 3rd overall – All Japan Road Race 2003 2nd overall – All Japan Road Race 2004 2nd overall – All Japan Road Race 2005 GP125 World Championships 2007 3rd overall – GP125 World Championships 2011 – 2012 Moto2 World Championships 2013 5th overall – SuperSports 600cc, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2014 5th overall – SuperSports 600cc, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2015 2nd overall – SuperSports 600cc, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2016 2nd overall – SuperSports 600cc, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2017 2nd overall – Asia Production 250cc, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The Japanese rider is a seasoned campaigner and is no stranger to the intense title chase in the 600cc premiere class. Koyama came close to taking the 2015 and 2016 title. With team MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda, Koyama has earned himself a third shot at the elusive SuperSports 600cc crown. Together, these three riders will be tasked with the mission of taking back the Asian title against a highly motivated Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman and his Kawasaki team. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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RE-introducing: GUPITA KRESNA WARDHANA

2018, Latest News, Underbone 150 /

The biggest news to hit the Asian paddocks in the run-up to the 2018 Asia Road Racing Championship so far had been the news of the impending return of Gupita Kresna Wardhana. The Indonesian rider has confirmed his comeback with a new team – SND Racing. Countryman Syahrul Amin will be his flanksman as Gupita attempts to re-establish himself among the top ranks of Underbone racing.   Who is Gupita Kresna Wardhana? Two names loomed large during the 130cc era of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (2012 to 2016). These were Hadi Wijaya and Gupita Kresna Wardhana. Back then, the two were team mates with Kawasaki’s Manual Tech team. This was before Manual Tech’s successful bid for the premiere class crown in 2017. The two riders won back-to-back titles in the Underbone 130cc category. Hadi Wijaya took the honours in 2012 and 2013 before the baton was passed to Gupita in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, Gupita won the title by a 49-point margin ahead of Taiga Hada (yes, the same Taiga Hada who was in title contention for the SuperSports 600cc championship in 2017). During that year, he picked up 1 win and 6 podiums out of 12 races. In 2015, Gupita ended his campaign in dramatic fashion when he literally ran for his title at the final sprint at the Losail International Circuit.   The Comeback Although Gupita had only left the ARRC for two short seasons, much had changed in the Asian heritage category. For one, the Underbone 130cc had been discontinued and replaced by the Underbone 150cc. The 28-year-old Gupita will also be coming back to a much younger grid. The average age of the riders in the Underbone class had been dropping steadily over the past two years. As of 2017, the average age was 21.6 years. Although the age factor could be negligible for a rider of Gupita’s calibre, he is likely to have his hands full with feisty teenagers with a no-holds barred approach to racing.   Controversial Team Mate While 2018 will be the first full season for Gupita’s team mate, Syahrul Amin in the Asian series, the younger rider is not an unknown factor in the world of Asian racing. He has been celebrated as a fast rider but often criticised for his lack of sportsmanship. Syahrul was suspended for a few months in 2017 for his ‘pull-no-punches’ style of racing.   Taking The Trophy Home Undergone racing had always been the purview of the Indonesian riders. Since 2004, there had been nine Indonesian champions in the Underbone category. Beginning with M. Fadli Immammuddin (2004), Doni Tata Pradtia (2005), Gilang Praam Sukma (2006), Wahyu Widodo (2007), Owie Nurhuda (2008), Hadi Wijaya (2010, 2012 and 2013), Rapid Topaz Sucipto (2011), Gupita Kresna Wardhana (2014 and 2015), and finally Wahyu Aji Trilaksana (2016). In 2017, Wahyu Aji Trilaksana, frequently the sole Indonesian rider on the grid, eventually lost the title to Mohd Akid Aziz. Gupita and Syahrul Amin’s presence on the 2018 grid is expected to balance out the two opposing forces, leading to an even more exciting championship in 2018.

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ARRC RELEASES 2018 CALENDAR

2018, Latest News /

The 2018 season of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will feature a 6-round calendar with a new stop down under in Australia. The Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand will host the curtain raiser with the pre-season tests and Round 1 scheduled to be held at the booming Thai circuit from February 27 to March 4, 2018. The ARRC contingent will next hop down to Adelaide, Australia where the championship is scheduled to become the first international motorcycle racing event to be held at the brand new The Bend Motorsports Park. The highly anticipated double-bill with the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) will be a four day bike-extravaganza taking place from April 19 to 22, 2018. Japan’s iconic Suzuka Circuit will be the third battleground of the season, set to take place from June 1 to 3, 2018. The second half of the season will resume at the Madras Motor Race Track in Chennai, India from August 3 to 5, 2018 followed by the Indonesian round (Round 5) from October 12 to 14. As the season winds down, the Chang International Circuit will once again host the season finale from November 30 to December 2. 2018 FIM ASIA ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP – PROVISIONAL CALENDAR Pre-Season – Chang International Circuit, Thailand  | February 27 – 28, 2018 Round 1 – Chang International Circuit, Thailand | March 2 – 4, 2018 Round 2 – The Bend Motorsports Park, Australia | April 19 – 22, 2018 Round 3 – Suzuka Circuit, Japan | June 1 – 3, 2018 Round 4 – Madras Motor Race Track, India | August 3 – 5, 2018 Round 5 – Sentul Circuit, Indonesia October  | 12 – 14, 2018 Round 6 – Chang International Circuit, Thailand | November 30 – December 2, 2018      

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ARRC HAS A DATE WITH THE ASBK AT THE BEND MOTORSPORTS PARK IN 2018

2018, Latest News /

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] What do you get when you put the best of Asia and the best of Australia together on a brand new world-class circuit? An Australasian motorsports extravaganza that will take place at The Bend Motorsports Park in South Australia next April. The ARRC-ASBK double bill will be the first international motorcycle event at The Bend. The four-day racing fest is scheduled for April 19 to 22, 2018. Ron Hogg, Director, Two Wheels Motor Racing We are very excited with this new partnership between the ARRC, the ASBK and The Bend Motorsports Park. We hope that by working together, we will create more opportunities that will benefit the motorsports industry in both regions. The ARRC have always sought to work closely with all the stakeholders involved in the sport. This is not just limited to sponsors, teams and riders, but also extends to the respective federations (such as Motorcycling Australia), the national championships (in this case the Australian Superbike Championship), and last but not least, the circuit owners (The Bend Motorsports Park). We believe that by pooling our resources and efforts, we can generate more growth and opportunities for Asian and Australian riders alike. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G-CdiItEPY”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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A SEASON OF BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS AS AZLAN LIFT SECOND SUPERSPORTS 600cc CROWN

2017, 2017 Round6, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

As the curtains come down on the 2017 season of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman triumphed over a season of blood, sweat and tears to lift the second SuperSports 600cc title of his career.   The Manual Tech KYT Kawasaki Racing rider overcame the disadvantage of multiple crashes, and rode through the pain to craft a final magnificent comeback. He was 10 points adrift of championship leader Zaqhwan Zaidi at the start of the season finale but boosted his chances with a fifth place finish in Race 1.   As the riders lined up for Race 2, the final race of the 2017 season, Azlan had cut the margin to half, trailing Zaqhwan by only five points.   Polesitter Apiwat Wongthananon of team Yamaha Thailand Racing improved on his race start and quickly established a lead at the front of the pack. With Apiwat racing like a blue streak at the front of the group, Azlan was left fighting for third place against Chalermpol Polamai, Anthony West and Thitipong Warokorn. He maintained a third place position for the majority of the race but dropped to fourth when he was overtaken by Chalermpol on Lap 14.   But the cohesiveness of the Kawasaki strategy came together in a big way for Azlan. While Ahmad Yudhistira worked to hassle Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi in midfield, marquee-mate Thitipong Warokorn acted as an able rear guard for Azlan in the second pack.   A last lap push brought Azlan flying past Chalermpol at the closing minutes of the final race and he succeeded in claiming the third spot on the podium in 29’59.060s. Azlan was 5.9 seconds adrift of Apiwat who clinched the double victory in 29’53.158s. Anthony West finished second in the race.   “Our team worked really through the night to prepare a third engine for me. My thanks to them for not giving up. It was really a tough situation to overcome. I just knew that I had to finish as high as possible. At the same time, I had to save my tyres for the end of the race. Luckily, the strategy worked and I was able to overtake Chalermpol at the final lap,” said Azlan who shed tears of happiness when he realized that he had won the title with 155 points. The last time Kawasaki had won the Asian title was in 2011 through Katsuaki Fujiwara.   Azlan’s closest rival for the title, Zaqhwan (MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda), was seventh across the chequered flag. Consequently, he dropped to second overall with 153 points. Taiga Hada (RAMA Honda by NTS T.Pro Ten10) finished eighth in the race and completed his third SuperSports 600cc season third on the championship rung with 149 points. Yamaha Racing’s Yuki Ito was ninth across the finish line and dropped to fourth overall with 141 points.   Azlan’s win also confirmed team Manual Tech KYT Kawasaki Racing as the 2017 SuperSports 600cc Team Champion with 182 points.

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KOYAMA SECURES SECOND OVERALL POSITION

Leave a Comment / 2017, 2017 Round6, Asia Production 250, Latest News /

With the top honours in the Asia Production 250cc category taken up by Astra Honda Racing Team’s Gerry Salim, former title contenders Anupab Sarmoon (Yamaha Thailand Racing) and Tomoyoshi Koyama (RAMA Honda) were left squabbling for second overall position.   Race 2 of the Asia Production 250cc category flagged off without Race 1 winner Rheza Danica Ahrens. The Astra Honda Racing Team rider, team mate to Gerry Salim, crashed during the Sunday morning warmup. The resulting broken collarbone kept him off the racing track.   Without the pressure of the title chase on his shoulders, Gerry Salim looked supremely relaxed for the last race of the season. Meanwhile, Anupab and Koyama braced for a titanic battle in the race to finish second overall.   Anupab leapt into the holeshot but was unable to keep his advantage for more than a corner. Despite starting the race from second row, Koyama was able to challenge Anupab for the lead by the middle of the first lap. The two familiar rivals locked horns for the full 10 laps, racing side-by-side to the finish line. Koyama stormed into the win in first place with 19’09.799s, a mere 0.040 seconds ahead of Anupab.   Behind the two riders, AP Honda Racing Team’s Muklada Sarapuech gave her best ARRC performance to date. Muklada held her own in a 7-bike swarm consisting of Gerry Salim, Peerapong Luiboonpeng, Peerapong Boonlert, Vorapong Malahuan, Awhin Sanjaya, and Galang Hendra Pratama. Muklada would have scored her first Asia Production 250cc podium at Race 2 if not for a mistake that ran her wide on the final lap.   Gerry Salim capitalized on Muklada’s mistake and slipped into third place with 19’17.532s. Peerapong Luiboonpeng, Peerapong Boonlert, Vorapong Malahuan and Awhin Sanjaya finished fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh respectively. Muklada dropped to eighth.   Gerry’s third place finish, his eighth podium of the season, solidified his status as 2017 Asia Production 250cc champion with 215 points. Koyama and Anupab tied with 188 points each but the Japanese rider won second overall position after having secured two wins ahead of Anupab’s one.   The Astra Honda Racing Team, 2017 Asia Production 250cc Team Champions, brought their points haul to a total of 257 points at the final count. Teams Rama Honda and Yamaha Thailand Racing were also tied with 188 points but the advantage went to the Honda outfit with more wins.

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AKID FIRST UNDERBONE 150 CHAMPION

Leave a Comment / 2017, 2017 Round6, Latest News, Underbone 150 /

Malaysian rider Mohd Akid Aziz entered the ARRC history books as the first Underbone 150cc Champion. Needing only two more points to secure his position, the UMA Racing Yamaha Maju Motor rider rode a safe Race 2 and did just enough to pick up his first international title.   The race got off with Anggi Setiawan of Yamaha Yamalube KYT TJM Racetech leading the group across the finish line on Lap 1. However, the usual lead-swapping that is characteristic of underbone racing brought UMA Racing wildcard Paitoon Nakthong up to the front of the group on Lap 2 and Lap 3.   The lead then went to Azroy Hakeem Anuar (Yuzy Honda Vietnam Racing Team) on Lap 4. Mohd Helmi Azman (ONEXOX TKKR Racing) took the reins on Lap 5 but lost the position Anggi on Lap 6. Mohd Izzat Zaidi (RCB Kage Motobatt Yamaha YY Pang Racing) popped into the front on Lap 7 but crashed out of the race on that final lap.   The jostling and skirmishing continued as the riders headed home for the chequered flag. Azroy Hakeem Anuar was the first to break out of the slipstream and shot into first place in 16’46.680s. Defending champion Wahyu Aji Trilaksana followed in second place with 16’46.786s while Mohd Helmi Azman was third across the line in 16’46.859s.   With 177 points in his pockets, Akid became the first Malaysian since 2009 to win the Underbone title in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. The last Malaysian rider to break the Indonesian domination was Mohd Affendi Rosli.   Defending champion Wahyu Aji Trilaksana dropped to second overall with 165 points while Akid’s team mate Mohd Haziq Mohd Fairues ended the season in third with 141 points.

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PUNCHANA SIGNS OFF WITH A FLOURISH

2017, 2017 Round6, Latest News, Suzuki Asian Challenge /

Confirmed as the latest Suzuki Asian Challenge Champion, Punchana Kulrojchalalai signed off a successful 2017 season with his fourth win of the season when he snatched the victory in Race 2 at the final round.   With the title already in hand, Punchana could have taken things easy at the last race of the season. Instead, he was seen constantly fighting within the group as the lead changed hands at every corner.   Punchana was the first to exit Turn 12 and took his advantage home to win in 15’52.039s. Tetsuya Fujita finished second with 15’52.069s while Indonesia’s Nur Al Fath was third with 15’52.181s.   Punchana won the Suzuki Asian Challenge title with 180 points. Philippine’s April King Mascardo ranked second with 139 points and young Fujita was third overall with 136 points.

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APIWAT TAKES THE WIN; BUT AZLAN AND ZAQHWAN HEADING INTO A STRAIGHT OUT FIGHT

2017, 2017 Round6, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

Apiwat Wongthananon handed the Yamaha Racing Thailand team their second victory of the year when he pipped Anthony West to the finish line in the SuperSports 600cc Race 1 at the season finale. 23-year-old Apiwat, who was also Asia Production 250cc and BRIC Superbike Champion in 2016, was virtually unstoppable as Round 6 of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship got underway at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand.   After topping the timesheets multiple times during the free practice and qualifying sessions, Apiwat put on a solid performance at the front of the SuperSports 600cc group. The upcoming Thai rider coolly absorbed the pressure coming at him from all directions, especially from his Kawasaki rival Thitipong Warokorn.   The Thai riders had put up such a formidable defense at the top end of the grid that the only rider who had been able to penetrate into the top four was Australian Anthony West. The Akeno Speed rider made a serious bid for the win on Lap 17, only to be checked by Apiwat who used his superior speed to race to the finish line with a time of 29’58.173s.   West had to settle for second with 29’58.353s. Former Moto2 rider, Thitipong Warokorn crossed the chequered flag in third place with 29’58.488s.   Team Manual Tech KYT Kawasaki Racing’s Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman was the best performer among the five title contenders. He finished fifth behind Chalermpol Polamai. With the exception of Azlan, Race 1 had been a bad round for the championship leaders. Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi, visibly struggling to find pace the entire weekend, finished 10th and picked up enough points to stay at the top of the standings with 144 points. Taiga Hada finished ninth and has moved up the standings to second overall with 141 points. Azlan’s fifth place moved him up the ladder with 139 points to his name while Yuki Ito crashed out at Turn 1 on Lap 14. The Yamaha Racing rider had dropped to fourth overall with 134 points. Despite finishing seventh, Ahmad Yudhistira had dropped out of the title chase. With 119 points in hand, Yudhistira is a full 25 points behind the championship leader.

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GERRY CONFIRMED AS ASIA PRODUCTION 250cc CHAMPION

2017, 2017 Round6, Asia Production 250, Latest News /

After a season’s worth of suspense and drama, young Indonesian rider Gerry Salim finally sealed the Asia Production 250cc title at the grand finale of the 2017 Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. The Astra Honda Racing Team’s latest racing star finished fourth in Race 1 and picked up just enough points to end the title chase with one race to spare.   The 10-lap race started with Yamaha Racing Thailand’s polesitter and title contender Anupab Sarmoon looking strong as he led the 33-bike grid into Turn 1. However, Tomoyoshi Koyama of team RAMA Honda was not about to let Anupab run riot over the race.   While the two riders swapped leads at the front of the pack, Gerry was riding under the radar in sixth. On Lap 6, Gerry’s team mate, Rheza Danica Ahrens caught up with the leading duo and turned the fight for the podium into a 3-way battle. Racing against two aggressive rivals, Rheza made up for his lack of experience with a gritty display of talent. The 19-year-old truly earned his racing stripes when he out-raced Anupab to the finish line.   After winning three podium finishes in 2017 so far, Rheza finally won his first ARRC race with 19’07.754s. Anupab finished second with 19’07.965s and Koyama third with 19’08.111s.   Behind the three leaders, Gerry left it up to the final lap before he attempted to break out of the middle group. From sixth on Lap 9, Gerry blazed his way up to fourth at the chequered flag with 19’14.884s.   With that, Gerry became the first Indonesian to win an ARRC title outside of the Underbone class. The 199 points he has to his name has given him a 31-point margin ahead of Anupab. This will leave Anupab and Koyama scrabbling for second overall in Race 2. Anupab is second overall with 168 points. Koyama is third with 163 points.

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