2016 Round3

TAKAHASHI COMEBACK IN THE MAKING

2016, 2016 Round3, Supersports 600 /

After two dismal rounds in the early part of the 2016 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, Yuki Takahashi’s planned comeback at the Suzuka Circuit home ground has placed the SuperSports 600cc defending champion on the right path to potentially score the second consecutive Asian title of his career. Following his second place finish in Race 1 on Saturday, Takahashi returned to the grid on pole position for Race 2. Takahashi’s slow start gave the hole shot away to Thai rivals Decha Kraisart and Chalermpol Polamai but the MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda rider was soon able to make up for lost time and overtook Chalermpol on Lap 3. That moment marked the start of a 10-lap intense duelling between the Takahashi and Decha. Decha’s Yamaha clearly had better top speed while Takahashi’s Honda was superbly fast at the twisty second sector. The drama intensified on Lap 8 when Yuki Ito, with Tomoyoshi Koyama in tow, burst out of the 8-rider chasing pack to mix things up in the leading group. As the pressure intensified, Decha highsided at the last chicane on Lap 11, the same spot where he overtook Takahashi for the win in Race 1. The MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda rider used the reprieve well. While Decha’s crash slowed down the rest of the pack, Takahashi sped ahead to win the 15-lap race with a time of 33’24.813s. Tomoyoshi Koyama, who had been content to bide his time in fourth place, brushed past Ito at the last corner and was second across the finish line with a time of 33’25.594s. Yuki Ito also celebrated his first podium of the season in third place with 33’27.430s. “Decha proved to be a really tough competitor and the first three quarters of the race was a touch-and-go situation for both of us. I felt relieved when Decha crashed even though I was sorry for him,” said Takahashi. Meanwhile, championship leader Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman was absent from the Race 2 grid. The BikeART Racing Kawasaki rider crashed out after the chequered flag in Race 1 on Saturday and sustained a broken leg that ended his run at the top of the SuperSports 600cc standings. Tomoyoshi Koyama became the new leader after Round 3. A third place finish in Race 1 and a second place finishing in Race 2 boosted Koyama from third overall to the leading position with a total 105 points. Takahashi also jumped from fourth to second with 104 points in the bag. Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi who finished ninth in Race 1 and fifth in Race 2, slipped down to third overall position with 95 points.

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APIWAT SCORES ANOTHER DOUBLE

2016, 2016 Round3, Asia Production 250 /

Yamaha Thailand Racing’s golden rider, Apiwat Wongthananon, scored his second double-win of the season at the Suzuka Circuit, host to Round 3 of the 2016 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Race 2 in the Asia Production 250cc category unfolded according to script for the Thai rider when a good start placed him at the front of the group with Takehiro Yamamoto and Ayumu Tanaka. The remainder of the 8-lap race progressed in a similar pattern to Race 1 with Apiwat cooly dealing with pressure from the two Japanese aces. The race was again won at the last chicane when Apiwat slipped past Yamamoto and sprinted to the finish line with a time of 20’07.079ss. The frustrated team mates Yamamoto and Tanaka were again forced to accept their second and third place positions with times of 20’07.495s and 20’07.692s respectively. “Race 2 was a little easier because Takahashi Yasuda never made it to the front group. In Race 1, I had to deal with a 3-on-1 situation but today, it was just two against one. My race strategy was set very early in the race when I saw that Yamamoto had not learnt his lessons from Race 1. He was still displaying the same weakness at the chicane. I knew then that if I kept up the pressure, he would run wide at the last lap,” said Apiwat. This latest victory is Apiwat’s fifth win in the 2016 season so far. The Thai rider has collected 136 points after three rounds and is sitting pretty at the top with a 46-point margin ahead of Yamamoto.

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SIX-NATION PODIUM IN THE ASIA DREAM CUP

2016, 2016 Round3, Asia Dream Cup /

The second edition of the Asia Dream Endurance Race saw an unprecedented six-nation podium for the Asia Dream Cup class. A special event, the Asia Dream Cup sprint race becomes part of the 2-hour endurance race every time the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship rides into the Suzuka Circuit. The Asia Dream Endurance Race was essentially two distinct classes racing on the same grid – the main CBR class as well as the Asia Dream Cup class. Each class carried its own podiums and points. The 2016 edition started off in the rain with Thai duo Woraphod Niamsakhonsakul and Sittipon Srimoontree on pole position. But it was ‘guest rider’ Hiroki Nakamura who stole the spotlight. Nakamura started the race from pitlane after he wrote an appeal letter to the Race Direction in order to be allowed to participate in the event. Nakamura clocked the fastest lap during qualifying but was forced to pull out because his partner Hafiz Nor Azman was unable to race due to injuries. The permission to race was given, on the condition that Nakamura would receive no points. In spite of the handicap, Nakamura showed tremendous spirit by leading the race for the better part of 80 minutes before finally retiring to the pit. When Nakamura pitted, the spotlight fell on bike number 117 whose consistency brought them to the front of the group. Singapore’s Azhar Mohd Noor and Vietnam’s Bui Duy Thong became the first riders from their respective countries to win a race at the Asian level when they completed the 2-hour race in 41 laps. Australian rider Broc Pearson and his Indonesian partner Mohd Febriansyah finished second with 40 laps clocked at 2:01’27.266 and India’s Hari Krishnan and Zhou Sheng Jun Jie of China took third place with 40 laps clocked at 2:01’27.830s.

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INDONESIAN DUO SAPRIL AND RIZAL SCORES 1-2 IN SAC RACE 2

2016, 2016 Round3, Suzuki Asian Challenge /

Indonesian riders Muhammad Sapril and Rizal Feriyadi climbed onto the top steps of the podium when they out-sprinted nine other contenders in Race 2 of the Suzuki Asian Challenge at the Suzuka Circuit. Polesitter April King Mascardo gave a strong performance at the start of the race but crashed out after only two laps. The Suzuki Asian Challenge Race 2 took place on a drying circuit as the rain clouds over Suzuka gave way to bright sunshine. The race pace began to increase on Lap 3 as the riders gained better grip and a clearer understanding of the best braking points in the uncertain track conditions. With nine riders fighting for the same spot on the track, there was plenty of minor contacts when the level of competition intensified at the last lap. The tiny chicane before the last corner was clogged up with all nine trying to navigate the chicane at the same time. Sapril and Rizal managed to sneak ahead into the lead and won the 1-2 position with times of 14’40.065s and 14’40.319s respectively. Japan’s Shinnosuke Sato finished third with 14’40.383s. A clear championship leader has finally emerged in the Suzuki Asian Challenge – Muhammad Sapril with 102 points. Mohd Rozaliman Zakaria is second overall with 89 points and Jefri Tosema third with 82 points.

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NEWBORN BABY BOY WAS THE WINNING IMPETUS FOR DECHA

2016, 2016 Round3, Supersports 600 /

Welcoming a new born baby boy into the Kraisart family had provided the extra impetus for Decha Kraisart to push through the psychological barrier of a comeback and win his first SuperSports 600cc victory in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship since 2010. The 35-year-old Thai rider persevered through a race of attrition in Race 1 of the Suzuka leg of the 2016 season. Qualifying third fastest on the grid, Decha carried the fight to Yuki Takahashi in the first five laps of the SuperSports 600cc Race 1. However, the race was red-flagged on Lap 5 when Anucha Nakcharoensri’s crash at the final chicane caused his bike to burst into flames. The riders were reassembled for a shortened race, and at the end of the combined race times, Decha Kraisart was declared as the winner with a time of 20’01.675s. Yuki Takahashi placed second with 20’02.003s while Tomoyoshi Koyama was third with 20’03.420s. “The latest addition to our family was born yesterday (June 3). When I received the good news, I felt super charged and confident that I could handle anything. By coincidence, I named my son Japan Kraisart because I loved the years I spent racing in the All Japan Championship. It may be a coincidence but I feel like my son had brought me good luck in this race. A few years ago, I named my firstborn daughter Asia Kraisart, in tribute to the Asia Road Racing Championship,” said Decha who had formerly been crowned SuperSports 600cc champion in 2007 and 2010. Championship leader Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman picked up 11 points in fifth place to stay at the front with 89 points. Tomoyoshi Koyama’s podium finish at Suzuka placed him second overall with 85 points while Zaqhwan Zaidi hung on to third place with 84 points despite finishing only ninth in Race 1.

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APIWAT PROVES HE CAN TAKE AS GOOD AS HE GIVES

2016, 2016 Round3, Asia Production 250 /

Thai rider Apiwat Wongthananon has earned a reputation as a highly aggressive competitor in 2016. Over the first two legs of the season, Apiwat’s hard-charging racing style had often seen the 22-year-old skating dangerously close to sanctioning. However, in the Asia Production 250cc Race 1 at the Suzuka leg (Round 3) of the season, Apiwat proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was able to take as good as he gives when it comes to absorbing pressure from his rivals. Rival team Trickstar Racing approached their home ground race with full intention of turning the tables on the Thai riders. The Japanese team placed three riders on the Asia Production 250cc grid and throughout the first day of practice, team strategy was visibly in play. Defending champion Takehiro Yamamoto earned the right to park his bike on pole position, alongside team mate Ayumu Tanaka and Indonesia’s Imanuel Putra Pratna on the front row. Apiwat was relegated to the second row with Reynaldo Ratukore and wildcard rider Toshihiro Nakazawa. The Thai rider quickly made up for lost ground at the start of the race and waded into the front pack that was being dominated by the three Kawasaki Trickstar riders. He patiently bided his time until Yamamoto made a critical mistake at the final chicane and barrelled past the defending champion to win the 8-lap race with a time of 20’08.466s. Trickstar team mates Takehiro Yamamoto and Takashi Yasuda had to be content with second and third positions respectively. “This is my first win in Suzuka and needless to say I am really happy about my results today. It was obvious that the Trickstar riders were out to edge me out of the podium but I tried to keep my calm and plan my race accordingly,” said Apiwat. Apiwat’s position at the top of the 250cc rankings is further cemented as he now leads with 111 points. Peerapong Loiboonpeng maintained his second overall position with 85 points while Yamamoto climbed up two notches to third overall with 70 points.

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EANE JAYE WRITES A PAGE IN ARRC HISTORY

2016, 2016 Round3, Suzuki Asian Challenge /

Eane Jaye Sobreto added his name into the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship history books as the first rider from the Philippines to win a race in the Asian series. Newly arrived in the ARRC, the Philippine contingent has been getting progressively stronger over the past season and a half with credible performances, especially in the Suzuki Asian Challenge. April King Mascardo gave the first hint of an enhanced Filipino presence in Suzuka when he grabbed pole position during the qualifying session with a time of 2’52.455s. The 5-lap race got off to its usual start with all riders competing for track position. A final lap encounter between Mohd Rozaliman Zakaria and Riyal Feriyadi gave Eane the perfect opportunity to jump into the lead and score a convincing victory with a time of 14’36.533s. Mario U Borbon Jr doubled the joy when he finished second with 14’39.155s followed by Japan’s Maxi Hattori in third place with 14’39.159s. This latest victory sees Eane tied in third place with Indonesia’s Jefri Tosema. Both riders have earned 72 points to date. Indonesia’s Muhammad Sapril leads after completing Race 1 in sixth position. Rozaliman’s crash dropped him down the rankings to second overall with 77 points.

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TEAM THAILAND STEPS UP TO FILL NAKAMURA-HAFIZ VOID

2016, 2016 Round3, Asia Dream Cup /

Thai team Woraphod Niamsakhonsakul and Sittipon Srimoontree had done the Asia Dream Cup contingent proud when they succeeded in taking pole position during the qualifying session of the Asia Dream Endurance Race currently underway as part of Round 3 of the 2016 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship in Suzuka. In the absence of the high flying Hiroki Nakamura and Hafiz Nor Azman team, regrettable pulled out after Hafiz sustained injury in a crash during the free practice, Woraphod and Sittipon were able to step up to the plate with a strong combined fastest time of 5’24.484s. Broc Pearson and Mohd Febriansyah would also be highly prominent as they start the race from third on the grid. The scratch team comprising of Koko Tadachi and Chisato Katayama boosted the Asia Dream Cup presence among the top five qualifiers when they notched the fourth fastest time of qualifying with 5’25.863s.

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TAKAHASHI PLOTS A COMEBACK IN SUZUKA

2016, 2016 Round3, Supersports 600 /

Two rounds without a win and currently fourth in the SuperSports 600cc title chase, defending champion Yuki Takahashi is plotting a comeback at the Suzuka Circuit this weekend, host to Round 3 of the 2016 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. During the first day of free practices for the SuperSports 600cc class, Takahashi was clearly the man to beat as he topped the timesheets for each practice session and ended the day by breaking his own lap record to set a new 2’12.793s record on the 5.807km circuit. The top five saw a mix of riders from different nationalities producing good results at the tricky circuit. Thailand’s Ratthapong Wilairot clocked second fastest with 2’12.904s followed by Indonesia’s Ahmad Yudhistira third fastest with 2’13.019s. Young 600cc rookie Taiga Hada was fourth fastest with 2’13.276s followed by current championship leader Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman posting the fifth fastest time of 2’13.386s. The MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda rider had always relied on his home venue to turn his title hopes around. Takahashi currently trails Azlan by 19 points and will need maximum input from the Suzuka leg to boost his title defense campaign.

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TRICKSTAR RACING DUO CONSISTENT AT THE TOP OF 250cc TIMESHEETS

2016, 2016 Round3, Asia Production 250 /

Relieved to be back on homeground after two tough races in Malaysia and Thailand, Trickstar Racing duo Takehiro Yamamoto and Ayumu Tanaka dominated the first day of Asia Production 250cc practices at the Suzuka leg of the 2016 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. The two Kawasaki riders consistently snared the 1-2 positions in all three free practice sessions. Defending champion Yamamoto was the fastest rider of the day with 2’30.451s followed by Tanaka second fastest with 2’31.034s. The mercurial Apiwat Wongthananon was third fastest with 2’31.130s and will provisionally join his Japanese rivals on the front row. Apiwat’s team mate Anupab Sarmoon logged 2’32.217s as the fourth fastest rider in the 29-rider grid followed by local wildcards Takashi Yasuda fifth fastest with 2’32.558s and Toshihiro Nakazawa sixth fastest with 2’32.593s. Indonesia’s Rey Ratukore, Thailand’s Peerapong Loiboonpeng and Vorapong Malahuan, as well as Galang Hendra Pratama completed the top-10 in the combined practice results.

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