2023

There has never been a boring moment in the TVS Asia One Make Championship of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship as riders string side-by-side to beat the other before accomplishing their mission for the season. Malaysian riders, Md Ramdan Rosli and Md Muzakkir Mohamed have made striking accomplishments this season will be back for more in Round 5 which will be held at Zhuhai International Circuit this weekend. Ramdan, former rider of the SS600 race category has diligently worked hard on his moves this season to stand tall in his game. He may have had a rough start at the Chang International Circuit but that was a much-needed jumpstart to his enhanced performances. Since then, he has never missed the limelight on the podium which also included two winning moments at Sepang and Sugo. The rider went on full-form and while the challenges with his contenders were inevitable, he has somewhat marked his territories in the TVS Asia domain. Commenting on his performances this season, Ramdan said, “What can I say? So far, I have enjoyed the ride with TVS Asia. Each time I am on the circuit, it is not just about winning but also savouring every moment of it. Definitely, the scores that I have made were my biggest accomplishments. My contender for now is Hiroki Ono and I am looking out for ways all the time to take him down. He is good, for sure and that makes it hard for me to conquer the race ground but I am doing my best to ensure I keep up with my stamina. My focus for each race would be to make it to the podium.” Speaking about his machine, Ramdan said, “To be honest, all riders have the same engine capacity. The only major difference would be the body weight of each rider. Of course, I have a bit of a problem with my weight, heavier than other riders to be precise but I still push as much as I can so that I don’t lose out on the straights. For the upcoming race, I do have some pretty good mileage at Zhuhai but the last time was in 2019. So going back there after many years, I don’t know what to expect but the most I could do it to make sure that I get to the podium. There is no big advantage for me but I believe in myself and I push as much as I can to make the best out of it. There is only 100% of me and nothing less. My goal for this season is to make it Champion. I have already lost many points in that one round with zero in hand. But I will not give up and I am getting closer. So, the most I can do is keep my fingers crossed that everything goes well.” From AP250 race category to TVS Asia, Muzakkir made significant improvements this season and showed great compatibility with the TVS Apache RR310 machine. His impeccable moves were seen in Race 1 at Sepang when he bagged victory followed by a podium-finish in Race 2. Although Muzakkir may have struggled a little at the other circuits, his overall achievements have placed him at the fourth spot in the overall standings. With two more rounds to go, Muzakkir is not far off from making it into the top three positions and may just strike it lucky! According to Muzakkir, “This year has been the best version of me. I have given my best. Only thing that is lacking would probably be the luck and an enhanced machine. With that, I think the outcome would have been better. As usual, my routine has always been the same. I do a lot of bike training and I follow a strict diet. That has given me some advantage but the problem is, everyone at TVS Asia is my contender because they are all that good. It has always been a close, tight fight among us. I also know that TVS crew work wonders and they make improvements on the machine almost for all rounds. So, it makes it tough for all of us and also makes us equally competitive. Overall, I have enjoyed riding in this race category.” Commenting on ZIC, “I rode last at Zhuhai in 2019 and I had many good memories at this circuit. Personally, I think the circuit has a solid surface and the technical layout is definitely a plus point for those who enjoy it. If I am able to find the right setup, I am in for a good fight towards the podium. TVS Apache RR310 is a production bike but the feeling aboard it is almost like I am riding on a prototype chassis. I changed a little on my riding style to make sure it is smooth and try not to be too aggressive. Reason being, I have to save my tires and ensure that I have a better, shorter lap time. While I am in this, I have no expectations of taking the championship title because it is a lot of pressure but again, nothing is impossible. I have worked really hard this season and I can’t wait to jump onto my machine once again. Zhuhai, here I come!” Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

Never a dull moment in the TVS Asia One-Make Championship of the FIM Asia Road Racing  Championship with riders taking a notch up to accomplish their goals for the season. Making a  remarkable entry and spicing up the level of competitiveness is Hiroki Ono of Japan who will be back  for Round 5 at Zhuhai International Circuit this weekend.   He marched into the scene of ARRC in Round 3 and made stunning lap times before going on to bag  the top spot on the podium in Race 1. Although he did not finish Race 2 due to mechanical issues in  his machine, he came back to topple his contenders in Round 4 with a double win and a new lap record.  The Japanese rider is a smooth operator who has made riding aboard the TVS Apache RR310 seem  effortless. Hiroki may be new to the TVS Asia platform but his riding experiences in various  championships in the local and international front have definitely contributed to his grand finish in the  race category.  Speaking as a seasoned pro in the industry, Hiroki said, “Yes, I have definitely gained a lot of  experiences over the years which is one of my greatest assets riding in the TVS Asia. I have competed  in the World Championship, Spanish Championship and All Japan Championship and that has gone a  long way in paving a pathway of excellence for me. But again, it is not all experience I would say. It is  also perseverance and determination to succeed that has driven my level of competitiveness in the  race scene. The ups and downs are inevitable in any kind of championship. Here, in TVS Asia, I personally feel that we lack riding advisors. It would not really be an issue for an old hand but for  younger riders who may not have had the much-needed prior knowledge or experience, it is definitely  a tough game for them.”  On his performances and improvements, Hiroki said, “In Japan, I use data loggers to frequently check  my riding techniques and also my machine’s conditions. This really helps me gauge my overall  performances including the capacities of the machine. It also is a crucial element in helping myself  improve further especially in my riding style and the adjustments of the right settings. So far, I am quite  pleased with my overall achievements but I know that I can do more and I look forward to making  more record-breaking strides. Practice makes perfect!”  “For the upcoming race, I have never been to Zhuhai International Circuit so that would be challenge.  Nevertheless, I am a go-getter and I can’t wait to get there so that I can start working on the right  strategies. Of course, it would be an added advantage for those who have already been there and  tested the ground but there is really no fun in riding without a challenge. Being in TVS Asia is quite an  interesting journey for me, I would say. Above all the achievements, I actually feel privileged to be part  of the TVS Asia ambition in developing a suitable machine for race and I hope that my experience would be of value to them and to the other participating riders. As for the next season, there is nothing  carved in stone yet but I hope to make ARRC more exciting.” Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

The TVS Asia One Make Championship has seen the rise and fall of highly impressive riders in the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Today, Hiroki Ono of Japan hit the jackpot with a double- win when he victoriously glided towards the finish line in Race 2 of Round 4 held at Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit. In yesterday’s race, Hiroki dominated the circuit from the start to completion. The real battle was seen between Ramdan and Decky who were competing aggressively to take the next position in line in the first few laps. In the heat of the moment, Taiyo added on to the pressure before Decky lost his chances. As Hiroki went on to form a huge gap, Ramdan and Taiyo fought one last battle in the final lap before speeding towards the finish line. Today’s race began with Hiroki sprinting ahead of the troop and taking lead once again. Behind him was Ramdan at P2 and Vorapong at P3. Before the lap ended, Vorapong took a shot ahead of Ramdan for a moment before they switched positions into lap 2. Meanwhile, Indonesian rider Decky was finding his pace at P4 followed by Taiyo at P5. As the race progressed, Hiroki began opening up gap with Ramdan. Vorapong tried to close the gaps with Ramdan but the latter stayed focused and glided on confidently. By mid-race, Hiroki was once again at a far distance with a gap of 1.186s. The battle heated up between Ramdan and Vorapong, both with the aim of taking the next spot on the podium but Ramdan stayed within the racing lines, careful not to make any mistakes. Vorapong was seen finding for a loop-hole to slide ahead of Ramdan. With two more laps to go, Hiroki has drawn a 2.778s gap with Ramdan. Decky remained at P4 while Rusman moved into P5. Before the lap ended, Ramdan managed to pull away from Vorapong’s force as he picked up speed while Taiyo took back P5. By then, Hiroki was on his way to earning a double win. In a twist of fate, Ramdan’s machine that gave way towards the last turn opened up a pathway for Vorapong. In that moment, Vorapong struck and glided towards P2 at the finish line. Hiroki Ono completed the race with a 5-second gap at 14’03:365s and with a new lap record at 1’44:651s. Commenting on the race, Hiroki said, “I am so happy today to have made a new lap record at 44. But Race 2 was very easy for me as I began pushing 100% from the start. With that, I managed to draw a fine gap ahead of the troop. This weekend started difficult for me to be honest but I changed some settings and also my riding techniques which helped me during the qualifying session. I am very happy and thanks to the TVS Team as well as my Japanese fans and sponsors.” At second, Vorapong Malahuan of Thailand clocked in at 14’08:408s. Ramdan Rosli of Malaysia made third at 14’08:971s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com