2019 Round2

Yamaha Thailand Racing Team rider Peerapong Boonlert is clearly in a class of his own. Peerapong locked down the quickest time of the day in the SuperSports 600cc with 1’57.958s in his bid to extend his championship lead.   “It’s been a great first day back on track for me. I’m really happy with my results from the first two sessions. My condition is good, and my team has had my bike working perfectly. I hope we continue to stay in form as the weekend progresses,” said Peerapong.   Behind Peerapong, series newcomer Ibrahim Norrodin got his ARRC debut off to a great start when he clocked second fastest in class with 1’58.425s. Ibrahim is sitting in for elder brother Adam Norrodin.   Musashi Boon Siew Honda Racing team mates Azroy Hakeem Anuar and Helmi Azman logged 1’58.482s and 1’58.687s each to land on provisional P3 and P4 on the combined timesheets.   2018 Asia Production 250cc champion Rheza Danica Ahrens displayed a big improvement as he gets settled on the CBR600. Rheza posted the fifth fastest time of the day with 1’59.609s.   Andi Farid Izdihar, Javier Malloy, Kritchaporn Kaewsonthi, Passawit Thitivararak and Fakhrusy Syakirin Rostam made it into the top ten.   Finally, Underbone specialist Mohd Akid Aziz is still trying to adapt to the Yamaha R6. Akid is replacing Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin in the Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia team this weekend, and he ended the first day almost five seconds off the front runners.

Round 2 of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will be Peerapong Boonlert’s best chance to get ahead in the SuperSports 600cc title chase. The Yamaha Thailand Racing Team rider had had a dream start to his SuperSports 600cc debut with a double win at the Sepang International Circuit in Round 1. With 50 points in the bag as he heads to The Bend Motorsport Park for Round 2, Peerapong would be delighted to find that two of his closest competitors, Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin and Adam Norrodin will not be at the Australian round. Due to a schedule clash, the two Malaysians who are currently second and third respectively in the 600cc rankings, will be racing in the CEV instead. This scenario puts Honda riders Mohd Helmi Azman, Azroy Hakeem Anuar and Andi Farid Izdihar on the hot seat as they strategize to check Peerapong’s winning streak. Should Peerapong manage to increase his lead with more podium finishes at The Bend, he would have a big advantage at the subsequent Round 3 which will be held on his home track at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand.

Mohd Akid Aziz and Ibrahim Norrodin will be making a guest appearance in the SuperSports 600cc class. The will be their first entry into the 600cc class of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Representing two different teams, Akid and Ibrahim will be filling in for Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin and Adam Norrodin respectively. Akid is no stranger to the ARRC competition. He had won the Underbone 150cc title in 2016 and is presently eighth in the standings for the Underbone class. As the UB150 will not be racing at The Bend Motorsport Park, this has worked out well for the 21-year-old Malaysian. “I’m looking forward to my first 600cc race this weekend. It is the perfect opportunity for me to prove myself in the hopes of securing a 600cc ride in the future,” said Akid. On the other hand, this will be Ibrahim Norrodin’s official ARRC debut. The 19-year-old is the younger brother to Adam. While the elder Adam has been making headlines in his Moto3 career, Ibrahim had also proven his racing chops when he clinched the 2017 KTM Asia RC Cup title.