2025

HIROKI UNBEATABLE AT HOME SOIL

2025, 2025 Round 3, Latest News, TVS Asia One Make /

Round 3 at the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, delivered edge-of-the-seat drama in the TVS Asia One Make Championship, as Japan’s Hiroki Ono celebrated his double win after another sensational victory in Race 2. At the start, Malaysia’s Md Ramdan Rosli launched strongly alongside India’s Sarthak Chavan, with local hero Hiroki Ono settling into third. Within seconds, however, Hiroki wasted no time seizing the lead in front of his home crowd. By lap 2, the order saw Hiroki controlling the race ahead of Ramdan, Sarthak, Luis Miguel in fourth, and Japan’s Shingo Iidaka in fifth. Hiroki turned up the pace on lap 3, setting the fastest lap of the race at 2’05.331s, steadily stretching his advantage as Ramdan gave chase.On lap 4, Luis Miguel closed the gap from fourth and made a decisive move past Sarthak to slot into third. By lap 5, Hiroki had sprinted 4.168s clear of Ramdan, who now faced immense pressure from the Spaniard behind. Luis launched an attack and briefly grabbed second place, but Ramdan refused to surrender and reclaimed his position. Sarthak, meanwhile, regrouped and reeled both riders back in, setting up a dramatic final showdown.While the battle for second raged on, Hiroki stayed in a league of his own, crossing the line unchallenged in 16’52.533s to complete a dominant double win on home soil. Behind him, Sarthak’s last-lap charge paid off as he snatched second place in 16’59.356s, just edging Ramdan, who secured a hard-fought third at 16’59.391s. Hiroki Ono stated, “Today was a little difficult for me because the temperature was much higher than yesterday. When it’s hot, managing the tyres is very tricky, but I kept my concentration right until the end. I’m really happy to get the double win this weekend, it feels amazing at my home track. I want to thank everyone who supported me. Arigatou gozaimasu!” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2

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SOICHIRO RECONNECTS WITH THE CRAFT

2025, 2025 Round 4, Latest News /

The summer breeze swept through the pine-lined slopes of Mobility Resort Motegi, carrying with it a familiar and exciting presence. Soichiro Minamimoto is back on the ARRC grid as a wildcard, ready to add on to the heated rivalries where it all began. It’s the kind of spirit we’ve all been waiting for, and the stage is set for an exciting return! This time, the stakes are different. Once a front-runner in the ARRC’s premier ASB1000 class, Soichiro returns not to chase a title but to reconnect with his craft. HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING may have withdrawn from the ASB1000 grid this season, but for one round he is back to showcase his wit and grit on home soil. “I’m very sad that the team withdrew from ASB1000 this year,” Minamimoto said. “So I’ve shifted my focus to the MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship Series ST600. Next month, the All Japan will be held at Motegi, so I decided to participate in the SS600.” His wildcard entry serves as a recalibration and a chance to reevaluate his prowess. It is a test not just of machinery but of self. And there is no better place for that than Mobility Resort Motegi, a circuit carved into his racing identity where every corner holds memory and meaning. “I’m happy to be back in ARRC again. The purpose of this race is to review my 600cc riding in preparation for next month’s All Japan.” In the SS600 class, Minamimoto finds familiar rivals: Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin, Anupab Sarmoon, and Muhammad Helmi Azman, riders he once fought alongside in a title chase. But this time, the approach is different: no pressure, just a pure fun return to racing. “I have some good rivals. I’m looking forward to racing with them purely for the fun of it,” he said, before adding with conviction, “Of course, I’ll be aiming to win.”

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KEITO’S FLAWLESS VICTORY

2025, 2025 Round 3, Asia Superbike 1000, Latest News /

Race 1 of Round 3 in the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship’s ASB1000 category saw local hero Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES storm to a commanding victory at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, delighting his home fans with a flawless performance on familiar ground. In qualifying, Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of the JDT RACING TEAM claimed pole position with a blistering fastest lap time of 1’49.661s. Keito lined up alongside him in second with 1’49.871s, while Japan’s wild card rider Sho Nishimura of JAPAN POSTHonda Racing completed the front row with an impressive 1’49.907s. At the start, Hafizh Syahrin made a strong getaway for JDT RACING TEAM but was immediately overtaken by Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND. Soon, in the second turn, Hafizh’s front tyre clipped Nakarin’s rear tyre, forcing Hafizh wide and off the track. On lap 4, Keito made his move, overtaking Nakarin to seize the lead and began pushing hard to open up a gap at the front. Meanwhile, Hafizh, determined to recover, rejoined the race and fought back heroically to climb to eleventh position. Unfortunately, his charge ended heartbreakingly on lap 8 when he crashed while pushing to the limit, visibly frustrated trackside. The battle for the lead continued between Keito and Nakarin until lap 11, Nakarin crashed out, allowing Azroy Hakeem Anuar of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA to move up to second and attempt to close the gap to Keito. Displaying exceptional composure and confidence on home asphalt, Keito Abe maintained a safe margin, keeping Azroy at bay and charging past the chequered flag to win the race at 24’06.975s. The IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA duo, Azroy and Zaqhwan, completed the podium at 24’07.671s and 24’10.535s respectively. Keito stated, “It was a really tough race because the tyres were quite slippery, so I had to stay calm and manage both my mindset and tyre condition all the way through. I’m so happy to win here on home soil, it feels amazing! I want to thank my team so much for their great work and for giving me a fantastic bike today.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1

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ANUPAB’S FEARLESS FIGHTBACK

2025, 2025 Round 3, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

Race 1 of Round 3 in the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship’s SS600 category delivered a breathtaking finish, with Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM pulling off a stunning late-race charge to seal victory at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan. Earlier in qualifying, Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING stormed to pole position with a blistering lap of 1’53.037s. Hot on his heels was ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM’s Mohammad Adenanta Putra with 1’53.233s, while Khairul Idham Pawi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA locked in third with 1’53.292s. At the start, Kasma led the field away cleanly with Khairul in close pursuit and Adenanta holding third. The early laps brought drama when Md Syarifuddin Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA crashed out on lap 2, ending his race prematurely. By lap 3, Kasma continued to control the pace with Adenanta shadowing him closely and Khairul still holding third, but the real charge came from Anupab, who clocked the fastest lap of 1’54.406s as he powered his way through the pack. Anupab set another blistering time on lap 4 with a 1’54.241s, steadily reeling in the leaders. By lap 7, Kasma still held the front, with Adenanta just 0.237s behind, while Anupab had successfully overtaken Khairul to move into third and join the lead battle. On lap 8, Anupab made a decisive move to overtake Adenanta for second and continued hunting down Kasma. Lap 10 saw dramatic action when Adenanta boldly overtook both Anupab and Kasma, but an error saw him run wide, allowing Anupab to seize the lead while Kasma slipped to third. On the final lap, Kasma closed back in and launched an overtake attempt, but Anupab who’s known for his racecraft and fearless riding,defended brilliantly and powered to the finish line, taking the win at 23’00.808s. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin settled for second at 23’00.985s, with Mohammad Adenanta Putra completing the podium at 23’01.225s. “This race was really tough for me because I started from P10, so I knew I had to fight hard right from the start. I had good confidence in my bike, so I focused on overtaking the riders one by one. From the first lap, I could see my lap times were strong. I tried to stick with Kasma and Adenanta and learn from them, especially how they braked so hard into the corners. In the last two laps, I pushed even more because I saw some riders struggling with tyre grip as the temperature went up. Luckily, my bike’s setup was perfect and in the end, the victory is mine!” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1

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AP250 HISTORY FOR IZAM AND TEAM

2025, 2025 Round 3, Asia Production 250, Latest News /

Md Izam Ikmal of VICTOR RACING TEAM delivered a masterful performance to claim a hard-fought victory in Race 1 of the AP250 category at Round 3 of the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, held at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan. In the earlier qualifying session, Mohammad Murobbil Vitoni of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM secured pole position with a blistering lap time of 2’06.912s. Completing the front row were two of Japan’s wild card hopefuls: Ryuji Yokoe of TEAM TECH2 & YSS clocked 2’07.324s to secure second, while Ryota Ogiwara of SANWA RACING TEAM lined up third with a best lap of 2’07.505s. As the race flagged off, Murobbil made a solid start to lead the pack, immediately pursued by Japan’s Ryota, Ryuji, and Riichi Takahira of TY Antares Racing Team. However, it was Fadillah Arbi Aditama of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM who quickly surged through the field to grab the lead in the opening phase. By lap 3, Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM had taken control at the front, chased closely by the YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA duo — Candra H and Muhammad Fadhil Musyavi — keeping the lead group tightly bunched. On lap 4, Murobbil regained the lead, but was immediately challenged by Izam, Fadhil, Fadil, and Candra as the front runners swapped positions through every sector. The race continued with relentless overtakes as Murobbil, Fadhil, and Krittapat battled fiercely for control. Drama unfolded on lap 7 when Japan’s wild card rider, Ryuji Yokoe, saw his podium hopes vanish after a collision with Irfan Ardiansyah of MAEZTRO NWN SCK HONDA RACING TEAM ended both riders’ charge. The final lap brought an explosive climax. Krittapat was leading when Md Izam Ikmal launched a decisive move to snatch the lead in the closing corners. Ryota Ogiwara seized the chance to dive past Krittapat too, launching a desperate challenge down the final straight. Md Izam Ikmal held his nerve and crossed the line first to secure victory at 21’33.321s. Ryota Ogiwara finished just 0.010 seconds behind to claim second at 21’33.331s, while early leader Mohammad Murobbil Vitoni took third at 21’33.449s in one of the closest finishes of the season. Izam said, “I’d like to thank my team for doing such a great job. We struggled a lot from Practice 1 right through to Qualifying, but we didn’t give up. Race 1 went well, but I had to plan my strategy carefully because my bike wasn’t the fastest out there, just good enough to stay with the front group. In the final three laps, everyone was really aggressive. On the last lap, I made a big push to get into the top three and then made my move in the third last corner to take the lead. But at the final corner, the Japanese rider (Ryota Ogiwara) overtook me, that moment was incredible! It’s not easy to overtake there, but I managed to get a good slipstream and used the straight to take the win. I guess today was my lucky day!” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1

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HUSNI RULED MOTEGI DEBUT

2025, 2025 Round 3, Latest News, Underbone 150 /

Race 1 of Round 3 in the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship delivered an electrifying showdown in the UB150 category at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, with Husni Zainul Fuadzy of ZIEAR LFN HP969 MCR RBT 34 emerging triumphant after a fierce multi-rider battle to the finish line. Earlier in the day, Fahmi Basam of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM stamped his authority by clinching pole position with a best time of 2’17.202s in the Super Pole session. His teammate, Husni Zainul Fuadzy of ZIEAR LFN HP969 MCR RBT 34, lined up alongside him in second with a 2’17.793s lap, while Adytya Fauzi of JPNW SND FACTORY RACING completed the front row with 2’19.177s. As the race got underway, Adytya Fauzi of JPNW SND FACTORY RACING made a strong start, but the lead constantly changed hands through every turn and every lap as the front group battled hard for control. By lap 3, Adytya and Fahmi were joined at the front by Nazirul Izzat Muhammad Bahauddin of UMA RACING YAMAHA MAJU MOTOR ASIA TEAM in third, with Dimas Juli Atmoko of RACETECH SIXTY Racing and Ahmad Afif Amran of Pitsbike Superfast JRT Racing Team rounding out the top five. Unfortunately, Ahmad Fazrul Sham of CARDINALS Factory YAMAHA ZYNERGYS Racing Team ARRC was forced to retire early due to a mechanical issue. His teammate, Md Syamil Amsyar M Iffende, was also sidelined on lap 4 for the same reason. By lap 5, Husni Zainul Fuadzy began his steady charge through the pack, skilfully working his way up to the leading group. On the final lap, the intensity peaked as every rider pushed to the limit. In a nail-biting sprint to the finish, Husni crossed the line first with a winning time of 18’36.491s. Fahmi Basam finished a mere fraction behind at 18’36.536s, while Adytya Fauzi secured third place at 18’36.667s. Reflecting on his hard-fought victory, Husni Zainul Fuadzy said, “The race was really intense, but I just tried to stay calm and focus on finding my rhythm and best pace since this was my first time racing here. Alhamdulillah, I managed to break through to the front group and take this win. I hope I can keep this momentum going and fight for a double victory in Race 2 tomorrow.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1

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HIROKI, MOTEGI’S HERO

2025, 2025 Round 3, Latest News, TVS Asia One Make /

Race 1 of the TVS ASIA One Make Championship, held in conjunction with Round 3 of the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, delivered an electrifying spectacle today at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, with local favourite Hiroki Ono taking a commanding victory on home ground. Earlier in the day, Japan’s Hiroki Ono showcased his speed by seizing pole position with a blistering lap time of 2’04.580s in the combined qualifying session. Malaysia’s Md Ramdan Rosli lined up alongside him in second with 2’05.727s, while India’s Sarthak Chavan secured the final front-row slot with a time of 2’06.062s. As the race got underway, Hiroki Ono made a clean getaway to lead the opening lap ahead of Hunter Corney from Australia, Md Ramdan Rosli from Malaysia, and Sarthak Chavan from India. The opening lap, however, saw early drama as Farish Hafiy from Malaysia suffered a high-side and Rendi from Indonesia crashed out. By lap 2, Hiroki maintained his lead with Ramdan and Sarthak locked in pursuit while Luis Miguel from Spain made a strong push to climb to fourth place ahead of Hunter. On lap 3, Sarthak found a way past Ramdan, who responded with a determined lap of 2’06.083s to fight back for position. As the laps ticked by, Hiroki began to stretch his advantage, clocking the fastest lap of the race with a 2’05.266s on lap 5 and edging a second clear of the chasing group. Behind him, Sarthak and Ramdan continued an intense battle for second place, with Luis and Hunter duelling for fourth. By lap 7, Hiroki had carved out a 3.948s lead over Sarthak in second, with Ramdan close behind and Luis and Hunter still in contention for fourth. On the final lap, Hiroki kept his composure under pressure, pushing hard to the chequered flag and sealing a dominant win at 16’52.484s. Sarthak secured second place at 16’56.870s, just edging out Ramdan in third at 16’56.915s. Hiroki Ono said, “I’m really happy I got the Race 1 victory in Motegi, it means a lot to me. This morning’s qualifying gave me great confidence and in Race 1 I just stayed fully focused, kept my lap times strong, and managed the race well. Everything went smoothly for me today, but I know tomorrow will be tougher. I’ll keep working hard and I hope I can deliver another strong result in Race 2.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1

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HAFIZH STOOD OUT AT MOTEGI

2025, 2025 Round 4, Asia Superbike 1000, Latest News /

HAFIZH STOOD OUT AT MOTEGIRound 3 of the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship was held today at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, where Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of JDT RACING TEAM delivered a commanding performance to top the ASB1000 combined practice standings. Hafizh set the tone in Practice 1, blazing through with a 1’50.838s lap. Japanese wild card Sho Nishimura of JAPAN POSTHonda Racing impressed with 1’51.270s, while Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA posted a 1’51.609s to slot into third. Practice 2 brought challenges as rain left the track damp but drying. In the mixed conditions, Lachlan Epis rose to the occasion, leading the session with a 2’01.765s. Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND recorded 2’02.013s for second, with Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of A1 ENERGY BMW RACING TEAM placing third at 2’02.991s. In the final session, Hafizh once again showcased his pace, clocking 1’50.913s to remain on top. Apiwath Wongthananon of A1 ENERGY BMW RACING TEAM surged to second with a 1’50.989s, and Zaqhwan stayed consistent with a 1’51.042s. Thanks to his speed and control in both dry and mixed conditions, Hafizh emerged as the day’s fastest overall. Apiwath and Zaqhwan completed the top three, promising a thrilling showdown in tomorrow’s qualifying. Hafizh commented, “Thankfully, I was the fastest in Practice 1 and Practice 3. In Practice 2, the weather was drizzling, so we chose not to go out and take unnecessary risks. Overall, I’m quite satisfied with how the team has worked since Day 1. Of course, we’re not perfect yet—there are still a few sectors where we can improve. I believe tomorrow will bring new opportunities, hopefully with good weather. I’ll aim for a strong qualifying result and be fully prepared for the race.” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE

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HELMI IN FULL CONTROL

2025, 2025 Round 4, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

Round 3 of the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship got underway today at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, where Malaysia’s Muhammad Helmi Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA asserted his dominance as the fastest rider in the SS600 combined practice sessions. Helmi made an early impact in Practice 1, setting the pace with a 1’54.825s lap. Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA was close behind at 1’54.844s, while Helmi’s teammate, Khairul Idham Pawi, clocked 1’54.931s for third. In Practice 2, Helmi remained untouchable, again leading the field with a 1’54.938s. Mckinley Kyle Paz of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING was second at 1’55.070s, followed by Mohammad Adenanta Putra with 1’55.082s. Helmi sealed the day with an electrifying lap of 1’54.236s in Practice 3—his fastest yet. Kasma Daniel took second with a 1’54.416s, while Mckinley stayed consistent with 1’54.574s for third. With unmatched consistency and pace across all sessions, Helmi ended the day atop the combined standings. Kasma and Mckinley rounded out the top three, as the field gears up for a high-stakes qualifying round. Helmi said, “Overall, I’m very happy with my performance today. I had a good rhythm on the bike and felt strong especially in cornering. Unfortunately, I crashed twice in the last practice session. I understand the issues—the first crash was my mistake, and the second was due to the cold track temperature. But everything is fine, and I’m okay too. I want to maintain this momentum and performance. Hopefully, tomorrow and Race 2 on Sunday will be even better.” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE

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RIICHI RULED AT HOME

2025, 2025 Round 4, Asia Production 250, Latest News /

Round 3 of the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship took place today at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, where local hero Riichi Takahira of TY Antares Racing Team led the charge as the fastest rider in the AP250 combined practice sessions. In Practice 1, it was Mohammad Murobbil Vitoni of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM who led the pack with a best lap of 2’08.425s. Close behind were Japan’s wild card entries—Ryota Ogiwara of SANWA RACING TEAM with 2’09.093s and Ryuji Yokoe of TEAM TECH2 & YSS with 2’09.104s. Riichi turned up the heat in Practice 2, topping the session with an impressive 2’07.533s. Just 0.002s behind, Fadillah Arbi Aditama of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM placed second with 2’07.535s, and Candra H of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA slotted into third with 2’08.449s. Practice 3 saw Murobbil rise once more, dominating the session with 2’07.656s. Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM followed at 2’07.866s, while Muhammad Fadhil Musyavi of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA posted 2’07.904s for third. With his performance in Practice 2, Riichi emerged as the fastest overall in combined times—sending a strong signal ahead of qualifying. Arbi and Murobbil completed the top three, both shaping up as formidable challengers in the title race.Riichi stated, “I crashed during Practice 3, but physically I’m okay. I think tomorrow might be challenging because of possible rain—I’m unsure about the weather conditions. Still, I’ll do my best to aim for pole position and hopefully set a new record.” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE

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