2019

ANDY FADLY, IRFAN TAKES AP250 HUNT TO THE FINAL RACE

2019, 2019 Round7, Asia Production 250, Latest News /

A mere 1000rpm cut handicap in the AP250 class was not going to stop Andy Muhammad Fadly and Irfan Ardiansyah from putting up a fantastic performance in Race 1.   As the final round opened at the Chang International Circuit, all signs were pointing towards an all-Thai domination at the front of the AP250 race while the battle for the title between the two main protagonists would likely happen off the podium.   The expectations were initially borne out at the close of the AP250 qualifying when Muklada Sarapuech unequivocally earned the right to park her bike on pole position followed by Rafid Topan Sucipto and Piyawat Patoomyos on the front row. Andy and Irfan qualified for the second row, on P4 and P6 respectively.   As the 10-lap race flagged off, a brilliant start by Muklada gave her full control of the first lap. As the group swept around the hairpin at Turn 3, Muhammad Faerozi Toreqottullah crashed out, very nearly taking Irfan along with him. The Astra Honda Racing Team rider lost a full five seconds as he narrowly avoided a catastrophic outcome in Race 1, dropping down to P20 at the end of the first lap.   Back in front, Andy Muhammad Fadly was careful to stay within the top group even as Muklada and team mate Piyawat Patoomyos tried to pull ahead on Lap 3. However, the two Thai riders were unable to hold the rest of the riders at bay for long. As of Lap 6, Fadly, Piyawat, Muklada, Rafid Topan, Tatchakorn Buasri, Awhin Sanjaya and Rey Ratukore were still all tangled up in the 7-bike lead group.   By this point, Irfan had managed to get himself back into the points, but was still trailing the front runners by a hefty 5 seconds. Just when it looked like Irfan’s title hopes are fizzling out, the Astra Honda Racing Team rider began a series of quick laps that halved the gap to 2.3 seconds within the space of two laps.   Irfan caught up to the tail end of the leading group on the final lap which was being led by his team mate Awhin Sanjaya and compatriots Rafid Topan Sucipto and Andy Muhammad Fadly. The three frontrunners, however, soon lost the lead to an audacious move by Muklada Sarapuech. The AP Honda Racing Team rider led the group into the last corner but ran wide, almost crashing into Awhin Sanjaya.   Andy Muhammad Fadly took full advantage of the situation and darted into the inside line and successful held the lead to the finish line. Andy scored his third win of the season with 19’03.763s Awhin Sanjaya recovered from the incident in time to take second place while Muklada claimed third place.   Fadly has taken a 14-point lead at the top of the championship standings. Irfan Ardiansyah finished fifth to keep his title hopes alive. Awhin Sanjaya, trailing Fadly by 19 points, also has a strong mathematical chance to lift the crown. However, the second equalizer will also be applied to Awhin for Race 2, leading to a scenario where all three title hunters will be racing on a level playing field.

ANDY FADLY, IRFAN TAKES AP250 HUNT TO THE FINAL RACE Read More »

McKINLEY LEADS AKID INTO FINAL UB150 RACE OF 2019

2019, 2019 Round7, Latest News, Underbone 150 /

A change in the UB150 pecking order after Race 1 has set the stage for an explosive final race at the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship finale in Thailand this week.   A strong performance in the SuperPole earlier in the day had brought title contender Mohd Haziq Mohd Fairues to pole position alongside two ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team riders Ahmad Fazli Sham and Wahyu Aji Trilaksana on the front row.   As the 31 riders assembled on the congested grid for the start of Race 1, a clean start brought polesitter Haziq into the lead at Turn 1 with the rest of the grid in hot pursuit. The intensity of the title chase had ramped up the action in the Underbone 150cc Race 1. At the end of the first lap, the top 11 riders came across the finish line within the same second.   Unfortunately for championship leader Mohd Akid Aziz, mechanical failure forced the Uma Racing Yamaha Maju Motor Asia Team rider out of the race on Lap 2. More carnage ensued on the same lap when Mohammad Murobbil Vitoni, Syahrul Amin, Richard Taroreh and Muhamad Iqbal Abdul Malek got involved in a big pile-up at Turn 4. Thankfully, all the riders were able to walk away from the crash.   Seasoned campaigner Ahmad Fazli Sham used every bit of skill in his arsenal to lead the group across the finish line for most of the 8-lap race. Three laps to go, while Fazli continues to mix things up at the front, championship hopeful McKinley Kyle Paz was tucked into the front group on P6.   McKinley’s team mate Fernando Masato sprung a surprise on the last lap when he stormed past Fazli and into the lead. The Filipino rider held on to his advantage for two more corners but lost the lead to Fazli as they exited Turn 3. Team tactics came into play at this point when the ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team riders bunched up together to squeeze Masato out of the front. Fazli got onto the lead with the aid of their slipstream.   Another crash at the same corner gave Fazli the space he needed to pull ahead of the group. The Malaysian rider kept his momentum for the rest of the final lap and notched his second win of the season. Wahyu Aji Trilaksana made it a ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team 1-2 when he crossed the line in second place. Fernando Masato settled for third place.   McKinley Kyle Paz took control of the title chase when he finished tenth in Race 1. McKinley leads Akid by only two points. The Underbone 150 title chase is now down to five riders including Haziq Fairues, Ahmad Fazli Sham and Aldi Satya Mahendra ahead of the final race on Sunday.

McKINLEY LEADS AKID INTO FINAL UB150 RACE OF 2019 Read More »

QUALIFYING: ZAQHWAN QUALIFIES AHEAD OF AZLAN

2019, 2019 Round7, Asia Superbike 1000, Latest News /

Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi (Honda Asia Dream Racing with SHOWA) is pulling out all the stops in his bid to defy the odds that are stacked against him in the ASB1000 title hunt. Zaqhwan, who still has an outside chance of becoming the first FIM Asian ASB1000 champion, has been working hard all weekend at the season finale to give himself every opportunity to turn the tables on championship leaders Broc Parkes (Yamaha Racing Team ASEAN) and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team).   Zaqhwan was easily the most hard working rider in the ASB1000 qualifier. The Honda rider was out on track for most of the qualifying session and got onto the top of the leader board after 20 minutes. He became the first ASB1000 rider this weekend to lap below 1’36 when he posted 1’35.954s.   The final six minutes of the qualifier was where all the action happened. With four minutes left on the board, Zaqhwan posted another flying lap to take pole with 1’35.714s.   Azlan muscled his way up to P2 with 1’35.960s while Apiwat Wongthananon (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team) who had been consistent all weekend qualified for P3 with 1’36.132s. Championship leader Broc will head up the second row.

QUALIFYING: ZAQHWAN QUALIFIES AHEAD OF AZLAN Read More »

SUPERPOLE: HAZIQ TAKES POLE AHEAD OF AKID

2019, 2019 Round7, Latest News, Underbone 150 /

The top 15 riders from Friday’s Underbone 150cc qualifier went out for the final SuperPole session for the 2019 season. This format of seeding the top-15 spots on the race grid will see the riders going out in batches of five. Each rider is flagged off individually to ensure that everyone has a clear piece of track in front of him. The idea is to take away the vital slipstream advantage and create a front grid that is based solely on machine and rider capability.   Young Aldi Satya Mahendra (Yamaha Racing Indonesia) led the first batch of five comprised of Gupita Kresna Wardhana, Peerapong Luiboonpeng, Mohd Faiz Zekri and Aditya Fauzi.   Aldi’s best time 2’03.044s was quickly eclipsed by the second group (Izzat Zaidi, Hafiza Rofa, McKinley Kyle Paz, Amirul Ariff Musa, and Wahyu Aji Trilaksana). Wahyu posted the fastest time among the second group with 2’02.694s.   The third and final batch of riders were made up of the top five fastest riders from Friday’s qualifying session – Haziq Fairues, Affendi Rosli, Rozaiman Said, Ahmad Fazli Sham, and lap record holder Akid Aziz.   However, it was Haziq Fairues (UMA Racing Yamaha Maju Motor Asia Team) who stole the limelight when he claimed pole position with 2’02.470s. Wahyu Aji Trilaksana’s time was good enough to keep him on front row followed by his ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team team mate, Ahmad Fazli Sham on P3.   Top Friday qualifier and championship leader Akid Aziz will lead the second row with Izzat Zaidi and McKinley Kyle Paz.

SUPERPOLE: HAZIQ TAKES POLE AHEAD OF AKID Read More »

QUALIFYING: KASMA INTENT ON BEATING PEERAPONG AT HIS OWN GAME

2019, 2019 Round7, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

The SuperSports 600cc title chase may be over and done with, but Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin (Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia) still has a point to prove in his final appearance in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship before he heads off to the Moto2 World Championships in 2020.   Kasma, confirmed in second place on the championship leader, along with newly minted SuperSports 600cc FIM Asian champion Peerapong Boonlert (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team), could afford to take it easy at the season finale in Thailand this weekend.   Instead, the two riders turned the 30-minute 600cc qualifier into an intense battle for pole position as they displaced each other at the top of the timesheets in the closing minutes.   Peerapong gained an early upper hand early in the session when he clocked 1’39.681s. 18 minutes into the qualifier, Adam Norrodin (SIC Junior ZK Racing Team) popped up to the front with 1’39.449s. Adam’s time held for the duration of the 10-minute lull until Peerapong clocked 1’39.245s at four minutes to go. Almost immediately, Kasma responded by going under the 1’39 barrier with 1’38.992s.   Not to be outdone, Peerapong pushed Kasma down to P2 with 1’38.801s, only to lose his grip on pole position when Kasma clocked 1’38.756s with a mere 45 seconds left on the clock.   Kasma’s brilliant qualifying strategy has earned him the right to start both final races from pole position. Peerapong and Adam are also set to start from front row.

QUALIFYING: KASMA INTENT ON BEATING PEERAPONG AT HIS OWN GAME Read More »

QUALIFYING: EVENTFUL AP250 QUALIFYING IN BURIRAM

2019, 2019 Round7, Asia Production 250, Latest News /

Team play was very much in evidence during the 30 minute AP250 qualifying for the season finale of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the Chang International Circuit.   AP Honda Racing Team’s Muklada Sarapuech led the team’s charge in an all-out bid to lock out the front row. Trailing the championship leaders by 49 points, Muklada needed the coveted pole position to boost her chances of creating an upset at the top of the championship ladder.   10 minutes in, Muklada logged 1’52.552s, cutting her best Friday time by half a second to gain control of the pole position. Soon after, Rafid Topan Sucipto (Bike Corner SYS KYT Racing Team) bettered his personal best by lapping 1’53.019s.   The main title contenders, Andy Muhammad Fadly and Irfan Ardiansyah, who are both riding under the second equalizer rules, managed to put in consistent laps within the top six.   10 minutes to the end of the qualifying, with the exception of Rafid Topan who was still pushing hard for the pole position, most of the front runners were back in their respective pits. The Astra Honda Racing Team trio were the first to break the lull. By working together, the three riders managed to bring Irfan’s qualifying time up to P6 with 1’53.279s.   Right on cue, Manual Tech KYT Kawasaki duo Aiki Iyoshi and Andy Muhammad Fadly responded by heading back out on track followed shortly by the AP Honda Racing Thailand riders intent on reclaiming the front row. But the high number of traffic on the track in the closing minutes throttled any chance of improving their qualifying times.   At four minutes to go, title contender Awhin Sanjaya suffered a big highside at the infamous Buriram last corner. Thankfully, the Astra Honda Racing Team rider walked away from the crash relatively unscathed.   As the chequered flag came down, Muklada Sarapuech will lead the 30-rider grid on pole position with 1’52.552s. Rafid Topan lodged himself on P2 between pole sitter Muklada and her team mate Piyawat Patoomyos in P3.   The title contenders will start the two final races from the second row – Andy Muhammad Fadly in P4 alongside Tatchakorn Buasri and Irfan Ardiansyah.

QUALIFYING: EVENTFUL AP250 QUALIFYING IN BURIRAM Read More »

AZLAN LEADS BROC INTO QUALIFYING

2019, 2019 Round7, Asia Superbike 1000, Latest News /

Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) is taking no prisoners at the final round of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand as he tops the times with 1’36.123s. As Azlan prepares to engage in the final battle for the first ASB1000 title, this has given the Malaysian a 0.310s advantage over second place Broc Parkes (Yamaha Racing Team ASEAN).   The fact that the Chang International Circuit was to be the host for the season finale has tipped the odds in Azlan’s favour. The Malaysian was virtually unchallenged at this 4.554km circuit at the previous meet in Round 3 when he converted pole position to a strong double win.   Azlan and Thai rider Apiwat Wongthananon (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team) were the first two to get up to speed, displacing each other at the top. Broc, as usual, was marching to the rhythm of his own drums, not feeling the need to get involved in the early rush.   With 8 minutes of FP3 to go, Azlan logged his best time, 1’36.123s, and promptly dove into the pits for a conference with his BMW engineers. Sensing the opportunity, Broc put in a series of quick laps and managed to push Zaqhwan Zaidi (Honda Asia Dream Racing with SHOWA) down to P3.   The three title contenders, Azlan, Broc and Zaqhwan, have locked out the provisional front row. Apiwat Wongthananon dropped to fourth with 1’36.597s. In P5, Thitipong Warokorn (Kawasaki Thailand Racing Team) poses as a substantial threat. Thai fans can expect to see Thitipong go all out for the win on his homeground. The Thai rider had missed Round 3 while he recovered from a back injury sustained as a wildcard during the World SSP.

AZLAN LEADS BROC INTO QUALIFYING Read More »

ADAM TAKES PROVISIONAL POLE, WHILE KASMA AND PEERAPONG TAKES IT SLOW

2019, 2019 Round7, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

Adam Norrodin (SIC Junior ZK Racing Team) picked up provisional pole on Friday after setting 1’38.981s in the third practice session at the final leg of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship in Buriram, Thailand.   The first day of practice in the SuperSports 600cc class was a tame affair with both Peerapong Boonlert and Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin already confirmed on the top rungs of the championship ladder.   Kasma was 0.134s behind Adam in second while Peerapong Boonlert was uncharacteristically slow, picking up only 1’39.151s to place third on the combined timesheets.   Behind the top three riders, Ahmad Afif Amran had been making great strides in the SuperSports 600cc class. The Malaysian rider bettered his personal best time by almost a second, to land provisional P4 on Friday. Boon Siew Honda Racing Team’s Azroy Hakeem Anuar posted fifth fastest with 1’40.407s.   Word in the paddock is that Peerapong Boonlert is busy planning an elaborate victory celebration to commemorate the fact that he is the second in his family to win the FIM Asian title. Catch the live telecast this Sunday to find out what Peerapong is really up to.

ADAM TAKES PROVISIONAL POLE, WHILE KASMA AND PEERAPONG TAKES IT SLOW Read More »

RAFID SECURES FRIDAY TOP SPOT IN BURIRAM

2019, 2019 Round7, Latest News, Underbone 150 /

Indonesian rider Rafid Topan Sucipto led the way on Day 1 at the season finale of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, thanks to a 1’53.039s fastest lap that put him on provisional pole in the Asia Production 250cc class.   The former Moto2 rider was followed by A.P. Honda Racing Thailand trio Piyawat Patoomyos, Muklada Sarapuech and Tatchakorn Buasri, with the top seven riders all qualifying within a second.   ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team’s Rey Ratukore completed the top five on the overall charts. The Indonesian sits 0.7 seconds off compatriot Rafid as they head for qualifying and Race 1 on Saturday.   Aiki Iyoshi led the three AP250 title contenders on P6. Behind the Manual Tech KYT Kawasaki Racing rider, his team mate Andy Muhammad Fadly, Awhin Sanjaya, Irfan Ardiansyah and Lucky Hendriansya rounded up the top 10. All four has a critical role to play in the outcome of the Asia Production 250cc title chase. Team play is expected to be very much in evidence this weekend, especially with both Fadly and Irfan riding with a 1000rpm cut.

RAFID SECURES FRIDAY TOP SPOT IN BURIRAM Read More »

AKID LOGS NEW UB150 LAP RECORD IN BURIRAM

2019, 2019 Round7, Latest News, Underbone 150 /

Underbone 150 title hopeful Mohd Akid Aziz is in top form as the season finale of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship opened at the Chang International Circuit on November 29, 2019.   The UMA Racing Yamaha Maju Motor Asia Team rider who stands a good chance of winning his second Asian title, logged a new Underbone 150 lap record at the 4.554km circuit when he posted 1’59.784s to take provisional pole in the Underbone qualifier. The Malaysian’s previous lap record was set at 1’59.974s.   One other rider managed to lap below the previous lap record. Ahmad Fazli Sham was clocked as the second fastest man on the Underbone grid with 1’59.940s. Fazli was the first to break the lap record earlier in the qualifier but his feat was eclipsed when Akid bettered him by 0.156 seconds. The seasoned campaigner from the ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team also topped the timesheets earlier in the day during the first two practice sessions.   In all, seven of the nine Underbone 150 title contenders made the cut for the SuperPole that will determine the final composition of the starting grid for the weekend. McKinley Kyle Paz, almost a second adrift of the provisional pole sitter, was eighth fastest on the timesheets. Akid’s team mate, Mohd Haziq Mohd Fairues posted 2’00.314s and placed fifth on the results.   Wahyu Aji Trilaksana clocked 2’00.416s in sixth while Peerapong Luiboonpeng checked in at P12 with 2’01.123s. Indonesian wonderkid Aldi Satya Mahendra squeaked through into the SuperPole in P15.   Fernando Masato and Wawan Wello were the only two still in the title hunt who will not be taking part in the SuperPole.

AKID LOGS NEW UB150 LAP RECORD IN BURIRAM Read More »