2019

A recent run-in with a careless driver will not stop Federico Sandi from making his second ARRC wildcard appearance in the final leg of the season at the Chang International Circuit.  Federico’s plans to continue his role as developmental rider for the Access Plus Racing DUCATI Philippines Essenza Team was almost derailed earlier this week. The massively talented and experienced Italian rider was out jogging around his local neighbourhood when he was hit by a car. Thankfully, further checks had found nothing broken although he will be slightly handicapped by a couple of stretched ligaments Federico came onto the ASian scene in the penultimate round at the Sepang International Circuit as part of the team’s on-going process to get the Ducati Panigale V4 R into podium shape. With his level of experience, the Italian was able to deliver the best result for the team so far, many times coming close to disrupting the title chase between the main protagonists of the 2019 season, Broc Parkes and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman.

The season finale of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the Chang International Circuit this November 29 to December 1 will witness the final battle between Broc Parkes and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman to become the first Asian Superbike champion. The two riders have been locked in a tussle over the course of the past 12 races, with Broc’s consistent approach to winning a championship keeping him in the driving seat for most of the season. Both rivals representing the Yamaha and BMW camps respectively have scooped up seven podiums each. Broc has picked up three wins from Australia, Japan and China. He has also consistently finished within the top five in every race. The mercurial and unpredictable Azlan, on the other hand, holds five wins out of seven podiums but is handicapped by two DNF results from Round 1 and Round 5. In all this, Honda’s Zaqhwan Zaidi cannot be discounted yet. Trailing Broc by 46 points, the Honda Asia Dream Racing with SHOWA rider still has an outside chance of creating an upset in Buriram. The final battle at the  4.554km Chang International Circuit may be tilted in Azlan’s favour. The ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team rider converted pole to double win during the previous race in Round 3. If Azlan were to repeat his double-victory feat, Broc must finish at least third in both races to win the title by a single point. Should he succeed, Broc will become the first Australian to win the Asian title. Spoilers who could potentially derail the title chase include Thai riders Thitipong Warokorn, Apiwat Wongthananon, and returning WSBK wildcard, Federico Sandi.

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.