2018 Round2

Tensions ran high as the premiere class riders lined up on the grid for Race 2 of the SuperSports 600cc class. Following the cancellation of Race 1, everyone had been determined to finish the race in grand fashion at the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship’s Australian debut at The Bend Motorsport Park.   The 600cc grid was cut down further when Decha Kraisart and Broc Pearson had to pull out due to injuries sustained earlier in the weekend.   Ito, who was one of the riders who had crashed out in Race 1, was lucky to have been able to get back onto the grid for Race 2. As the race was flagged off, the Yamaha Racing Team Asean poleman jumped into the lead ahead of Ratthapong Wilairot and Taiga Hada. The Japanese ace was racing well until a crash by Irfan Ardiansyah brought out the red flag on Lap 4.   The SuperSports 600cc race was re-started and reduced to 8 laps. At the re-start, Malaysian rookie Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin took the early lead, again with Ratthapong and Yuki Ito in tow. Kasma ran wide on Lap 3, creating an opening for Ito to ride into the lead.   The Yamaha Racing Team Asean rider proceeded to control the race pace from the front of the group and ended the race in first with 15’42.605s. This would be Ito’s first win since Round 5 in India, in 2017.   Ratthapong Wilairot also reveled in his first SuperSports 600cc podium when he finished second with 15’44.207s. Malaysian rookie Mohd Ramdan Mohd Rosli created quite a stir when he came home in third place, clocking 15’49.587s.   Keisuke Kurihara and Keminth Kubo placed fourth and fifth respectively followed by Andi Farid Izdihar in fifth, Azroy Hakeem Anuar, Kasma Daniel, Joe Francis and defending champion Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman.   The shakeup from Race 1 has had a huge impact on the title chase. With points awarded only for Race 2, Ito was unable to take the lead from the absent Anthony West. West is still at the top of the ladder with 45 points. Ito is now ranked second with 42 points. Azlan Shah has dropped to third overall with 38 points.

The SuperSports 600cc Race 1 at The Bend Motorsport Park, Round 2 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, has been deemed cancelled after two separate incidents brought out the red flags twice in the duration of the race.   The original 15-lap race was first red flagged on Lap 3 when race leader Yuki Ito highsided. Ito, fortunately, walked away uninjured by the crash. The 600cc grid re-convened for a shortened 9-lap race but was again interrupted when championship leader Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman took a tumble at the same corner on Lap 3.   Under ARRC regulations, Race 1 is deemed cancelled and no championship points will be awarded.

Yuki Ito and the Yamaha Racing Team Asean has succeeded in their efforts to unlock the true potential of the 2017 Yamaha R6. Ito has been a strong contender throughout the SuperSports 600cc free practice sessions at Round 2 of the ARRC at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia. He further sealed his dominance when he took his Yamaha to pole position with a fast lap of 1’56.591s.   In the absence of podium regulars Anthony West and Zaqhwan Zaidi, defending champion Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman saw Round 2 as an opportunity to bend the title chase in his favour. Instead, the Malaysian rider has been facing problems with his Kawasaki and uncharacteristically, qualified only P11 in the Australian round.   West’s super-sub, BSB rider Joseph Francis, proved to be the right choice for team Webike Ikazuchi Racing. The British rider qualified second on the grid with 1’56.690s. Idemitsu Honda Racing  India by T.Pro Ten10’s Taiga Hada slipped into the last position on the front grid. Hada clocked third fastest with 1’56.710s.   Rookie Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin served up the biggest surprise in the SuperSports 600cc qualifying. After a creditable full-season debut in Thailand, Kasma netted a blazing 1’56.736s to qualify for P4. The young Malaysian rider will lead the second row ahead of seasoned campaigners Tomoyoshi Koyama and Decha Kraisart on P5 and P6 respectively.   Ratthapong Wilairot, Irfan Ardiansyah, Ahmad Yudhistira, and Mohd Ramdan Rosli rounded up the top 10.

Tyre abrasion was the primary concern among the SuperSports 600cc riders as the first day of free practices concluded for Round 2 at The Bend Motorsport Park. The new track asphalt had proven to be particularly unforgiving.   Nevertheless, competition is still fierce across the grid with a determined Yuki Ito leading the way. The Yamaha Racing Team Asean rider posted 1’57.332s at the top of the timesheets. Also lapping within the same second, are Yamaha Thailand Racing Team duo Decha Kraisart and Keminth Kubo with 1’57.552s and 1’57.964s respectively.   Wildcard Broc Pearson could be a potential podium threat. The Australian rider who is very familiar with the level of competition in the Asia Road Racing Championship, pulled off the fourth fastest time, 1’58.034s. Tomoyoshi Koyama from team MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda logged fifth fastest with 1’58.288s.   The lack of team data at the new circuit is becoming quickly apparent. The first day of practice had brought mixed results among the top 10. Astra Honda Racing Team’s Irfan Ardiansyah was sixth fastest with 1’58.338s. Manual Tech KYT Kawasaki Racing’s Ahmad Yudhistira posted seventh while his defending champion team mate, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, clocked a conservative tenth fastest with 1’58.641s.   Malaysian rookie Azroy Hakeem Anuar also produced creditable results, eighth fastest with 1’58.561s. Wildcard Tom Toparis was ninth fastest after the first day of practice.