2017

UNDERBONE 150cc: WHAT’S NEW IN 2017

2017, 2017 Round1, Latest News, Underbone 150 /

The Underbone 150cc is a new class, replacing the previous Underbone 130cc category that ran from 2012 to 2016.   1.Yamaha Racing Indonesia Wahyu Aji Trilaksana will embark on his title defense with team Yamaha Racing Indonesia. Should he succeed, he will be the first rider in the Underbone class to successfully retain his title despite a change in the technical specifications.   2. Yuzy Honda Vietnam Racing Former Malaysian GP rider Shahrol Yuzy will be collaborating with Honda Vietnam this season. Team Yuzy Honda Vietnam Racing’s role is to guide and expose upcoming Vietnamese riders as they make their international debut. For 2017, the team will field Vietnamese newcomer Cao Viet Nam alongside Malaysian rider Azroy Hakeem Anuar.   3. First Chinese Rider Round 1 of the ARRC will see an unexpected entry in the Underbone 150 class. Chinese rider Yuan Ji Bo will be the first from the People’s Republic of China to race in the Southeast Asian heritage class. Yuan has had substantive experience racing the 600cc bikes back home, but had elected to use the Underbone 150cc category as his debut platform to gain experience before considering a move to higher ccs.   4. UMA Racing Yamaha Maju Motor UMA Racing Yamaha Maju Motor had elected for a double rookie combination in 2017. Seasoned campaigner Ahmad Fazli Sham had been refocused to the national championship. UMA Racing’s assault on the Underbone 150cc title will be undertaken by two teenage hotshots – Mohd Haziq Mohd Fairues (16) and 2016 National Champion, Mohd Akid Aziz (19).   5. New Entry: ONEXOX TKKR Racing The Underbone 150cc will feature a new team entry this season – Malaysian outfit, ONEXOX TKKR Racing. New to the racing scene, the team had been highly active in the Malaysian Cub Prix Championship in 2016. This year, team TKKR expands their horizons to the Asian region with Norizman Ismail and Mohd Helmi Azman.

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PRE-SEASON : SAC CONCLUDE WITH THE GSX-R150 SHOWING HIGHER POTENTIAL THAN ITS PREDECESSOR

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

  Two days of pre-season testing took place for the SUZUKI ASIAN CHALLENGE (SAC) riders at Johor Circuit, Malaysia on March 15-16, 2017. This being the first time for the 2017 SAC riders to ride, the riders were all excited to hear that they will be using the new SUZUKI GSX-R150 for the season. 16 riders from 9 countries gathered at Johor Circuit, with 10 new riders and 6 returnees. Although some riders were familiar to the track, it was the first time for most of them to ride the track, and naturally the first time for all of them to ride the brand new GSX-R150. However, the riders and the GSX-R150 showed high potential right from the beginning, with two riders going faster than its predecessor, the SUZUKI Satria F150. Half of the field lapped their best below the 2’00.00 mark, proving the high level of the GSX-R150 and the riders. The season opener of the 2017 season is scheduled for April 1-2 at Johor Circuit, Malaysia.   Yukio Kagayama | General Manager “First of all, I would like to thank everyone that made it possible for us to bring SAC in its third season. We have changed our machine to the new SUZUKI GSX-R150. It’s a more sporty model than its predecessor, and more suited to run on a racetrack. I ran with the riders at this test to try new parts and base setups, and by running with them, it gave me a better knowledge of what each rider are capable of. I can use this information to coach the riders throughout the season, making them not only a faster rider, but a racer that may be accepted and respected in any where they race in the future. Now that the pre-season test is over, I am just looking forward for the season to start.”

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PRE-SEASON: DECHA INCHES CLOSE TO TRACK RECORD

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While Malaysian rider Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi dominated the proceedings in the first day of pre-season tests for the 2017 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, it was Thai rider Decha Kraisart who came close to setting a new benchmark for the SuperSports 600cc class at the Johor Circuit. The Yamaha Thailand Racing rider found his rhythm in the closing sessions of the two-day practice and clocked the fastest time of the class, 01’31.051s. 36-year-old Decha, who was the SuperSports 600cc champion in 2007 and 2010, has shown no sign of slowing down. Having just won second place in the recent World SuperSports Championship race in Thailand as a wildcard last weekend, Decha is in the hunt for his third Asian trophy. Decha’s 2016 campaign got off to a slow start. At the Johor Circuit in Pasir Gudang last year, Decha suffered a DNF in Race 1 and only finished 12th in Race 2. But team Yamaha Thailand Racing had been able to overcome their problems in the second half of 2016. The Thai rider is hoping to score major points when the season kicks off on March 31. However, Decha’s best time only came close to the existing track record set by Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi (01’31.016s). As the pre-season test wrapped up, defending champion Zaqhwan posted the second fastest combined time of 01’31.381s followed by Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman with 01’31.441s. Decha’s team mate Chalermpol Polamai was fourth fastest with 01’31.871s while 18-year-old Japanese ace Taiga Hada rounded up the top five with 01’32.045s. Further down the field, Yamaha Racing’s Yuki Ito was sixth on the timesheets. Ito’s team mate, newcomer Keminth Kubo from Thailand, was eighth fastest with 01’32.515s. The best performing Indonesian contender, Ahmad Yudhistira, posted seventh fastest with 01’32.417s.

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PRE-SEASON: ANUPAB FILLS IN FOR APIWAT

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Team Yamaha Thailand Racing followed up a strong performance in the SuperSports 600cc class with equally dominant results in the Asia Production 250cc category. With defending champion Apiwat Wongthananon jetting off for the Spanish Championship this season, Anupab Sarmoon proved himself an able replacement when he logged the fastest time of 01’43.469s. Anupab’s best time has become the new lap record for the Johor Circuit, smashing Apiwat’s previous laptime of 01’44.959s by more than a second. Indonesians Rheza Danica Ahrens and Gerry Salim, both from team Astra Honda Racing, clocked the second and third fastest time of the session astride their brand new Honda CBR250RR. Newcomer Rheza posted 01’43.536s ahead of Gerry’s 01’44.432s. Honda’s intent to win the AP250 title in 2017 was glaringly clear with as many as two SuperSports 600cc riders being moved to spearhead their challenge in the 250cc class. These were Tomoyoshi Koyama who narrowly missed out on the SuperSports 600cc title last year as well as Gerry Salim who delivered a stunning 600cc double win in Indonesia. Nevertheless, the Yamaha camp has been able to keep abreast of the developments. Anupab’s Yamaha Thailand Racing team mate Peerapong Loiboonpeng clocked fourth fastest with 01’44.432s while Galang Hendra Pratama representing Yamaha Racing Indonesia posted fifth fastest with 01’44.520s. 2015 AP250 Champion, Takehiro Yamamoto, who will be racing in team Sidrap Honda Ikazuchi colours this season, was sixth fastest with 01’44.534s.

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PRE-SEASON: AZHAR ABDUL JALIL LEADS THE 150cc CLASS

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In the all-new Underbone 150cc category, it was an all-Malaysian affair at the top end of the pre-season timesheets. Team RCB Motobatt Yamaha YY Pang duo Mohd Azhar Abdul Jalil and Tengku Amirul Haffiruddin led the proceedings with times of 01’48.907s and 01’49.127s respectively. Rookie rider Mohd Helmi Azman, representing incoming team TKKR Onexox Racing, was third fastest with 01’49.251s. While the Underbone category of the Asia Road Racing Championship had usually been an Indonesian-Malaysian affair, the battle this season had been given a new layer of depth as the rivalry between the Yamaha and Honda camps hot up. The Yamaha Y15ZR and the Honda RS150R represent two of the most popular motorcycle makes in the Asian market at the moment and the showdown between the two models have generated tremendous interest and excitement among fans in the continent. Yamaha looks to have the early advantage. As the pre-season test concludes at the Johor Circuit, the best performing Honda rider was Mohd Muzakkir Mohamed. The Hi-Rev Rapido SCK Honda Racing rider posted 01’49.413s. Surprisingly, the Indonesian riders were very far off the mark on the pre-season timesheets. The fastest Indonesian rider was Yamaha Yamalube KYT TJM Racetech’s Anggi Setiawan, 11th fastest with 01’50.392s. 2016 UB130 champion Wahyu Aji Trilaksana was 12th fastest with 01’50.686s. The Indonesian national championships have been running the 150cc class for two years while the Malaysian national series, the Malaysian Cub Prix Championship, had just introduced the 150cc category this season. Given the depth of their experience, an all-Indonesian comeback can be expected in Round 1 at the same host venue on April 1 and 2, 2017.

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ZAQHWAN IN FIGHTING FORM

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SuperSports 600cc defending champion Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi looks to be in fighting form as the new season of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship commences. At the official pre-season test at the Johor Circuit, the MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda rider clocked the fastest time from the first day of testing with a time of 01’32.313s. The 22-year-old double champion will be the lead rider in team MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda’s bid to win their sixth consecutive SuperSports 600cc team title. “My former team mate Yuki Takahashi has decided to focus on the All Japan Championship this season. I will be partnered with a 600cc debutant Teppei Nagoe. This will be the first time in which I am the lead rider in the SuperSports 600cc rider line-up. The first day of testing had progressed smoothly, but everyone is working at a measured pace. The 2016 lap record at the Johor Circuit remains intact. I think we can expect to see laptimes tumbling for the second day of practice,” said Zaqhwan. Behind Zaqhwan, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, now with Indonesian team Manual Tech Kawasaki Racing, posted the second fastest time of 01’32.402s. Third fastest with 01’32.819s was Yamaha Thailand Racing’s Decha Kraisart. In the Asia Production 250cc class, all eyes were on the official debut of the all new Honda CBR250RR. The new motorcycle had been expected to take the championship by storm. However, in the first day of practice, it was Kawasaki that emerged fastest when Manual Tech Kawasaki rider Andy Muhammad Fadly cracked the existing lap record with 01’44.797s. Team Astra Honda Racing’s Gerry Salim posted the second fastest time with 01’44.818s while Anupab Sarmoon of Yamaha Thailand Racing stepped up to the plate and delivered the third fastest time of 01’45.059s. Meanwhile, 19-year-old rookie Mohd Akid Aziz served up a surprise when he out-paced many of the senior riders in the new Underbone 150cc category. The 19-year-old stopped the clock at 01’50.546s.

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ARRC PRE-SEASON AND ROUND 1 TO BE HELD AT JOHOR CIRCUIT

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The Official Pre-Season Test and Round 1 of the 2017 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship has been relocated to the Johor Circuit in Pasir Gudang, Johor. This move has been unavoidable due to circumstances outside of the control of Two Wheels Motor Racing, the race promoters of the championship. As such, the Official Pre-Season Test will be held at the Johor Circuit from March 15 – 16, 2017 while Round 1 will take place at the same venue on April 1 – 2, 2017. Two Wheels Motor Racing Sdn Bhd would like to convey our regrets to all participating teams and riders for any inconveniences caused. We would also like to thank the staff and management of the Johor Circuit for accommodating the season opening leg of 2017. 2017 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship Race Calendar Round 1 – April 1 & 2, 2017 – Johor Circuit, Malaysia Round 2 – April 14 & 15, 2017 – Chang International Circuit, Thailand Round 3 – June 3 & 4, 2017 – Suzuka Circuit, Japan Round 4 – August 12 & 13, 2017 – Sentul Circuit, Indonesia Round 5 – October 7 & 8, 2017 – Buddh International Circuit, India Round 6 – December 2 & 3, 2017 – Chang International Circuit, Thailand

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ARRC STICKS TO CORE ASIAN MARKETS IN 2017

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The 2017 season of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will stick to its traditional six-round hop in core Asian motorcycle markets. The Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia is back in the calendar. Circuit renovations in 2016 temporarily removed the Formula 1 circuit from the ARRC tour. This year, Sepang will host both the pre-season test on March 15 and 16 as well as the season-opener on April 1 and 2. Japan’s iconic Suzuka Circuit reprises its customary mid-season role as the venue for Round 3 scheduled for June 3 to 4, 2017. The Sentul International Circuit in Indonesia will spearhead the second half of the season on August 12 to 13, 2017. India’s Buddh International Circuit, which made its ARRC debut last year, is also poised to see more action on October 7 to 8, 2017. The Chang International Circuit, organizer of the most successful ARRC rounds in recent history, will once again play double duty in 2017. The Thai circuit will host a special round on April 14 and 15 as part of the national Songkhran festival, and provide the final battlefield for the closing stages of the year at the final leg on December 2 and 3, 2017. 2017 FIM ASIA ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR Round 1 April 1 – 2, 2017 Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia Round 2 April 14 – 15, 2017 Chang International Circuit, Thailand Round 3 June 3 – 4, 2017 Suzuka Circuit, Japan Round 4 Aug 12 – 13, 2017 Sentul Circuit, Indonesia Round 5 Oct 7 – 8, 2017 Buddh International Circuit, India Round 6 Dec 2 – 3, 2017 Chang International Circuit, Thailand

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ALL NEW HONDA CBR250RR RACING PROJECT KICKED OFF

2017 Test, Asia Production 250 /

Jakarta – Racing development of All New Honda CBR250RR have been started, with races such as Asia Road Racing Championship, Asia Production 250cc (AP250) in the scope. Shakedown test will be conducted on 5th and 6th of December at Chang International Circuit, Buriram, after the final round of ARRC 2016. Top racers of AHRT, including Andi Gilang, will join the test to get the initial feeling of All New Honda CBR250RR. More details including rider formation will be announced in the early year before the racing season 2017 start. “The racing development of All New Honda CBR250RR has been started. One of its way is through the race of ARRC AP250 class on next year,” as concluded by Marketing Director PT Astra Honda Motor Margono Tanuwijaya

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TWMR RECEIVES 10-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION AS PROMOTERS OF THE FIM ASIA ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP

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The FIM Asia has extended Two Wheels Motor Racing’s contract as the race promoters and rights holders of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship until 2025. Speaking to reporters at Round 6 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the Chang International Circuit, FIM Asia President Mr. Wan Zaharuddin Wan Ahmad expressed that he was satisfied with the progress shown by the championship so far. “In the past 21 seasons, we have literally seen the Asia Road Racing Championship grow into one of the most vibrant championships in the world,” said Mr. Wan Zaharuddin. “They have accomplished two big things. Firstly, they have brought up the level of motorsports in many Asian countries, not just in those with existing strong heritage in the sport. For example, this year, we see riders from Philippines challenging for the title in the Suzuki Asian Challenge, creditable performances from competitors from countries as diverse as India, China, and Vietnam. So by working closely with the stakeholders across the region, they have managed to create a competitive environment that is both inclusive as well as competitive.” “Secondly, they have brought together all the major motorcycle manufacturers in the region. By doing so, they elevated the standard of racing in the Asian arena. I think they have proven the ARRC’s worth as a strong step-up aspiration point for national champions emerging from each Asian country.”

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