2019 Round1

Peerapong Boonlert is the biggest winner from Round 1 of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the Sepang Circuit. The Thai rider was virtually in a class of his own as he effortlessly snapped up a double win in the SuperSports 600cc class. A late start was no handicap for Peerapong when he dove past a late-breaking Kasma Daniel at Turn 1 to tuck in behind the leading pole sitter, Adam Norrodin. WhenAdam ran out onto the grass at Turn 4, Peerapong placed himself right on the sharp end of the 600cc grid. The Yamaha Thailand Racing Team rider rode virtually unchallenged at the head of the 14-rider group. After 10 flawless laps, Peerapong checked in with his secondwin with 21’57.152s. The bulk of the 600cc action happened within the second group with Indonesian Andi Farid Izdihar holding his own against Malaysians Helmi Azman and KasmaDaniel Kasmayudin. Adam Norrodin joined the 3-way battle in the closing laps of the race and sparked off an intense final two-lap scramble for the last two spots on the podium. Andi Farid from the Astra Honda Racing Team held off his Malaysian rivals long enough to finish the race in second place with 21’59.138s. A nifty move by KasmaDaniel Kasmayuddin gave him the last podium spot with 21’59.471s. Peerapong Boonlert leaves the Sepang Circuit with the maximum 50 points in his pocket. Kasma is second overall with 36 points and Adam Norrodin third with 29 points.

2018 SuperSports 600cc team winner, Yamaha Thailand Racing Team, has started their title defense on a strong note. The team’s ace rider, Peerapong Boonlertdelivered an impressive performance in Race 1. Peerapong qualified for second on the grid after crashing out at the final minutes of the morning’s qualifier. Pole position went to Adam Norrodin from the host track, SIC Junior ZK Racing Team. However, a slow start from Adam allowed Peerapong the opportunity to race into the holeshot. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin was also able to push past Adam to take second spot at the opening lap. With the lead firmly in hand, Peerapong stayed at the front for the entire 10 lap race. He eventually crossed the finish line with 21’53.239s, 1.255 seconds ahead ofsecond placed Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin. Behind the leading duo, Adam managed to fight his way up the field to grab the last spot on the podium with 21’58.189s. The SuperSports 600cc class suffered a number of big crashes. Fakhrusy Syakirin dropped off the radar in the first lap, followed soon by Passawit Thitivararak. TroyAlberto had a scary high side on Lap 1 while Astra Honda Racing Team’s Andi Farid Izdihar also retired from the race after four laps.

Australian rider Broc Parkes has just snared provisional pole for Round 1 in the ASB1000 class of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. The Yamaha Racing Team ASEAN rider clocked 2’05.608s in the third free practice session. Malaysian rider Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman is expected to give Parkes a run for his money. The ONEXOX TKKR SAG Racing Team rider brought his BMW S1000RR to within 0.80s of Parkes’s best time. At 2’05.688s, Azlan was the second fastest ASB1000 rider. Thitipong Warokorn from the Kawasaki Thailand Racing Team outfit stayed consistent in third fastest with 2’06.333s. Apiwat Wongthananon, from the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team, also finished a creditable fourth with 2’06.387s. Ahmad Yudhistira, the sole Indonesian on the ASB1000 grid, brought his stock standard R1 to fifth fastest with 2’06.448s, an incredible feat. TJ Alberto from the Philippines bettered his time to 2’08.227s. A number of injuries had resulted in a change to the rider make up of the ASB1000 grid. Patrick Li and Hafiq Azmi will be replaced by K. Rajini Krishnan and Farid Badrul Hisahm respectively. Both riders crashed out during the pre-season test.

An unexpected battle between SuperSports 600cc newcomers Peerapong Boonlert and Muhamad Adam Mohd Norrodin is on the cards as the clock ticks down to the first two races of the season at the Sepang Circuit this weekend. Thai rider Peerapong Boonlert, newly arrived in the sophomore class after spending two years in the Asia Production 250cc category, is also a 2-times Suzuka 4 Hour Champion. The Yamaha Thailand Racing Team rider checked in as the fastest rider of the group with 2’10.610s. 0.324s behind, Malaysian rider Muhamad Adam Mohd Norrodin is living it up on his team’s home track. Adam, who races under the SIC Junior ZK Racing team colours, was a Moto3 rider for three seasons. The 21-year-old Malaysian racing star clocked 2’10.934s as the second fastest 600cc rider of the day. Behind the two leaders, nine other riders managed to lap within 2’11s. Mohd Ramdan Rosli was the third fastest of the day with 2’11.027s followed by AzroyHakeem Anuar fourth with 2’11.168s and Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin fifth with 2’11.189s. Mohd Helmi Azman, now carrying the trademark Musashi number 634, seems to be feeling the weight of expectations. After lapping at the top of the timesheets during the pre-season test, the Malaysian rider dropped to sixth fastest with 2’11.254s. The best performing Indonesian rider on the 14-rider grid was Andi Farid Izdihar from the Astra Honda Racing Team, seventh with 2’11.314s. Ahmad Afif Amran, Passawit Thitiravararak and Kritchaporn Kaewsonthi also made it into the top 10.