2019 Round6

HAZE OR SHINE, AZLAN PICKS UP THE DOUBLE IN SEPANG

2019, 2019 Round6, Asia Superbike 1000, Latest News /

From the extreme heat at the Zhuhai International Circuit in August, to the extreme haze at the Sepang International Circuit in September, Malaysian rider Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman proved that he had what it takes to rise above the elements as he became the only rider form Round 6 to take home the double win. Azlan’s second race of the weekend got off to a conservative start when he paced in fourth on Lap 1 behind Thitipong Warokorn, Apiwat Wongthananon and championship leader Broc Parkes. The Malaysian rider was jolted out of his complacency when wildcard Federico Sandi made an overtaking attempt on Azlan on Lap 5. Fighting spirit triggered, Azlan went on a rampage on Lap 6 when he overtook Federico, Broc and Apiwat all in one lap. On Lap 7, Azlan snatched the reins from Thitipong to take full control of the race pace. Azlan’s familiarity with the Sepang International Circuit became a big advantage as he set the fastest lap of the race, 2’06.626s in the final lap. Azlan added a fifth win to his name with 23’29.755s. 1.255 seconds behind, Thitipong managed P2 with 23’31.010s and Apiwat Wongthananon finished third for the fourth time this year with 23’31.465s. The ASB1000 Race 2 podium saw an interesting mix of manufacturers with Azlan on the BMW, Thitipong with Kawasaki and Apiwat Wongthananon representing Yamaha.

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8 WINS IN A SEASON. PEERAPONG EQUALS FUJIWARA’S 2011 RECORD

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Even with the 2019 FIM Asian SuperSports 600cc title firmly in hand, there was no slacking off for Yamaha Thailand Racing Team’s Peerapong Boonlert. Just a day after lifting the 600cc crown, Peerapong was back in dominating form as he clinched his eighth win of the season with 21’50.449s Race 2 flagged off with poleman Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin in the lead. But Peerapong quickly showed that he was not about to sit back and relax. Kasma lost the lead to Peerapong within a lap and came under pressure from Mohd Ramdan Rosli. As Lap 4 came around, the three riders quickly settled into race formation. The battle between Ahmad Afif Amran, Rheza Danica Ahrens and Passawit Thitivararak for P7 was the highlight until the final lap. Kasma finally made his move on Peerapong on Lap 9, but had left it too late even though he was able to close in on his Thai rival. The two Yamaha riders were neck-to-neck down the back straight but a smart bit of racing from Peerapong saw the Thai rider diving into the last corner first, held his line and pipped Kasma to the finish line by 0.032s. Peerapong’s latest feat also earned him bragging rights for the highest number of wins in a season, equaling the record set by Katsuaki Fujiwara in 2011 when the Japanese ace rider won the 600cc title. Should Peerapong pick up more wins in the final round, he will set a new record for the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Kasma confirmed his second overall position on the 600cc standings when he finished second in the race with 21’50.481s. Ramdan Rosli nabbed another podium in third place with 21’50.925s.

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HAZIQ PUTS IN HIS CLAIM FOR THE UB150 TITLE HUNT

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Mohd Haziq Fairues has put his bid in for the 2019 Underbone 150cc Asian champion when he scored his first win of the season at Round 6 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the Sepang International Circuit. Race 2 for the Underbone 150cc class got off with poleman Akid Aziz serving out a controversial ride-through penalty for irresponsible riding in Race 1 on Saturday. In a 6-lap race with 35 bikes on the grid, the penalty effectively put Akid out of podium contention for Race 2. The UMA Racing Yamaha Maju Motor Asia Team rider elected to serve out the penalty on Lap 1, giving himself more time to catch up and collect as many points as possible. At the front, Fernando Masato led the pack into the first lap even as Akid rejoined the group in P32. On Lap 2, Mohd Faiz Zekri from the ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team pushed his way to the front, with Mohd Izzat Zaidi, Affendi Rosli, Aldi Satya Mahendra, and Haziq Fairues in tow. A number of retirements brought championship leader Akid closer to the front group. Notably, Mohammad Murobbil Vitoni crashed out on Lap 3 followed rapidly by Wawan Wello sputtering to the side of the grid. On Lap 4, both championship leaders Akid Aziz and McKinley Kyle Paz were still out of points contention even though a determined Akid put in the fastest lap of the race, 2’31.525s. More crashes at the last corner allowed Haziq Fairues a bit of breathing space at the sharp end of the group. As he came into the final two corners of the race, Haziq was able to carve out a small lead at the front, enough space to keep the horde from his back. Haziq crossed the finish line uncontested in first place with 15’36.361s. It was a day of many firsts for the riders celebrating on the podium – Haziq’s first win of the season, and Faiz Zekri’s first UB150 podium when he finished second with 15’36.728s. Aldi Satya Mahendra finished third with 15’37.608s. Further down the grid, championship leaders Akid and McKinley crossed the finish line in 13th and 10th places respectively. The two riders netted enough points to stay at the front of the title chase. Akid still leads with 119 points while Kyle stays in second overall with 111 points.

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RAMDAN: I JUST WANTED TO WIN

2019, 2019 Round6, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

The SuperSports 600cc title chase has come to a premature end with Peerapong Boonlert taking the crown at the Sepang International Circuit. The Yamaha Thailand Racing Team rider had been particularly low profile the entire weekend even as a determined Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin dominated the practice and qualifying sessions. Kasma not only set the pace in the first day of practice, but also lodged a new SuperSports 600cc lap record of 2’09.712s in the qualifying session. Team play from the Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia camp was very much in evidence during the 30-minute qualifier. Kasma towed team mate Ahmad Afif Amran around the 5.5km Sepang Circuit, resulting in Afif’s first front row start of the season in P2. Imperious Peerapong was content to start the race from P3. While the front runners hogged the limelight, Mohd Ramdan Rosli had quietly inserted himself in to the second row. A quick start shot the ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team rider into the holeshot on Lap 1 but he lost his position to Kasma and Peerapong on Lap 2. Ramdan kept his cool and strategically made his move on the penultimate lap. While Kasma was engrossed with Peerapong, Ramdan slipped past his defenses at the last corner to bag his first win of the season with 21’55.025s. Mohd Ramdan Rosli’s strong desire to win his first SuperSports 600cc race of the season had ended the title chase in the class. Kasma needed to win in order to keep his title hopes alive. When Ramdan relegated his compatriot to second, Peerapong’s third place finish was good enough to seal the deal. “I just wanted to win. I had no interest in helping Kasma nor Peerapong in any way,” said Ramdan after the race. Peerapong now holds 239 points at the top of the ladder, 76 points in front of Kasma. With only three races to go, Peerapong has been declared as the 2019 Asian SuperSports 600cc champion.

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IRFAN CLAIMS FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON

2019, 2019 Round6, Asia Production 250, Latest News /

After six podium finishes in the first five legs of the 2019 season, Irfan Ardiansyah has finally claimed his first AP250 win of the season. The Astra Honda Racing Team rider started Race 1 from second row, behind pole sitter Muklada Sarapuech, and front row qualifiers Lucky Hendriansya and Rafid Topan Sucipto. A bad start put him ninth in the group at the opening lap but Irfan quickly recovered and had gone up to fifth in the second lap. He continued to power his way up the field and was leading the group by Lap 3. However, Irfan found it impossible to break away and faced significant challenge from his own team mates Lucky Hendriansya, Awhin Sanjaya as well as Muklada Sarapuech. Irfan dropped to fourth on Lap 5 but caught up with Muklada again in the penultimate lap. The long straights at the Sepang International Circuit worked to Irfan’s favour. He was able to slipstream Muklada on the final straight before making a final dash to victory with a time of 19’45.110s. 0.241 seconds behind, Muklada came home in second with 19’45.351s. Rafid Topan Sucipto started the race from third and finished in the same position with 19’45.371s. Irfan became the new AP250 championship leader with 165 points when Andy Muhammad Fadly finished fifth. But this win would prove to be a double edged sword. Irfan is now leading his fifth placed team mate Lucky Hendriansya by 58 points. This means that the second equalizer, a further 500rpm cut, will be imposed on Irfan’s bike. In effect, Irfan became the first AP250 rider to pick up a second equalizer. Andy Muhammad Fadly, who has shown himself to be a supreme mathematician, again narrowly escaped the second equalizer. At 156 points, Fadly leads Lucky by 49 points. At this late stage of the game, Fadly would do better to bite the bullet in Race 2 and win to gain maximum points to take the lead into the final round in Thailand. Further down the grid, Vietnamese rider Cao Viet Nam finished within the top 10 for the second time this season. Idemitsu Boon Siew Honda Racing wildcards Muhammad Syarifuddin Azman and Mohd Idlan Haqimi Raduan ended their AP250 debut in 12thand 21st places respectively.

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AKID SUSTAINS COMPETITIVE EDGE IN RACE 1

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Mohd Akid Aziz had been able to sustain his Underbone 150cc competitive edge as Round 6 of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship unfolds at the Sepang International Circuit. After setting a new lap record in the practice sessions, the UMA Racing Yamaha Maju Motor Asia Team rider went on to confirm his slot on pole position when he aced the SuperPole with 2’34.505s. Mohd Izzat Zaidi from RCB Accentwire Yamaha YY Pang Racing and Akid’s team mate Mohd Haziq Mohd Fairues joined him on the front row. Izzat Zaidi took early control of the race, but soon lost his advantage when the 14-rider leading pack engulfed him. Akid popped into the lead on Lap 4, dropped to eighth on Lap 5 before emerging out of the group to take the win at the chequered flag with 15’43.137s. Wahyu Aji Trilaksana settled for second spot with 15’43.254s. Cardinals Racing Team celebrated their first ARRC podium when Rozaiman Mohd Said fought his way to third with 15’43.678s. Meanwhile championship leader McKinley Kyle Paz finally received medical clearance to join the race. However, having missed out on the qualifier the previous day, the UMA Racing Yamaha Philippine Team rider had to start the race from the back of the grid. The gritty Filipino rider pushed his way up from 35th to sixth, enough to keep his title hopes alive. Akid Aziz became the new UB150 championship leader with 116 points. McKinley dropped to second overall with 105 points. Ahmad Fazli Sham is still in with a long shot. He is third on the rankings with 81 points followed by Fernando Masato fourth with 77 points. Indonesian riders Wawan Wello and Wahyu Aji Trilaksana tie for fifth overall with 74 points apiece.

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ZAQHWAN LINES UP FOR PROVISIONAL POLE

2019, 2019 Round6, Asia Superbike 1000, Latest News /

Malaysian duo Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi (Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA) and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) dominated the first day of practice in the ASB1000 class as the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship returned to the Sepang Circuit for Round 6. Zaqhwan snared provisional pole with his fastest lap, 2’06.502s but is still a second short of breaking the lap record (2’05.505s) set by Thitipong Warokorn in the season opener. Azlan, on the other hand, had topped the timesheets in the first two practice sessions. He placed second fastest in the combined timesheets with 2’06.665s. Yamaha Thailand Racing Team’s Apiwat Wongthananon logged a creditable third quickest time of 2’06.833s followed by championship leader Broc Parkes in fourth with 2’06.919s. Ahmad Yudhistira from the Victor Racing Team came in fifth with 2’07.331s. Of note, wildcard Federico Sandi (Access Plus Racing Ducati Philippines Essenza Team) logged eighth fastest with 2’08.266s while Shahrulnizam Ramli posted a personal fastest lap of 2’11.896s in his first ARRC outing.

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DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT FROM KASMA IN SEPANG

2019, 2019 Round6, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin looks to be riding high on homeground as the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship returns to the Sepang International Circuit for Round 6. Over the course of the season, Kasma’s race craft had matured. At the season opener (also in Sepang), Kasma was always one step behind Peerapong Boonlert. But in Round 6, Kasma had not only placed himself at the top of the timing sheets from the first day of practice, but also improved his best lap by a full second. The Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia rider’s best time went from 2’11.189s in Round 1 to 2’10.113s in Round 6. Kasma was one of three riders to lap below the 2’10s mark. Azroy Hakeem Anuar from Musashi Boon Siew Honda Racing clocked second quickest with 2’10.753s followed by Astra Honda Racing Team’s Andi Farid Izdihar third with 2’10.959s. Championship leader Peerapong Boonlert can take it easy in the final two rounds of the championship. He was fourth fastest after the first day with 2’11.196s. Mohd Ramdan Rosli from the ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team was fifth fastest with 2’11.203s.

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PIYAWAT QUICKEST IN DAY 1 AT SEPANG

2019, 2019 Round6, Asia Production 250, Latest News /

AP Honda Racing Thailand’s junior rider Piyawat Patoomyos completed the first day of practice at the Sepang International Circuit on a high note when he emerged fastest in the Asia Production 250cc class. The young Thai rider had had no previous record at the 5.5km Sepang Circuit, having joined the ARRC in Round 2. A lack of familiarity with the circuit was obviously not an issue for Piyawat when he clocked the fastest time of the day, 2’25.808s. However, Piyawat’s best time was still a second off the lap record – 2’24.783s set by his team mate, Muklada Sarapuech in Round 1. Muklada herself posted second fastest in the first day of practice with 2’25.949s. Indonesian rider Irfan Ardiansyah from the Astra Honda Racing Team was the third quickest man on the AP250 grid. He paced home with 2’26.208s. Championship leader Andy Muhammad Fadly clocked fourth fastest, 2’26.316s while Rey Ratukore completed the top five with 2’26.378s. Rafid Topan Sucipto who had just recently picked up a double win from the Zhuhai round, was sixth fastest in Day 1. The Bike Corner SYS KYT Racing Team rider’s best time was clocked at 2’26.460s. Lucky Hendriansya, currently the benchmark for race strategies among the top five, was seventh with 2’26.897s. Awhin Sanjaya, Tatchakorn Buasri, and Aiki Iyoshi also posted within the top 10.

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AKID SETS NEW UB150 BENCHMARK AT SEPANG

2019, 2019 Round6, Latest News, Underbone 150 /

UMA Racing Yamaha Maju Motor Asia Team’s Mohd Akid Aziz has set a new Underbone 150cc benchmark at the Sepang International Circuit. On track for the first day of practices for Round 6 of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, Akid threw down the gauntlet when he posted 2’32.165s during the Underbone 150cc qualifier. The Underbone 150cc title chase resumed with McKinley Kyle Paz in the lead. The UMA Racing Yamaha Philippine Team rider was determined to replicate his performance from the season opener but highsided at the last corner during the second practice session. The crash resulted in an injured ankle and the young Filipino rider was not cleared for the UB150 qualifying session in the latter half of the day. In his absence, Mohd Akid Aziz seized the opportunity to steal provisional pole in preparation of the intense Underbone 150cc battle ahead. SND Factory Racing Rapido’s Wawan Wello will be looking for more wins to get himself back in title contention. He clocked second fastest in the qualifying session with 2’33.211s. With McKinley potentially carrying an injury in this round, Wawan will have his best opportunity to take the championship lead ahead of the final round in Thailand. Peerapong Luiboonpeng from Team One For All was third quickest with 2’33.280s. Ahmad Fazli Sham and Mohammad Murobbil Vitoni rounded up the top five.

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