2018

AP Honda Racing Thailand’s Muklada Sarapuech continues to make waves. The 2015 Asia Dream Cup Champion made history again in Round 1 of the 2018 Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand when she became the first female rider to win the Asia Production 250cc class. Muklada, who received two sanctions after Race 1, put in a clean and faultless performance in Race 2 as she weaved, dodged, feinted and parried against the rest of the boys. The AP Honda Thailand rider led the group across the start/finish line from Lap 2 to Lap 6. The pressure sent her off the track limits on Lap 7. But this time, Muklada was careful to rejoin without gaining any advantage. That single mistake had sent Muklada from third to eleventh. With only two laps to go, Muklada overtook three riders to reach P7 on the penultimate lap, and another five riders to take the win with 19’11.671s. Rafid Topan Sucipto crafted a great comeback by finishing second followed by Kanatat Jaiman in third. Peerapong Boonlert, the fastest rider in Race 2, ended the race in fourth. Race 1 winner Anupab Sarmoon crossed the finish line in fifth. As the season opener drew to a close, Anupab Sarmoon holds the championship lead with 36 points. Muklada is tied in second with Rafid Topan – each with 31 points apiece.   Asia Production 250cc Fastest Lap Summary FP Mario Suryo Aji 1’53.106 QP Anupab Sarmoon 1’53.064 R1 Mario Suryo Aji 1’53.603 R2 Peerapong Boonlert 1’53.356

Yamaha Thailand Racing Team’s Anupab Sarmoon, a fourth-season contender in the Asia Production 250cc class, drew on every ounce of his experience to come up tops in the first race of the season. The Asia Production 250cc class had always been notorious for its no-holds-barred dogfight at the sharp end of the grid. With 13 riders battling for P1 in a 10-lap melee to the finish line, the polesitter found himself fending off attacks at every corner from the likes of Muklada Sarapuech, newcomer Kritchaporn Kaewsonthi, Indonesia’s Rheza Danica Ahrens, and Andy Muhammad Fadly. With no particular rider dominating the 10-lap race, the notorious last corner at the Chang International Circuit became the deciding factor of the race. Anupab nimbly avoided a particularly aggressive move from Muklada Sarapuech who had earlier succeeded in forcing Mario Suryo Aji off the racing line. The Yamaha rider then neatly held his lines to the finish line to pick up his first win of the season with 19’14.601s. Muklada was second across the chequered flag followed by MarioSuryo Aji. However, Muklada’s actions from Turn 9 to Turn 10 had prompted an immediate investigation into the results. Consequently, race officials penalized the AP Honda Thailand rider and she dropped five positions to P7. Muklada was further fined with a 3-point championship points deduction for unsporting behaviour. Mario was promoted to P2, followed by his team mate Rheza Danica Ahrens in third.

Just one day into the 2018 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, and Asia Production 250cc debutant Mario Suryo Aji has earned a new nickname from Asian racing fans – Super Mario. Officially the youngest rider to ever race in the Asia Production 250cc class, the Astra Honda Racing Team rookie pulled off a double-stunner during the free practice sessions. Not only did he post the fastest time in the intermediary class – 1’53.106s – but he also created a new circuit record in the process. This was the first time a debutant had entered the competitive race category and created such big waves. Anupab Sarmoon, heavily tipped as the hot favourite for the title this season, was second quickest with 1’53.250s. Former Moto2 rider Rafid Topan Sucipto was third fastest with 1’53.389s. Mario’s performance has again put much pressure on his senior team mate Rheza Danica Ahrens, viewed by many as the successor to Gerry Salim’s title. Rheza was fourth fastest at the end of the free practice sessions with 1’53.466s followed by Muklada Sarapuech fifth fastest. In fact, all the ten fastest riders in the class were only separated by a single second. Kanata Jaiman, Peerapong Boonlert, Kritchaporn Kaewsonthi, Andy Muhammad Fadly and AwhinSanjaya piled into the second half of the top ten.