2024

Round 3 of the IDEMITSU FIM ASIA ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP which is held at Mobility Resort Motegi will observe two regulations moving forward as issued by FIM Asia in cooperation with the ARRC Technical Committee. All Asia Superbike 1000cc race category will adhere to “Balancing Various Motorcycle Concepts” methods in accordance to article 2.2.2 of the ARRC 2024 Regulations booklet. The regulations will include progressive review of performance and adjustments between Motorcycle Makes as and when it is needed. The following are methods of balancing that will be executed – Engine Parts Make. Make: Yamaha  Model: Yamaha YZF-R1 & YZF-R1M Yamaha GYTR engine parts for use includes: Part No. Part Name B3L121708000 Shaft Cam 1 B3L121808000 Shaft Cam 2 2CRA21107200 Valve Spring Set B3L1440B8000 Air Funnel Set In addition to that, article 2.4.46 on Rider Equalizer will see the implementation of reduced RPM on the 1st Equalizer in the Asia Production 250cc race category as follows: Bike No. Competitor Make RPM Limit 46 Herjun Atna Firdaus Honda 13,000 FIM Asia and the ARRC Technical Committee are committed in their initiatives to set a benchmark of excellence in performance and as such trusts that the regulations will be instrumental in meeting the standards required in the championship while also providing a platform with equal opportunities to all riders to compete fairly and competitively.  

Round 3 of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship is just around the corner and will be heading to Mobility Resort Motegi for the first time in history. The riders of the Asia Superbike 1000cc are amped up to embrace the challenges and possibilities the circuit holds and Hafizh Syarin of JDT Racing Team is not one to take it lightly. It was not all bed of roses for Hafizh, coming back to the scenes of ARRC after being absent for a while. He definitely had his fair share of rough patch and rocky start alongside the immense pressure of fame. However, Hafizh known for his prowess and calibre, driven towards excellence was all about hard work, picking up from where he left and quickly adapting to what is an evolved space within ARRC to showcase not only moves but also his capacity to embrace the heat on the circuit ground and claim victory. Indeed, that was what he did in Race 1 of Round 2 that was held at Zhuhai International Circuit before the show came to a halt due to stormy weather. Recapping his action-filled moves on the grounds of Chang, Hafizh definitely was out of the equation in Race 1 when he succumbed to “DNF” status due to a technical error with his Ducati. But that did not dampen his spirits as he went on recharge and take charge the following day, taking lead almost throughout the race before being defeated at the eleventh hour to the chequered flag. That however was quite an accomplishment considering being a debutante in the race category. Commenting in the race, Hafizh said, “I am looking forward to the coming race this weekend. Definitely, the championship has grown by leaps and bounds compared to when I participated many years ago. Now, we have the ASB1000 race category which was not in place yet during my time in ARRC before. The level of competency has also increased and riders keep growing in their performances. The challenge for me here would be the tires. I am quite familiar with the Dunlop tires but not the full-slick. Previously, when I raced in the SS600, I used semi-slick tires so, this time around, we need more time to understand the tires so that we can manage it better. It is not a big deal but it definitely is a challenge for everyone. I believe being the only team using the Ducati also has its ups and downs. We are also a new team so basically, we have zero data to rely on however, we have received great support from Ducati and are truly grateful for that. Sure, we will improve race by race and we will take it from there on.” “The Ducati machine is definitely powerful, no doubt! But, we need time to learn the form and function of the machine especially in handling it. All the tracks are pretty much new for us as our team is a beginner in the championship. However, we saw great improvements with the machine between Round 1 and Round 2 and that is a good start. I would not say that the machine has better advantage compared to the other machines although yes, I agree that there is a better power in the engine. Having said that though, the crucial part is the handling because if we don’t rectify that, we will not achieve the desired outcome. Personally, I think all the riders and the machines are at an optimised level and there has been great competition among us in the last two rounds. But lets’ see in Motegi. It is one of my favourite circuits and we hope to gather more data.” “As an experienced rider, I have a lot of information. But racing alongside the Asian competitors is not the same though as these Asian stars are very well equipped with the knowledge and experience on the Asian ground. They know the tires very well so on our part, we need to work extremely fast to find our footing. It is really interesting to be honest and I am really happy to be part of the challenge. This year, we hope for nothing but the best. Currently, we are at the fourth overall. We are not very far from the lead rider and if we do well by mid-championship, I will surely fight for the championship title. At the moment, I am more focused on improving myself on the machine and to assist the team where possible for the right and relevant data and information. I hope to do better, more than 100%.”

Round 3 of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will take the spotlight at the Mobility Resort Motegi this weekend. All set to brace the challenges of the circuit are riders of the Asia Production 250cc including Cao Viet Nam of Honda Racing Vietnam Team who has not ceased to amaze with his amped up performances this season. If last year was not so colourful for Viet Nam, this season began with a different twist when the Vietnamese rider showcased his competitive side, striding alongside big names, in the front troop. As was seen in Round 1 at Chang International Circuit, Viet Nam went on to inject immense pressure on his counterparts in both races, taking lead in a number of laps as he fought ferociously to dominate the circuit. Although once bitten, twice shy may have been a fundamental approach to rise above the challenge, Viet Nam nevertheless made the same mistake twice at the last turn of the last lap which instantly damaged his chances of leaping ahead of others. No doubt, the AP250 race category comes with the strain of robust riders but it is all about finding the footing and taking a bold stance to break the ice among the well-established with a performance that is striking enough to gain attention. In Round 2, Viet Nam played his game so well that he not only made it into the circle of fame but went on to take charge with his winning move throughout the laps before claiming the first victory for himself and for his countrymen.  Commenting on the race, Viet Nam said, “I am very confident now especially after upgrading the machine since the second-half of last season. That has given me the equal opportunity to fight more competitively with the other strong contenders. Now, that I am among them, it gives me the kind of boost that I need. I know that I was really good in Round 5 and Round 6 of Year 2023 and it started again with the first two rounds in 2024. So, it has been a superb feeling for me and that’s why I know that I will continue doing well in the coming rounds.” “The changes in my machine involved two things – one is the Ohlins suspension system and the other is the new fairing. It has definitely made my machine faster and more stable. Of course, the new engine regulations too have helped tremendously. I am of the opinion that the Yamaha machine is a little faster compared to the Honda machine especially at the exit corner. That I would say is the only disadvantage for this year. The two new changes have been a lot of help for us, especially us coming from a new country in the region. We lack the experience in modifying and developing machines like the other countries. The coming race which will be held on a MotoGP circuit would be a fun experience for sure. I think it would be difficult, plus this is my first time there but with the new-found confidence, I think I will do good. The first-time always comes with its ups and downs but that’s the interesting thing about motorsports. This year, there are many riders fighting among the front troop but I will do my best! The target is to make it top five and keep an eye on the championship title. But we shall see what I can do in Motegi, first!”

The Idemsitu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will be extending the thrill and excitement of the adrenaline rush this weekend at Mobility Resort Motegi for its Round 3. Energised and motivated to keep the momentum going is no other than Gian Carlo Mauricio of UMA Racing MMR YAMAHA Philippines who will be back to get in line for another taste of success. The Filipino rider came into the limelight of UB150 back in 2022 as a debutante and while the stakes were high for him especially with highly-competitive riders, he took a more reclusive approach to learn and adapt. By season 2023, his persistence paid off when he climbed up a couple of positions higher in the overall chart. This season, he may not have immediately jumped to a colourful start especially when he claimed “DNF” in Race 1 but his moves in the previous round at ZIC definitely earned him a round of applause when he barged in victoriously to the chequered flag, bagging his first ever win since his debut.  The Underbone race category is beyond speed and technical experience. It is also about making calculative moves and taking risks. Strategic-thinking is a fundamental ability, much-needed in accentuating prowess when it comes to being recognised in this race category. Gian Carlo may be a somewhat reserved lad in nature but on the circuit ground, he has definitely given a glimpse of his wild side and his capability in combining the crucial aspects for the best result. Commenting on the race, Gian Carlo said, “It was least expected, winning the race but I was so thrilled that I could catch up with the lead pack since I have been among the last in the last lap. I was very careful with the race and my goal has always been about finishing the race to obtain points. In Zhuhai the other day, I only had one thing in my mind that reiterated, “Don’t think, just act!” and that helped me close the gaps with the other riders. I went on to take risks on my part and before I knew it, I was already among the front troopers. That was when I saw hope and knew I could do it. I stayed consistent with the strategy and I won! I have definitely come a long way. I have improved especially on phasing. Before that, I used to have a hard time on grasping the flow because I felt pressured and more so when I made mistakes. But now that I have overcome that, I can now focus on executing the strategies in a more uniformed manner. With that too, I have gained better self-confidence after a 2-year drought.” “In my homeland, I do a lot of training because I need to condition myself in every race. I do a lot of jogging lately to improve on breathing. Our team’s goals have always been consistency in every lap and I have also hit the gym to work out on my physique. On the race track, we do the basic training, improve on braking and I ensure that I complete at least 15 laps. During my free time, I also play the MOTOGP console game and I survey the track virtually to familiarise. As for the Motegi circuit and based on my observation, the track has many high-speed corners and downhill straight at turn 11. That caught my attention as it is one of the overtaking points. This definitely requires great braking skills and would be challenging. I am quite satisfied with the current engine as the durability has improved and the power is also better. But I still think there is room for improvement in terms of power which is the focus of my team at the moment. We are also doing some testing on new parts for better outcome. The goal is to be more competitive and to become the overall champion. So, let’s see how it goes.”

The Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will watch the scene of Round 3 unfold at Mobility Resort Motegi this weekend. Ready to garner victory in his homeland after carving hat-trick is countryman, Hiroki Ono who is pumped up to take TVS Asia One Make Championship to another level. Since his debut in the TVS Asia race category as a wildcard rider last season at Sugo circuit, Hiroki conceded to “DNF” only once before he went on a flawless roll of victory, bagging the winning spot in each round till this very day, as a full-season rider. The likes of great riders may come and go but Hiroki has stood tall on his grounds as he went on full-swing to showcase his outstanding calibre of scoring nothing less than 25 points in each and every race.  In the recent round that was held at ZIC, Hiroki determined in his ambition to be the next champion in the race category swiped the triple-victory card and banked in 75 points and while it is presumptuous to say that he has a higher chance of claiming the ultimate bonus, it seems like nothing is getting in the way at the moment. The Japanese is full-on and no matter how aggressive the ride seemed to be in the last three races, he was able to slide in and out smoothly with no traces of insecurity. Commenting on the race, Hiroki said, “I have won all three races this season but to be honest, it was not an easy feat. Of course, there has been a lot of pressure throughout but I have always taken an approach that will not compromise my focus. I believe this is crucial and this is what that rewarded me with multiple victories. Compared to last season, the level of competency among riders is by far the highest this season and all of them, if you ask me, are rivals. Among them, Muzakkir and Ramdan are showing particular speed and dexterity that keeps me on my toes. So, it is a mounting pressure I would say.” “I have raced at Motegi circuit many times. So, I think I have an added advantage compared to the other riders. There are many hard-braking points which makes it a difficult circuit ground but of course, the layout is relatively simple, so that compromises on the riding bit. Racing in Japan is easy because the circuit facilities and road conditions are quite good. TVS Apache machine is a great one and I particularly like the sound of the exhaust. It kind of raises the goosebumps and further pumps the adrenaline. My biggest goal this season is to win the series title and I am keeping my fingers crosses that I would be able to achieve that.”