The Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship is gearing up for an eventful day this coming weekend and for the first time in history, the race will be held at Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan. The riders of the SuperSports 600cc race category are prepped to mark their territories including Apiwath Wongthananon of YAMAHA TEKHNE Racing Team ASEAN.
He made a grand entrance in the finale of Season 2023 as a wildcard rider and after he had made his bold move in securing the prized position for his team in the race category, he went on to reward himself a triumphant victory in Race 2. The Thai rider is quite the name in the international and Asian motorcycle racing scene and while he may not have been very well acquainted with a 1000cc machine, he definitely works magic aboard the 600cc, Yamaha YZF-R6. His full-season entry can be claimed a threat to the existing riders on par with him, more so with his adamance to pursue the championship title.
The upside for Apiwath is definitely his home-ground which he is familiar with like the back of his hand and one need not take a bet that he would succeed with flying colours which he did with a double-victory in the season opener. But having said that, the SS600 race category which is a highly-competitive feat poses striking challenges especially that comes with his closest contenders, not one or two but a handful who are equally bullish in their games. He succumbed to the second spot on the podium in Race 1 of Round 2 when rivalries at its best took a strike against him.
Commenting on the race, Apiwath said, “I am extremely happy to be back, competing on the Asian championship. It is like home to me and I am fully immersed in the environment each time I travel for the race. I did miss out for a year but I gathered quite a bit of an experience from the World SuperSport programme especially with it being intense, aggressive and highly competitive. That is definitely an added value for me because it makes me stronger and I am able to strategize better for a more fulfilling outcome within the Asian domain. From the last two rounds, I would say that the riders are quick to adapt and to me, the Asian riders are in their full-form which is quite challenging for me. Everyone has an important role in the game and no way we can underestimate anyone, I would say!”
“As for the machine, the Yamaha engine has pros and cons for sure. Yamaha is relatively excellent in high-revving. But the weak part is the low RPM. But of course, we are looking out for solutions and having said that, the awareness is crucial so that we are better prepared technical wise and are able to maximise on our strengths to overcome the weakness. Apart from that, that is not all in a race. Emotions plays a fundamental role too. It is important to control one’s temper for sure so that we are able to better-resonate with the outcome. The experiences that I have gained has definitely made me calmer and I am able to read the games better and more accurately. Part of my preparation includes fitness regimes. Apart from that, I also dive deeper into the layout of the circuit that we will be going so that I am more informed. Also, I take part in many local championships to boost my mileage so that my technical abilities do not wear off over time. My goal is to be number one just like all the other racers. It is a matter of putting work into reality.”