2026 Round 3

Malaysia’s Muhammad Helmi Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA heads into Round 3 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 at Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, carrying not only momentum, but also unfinished business. Sitting third in the overall standings after two rounds, Helmi has emerged as a title contender this season following a strong and emotional start, with a commanding Race 1 victory and a Race 2 podium at Round 1, followed by a more challenging Round 2 where he scored P6 and P10 finishes. The contrast reflects the intensity of the championship, where consistency is as valuable as outright speed. Despite the ups and downs, Helmi remains grounded in his approach, viewing his current position as both progress and motivation. “I’m quite satisfied with how we’ve started the season. Being third in the championship after two rounds gives us a good foundation, but I know there’s still a lot of work to do. We’ve shown strong and consistent pace, and scoring important points early in the season is crucial in a long championship like this.” He added that while every rider dreams of leading the standings, his focus remains firmly on process rather than pressure. “Of course, every rider wants to be leading the championship, but I believe we are in a solid position that keeps us in the title fight,” he said. As the paddock returns to Mobility Resort Motegi, the circuit that has tested Helmi since its introduction to the ARRC calendar in season 2024, the Malaysian rider knows this weekend carries both history and opportunity. His past results at the Japanese venue have been steady, however, not standout, with the record of P4 and P5 in 2024, followed by a more difficult P7 and P14 in 2025. Those experiences, however, have shaped his understanding of the circuit’s demands. “Mobility Resort Motegi is a very unique track with technical sections that require a very specific setup and riding style. In previous years, we struggled a bit to find the perfect balance between corner entry and acceleration, but we’ve worked hard to improve those areas.” He continued, “Motegi teaches you patience. Even a small mistake can cost a lot of time, and the competition is always extremely close. Every visit there has been a learning process for me.” Now, with a stronger package and improved race execution, Helmi believes 2026 could mark a turning point. “I feel my race management has improved a lot, especially in controlling tyre performance and adapting my riding during different phases of the race. The bike has also developed, and I feel we are in a much better position compared to previous seasons.” With confidence growing from a competitive start to the year, Helmi is quietly optimistic about his chances in Japan. “We’ve shown we can fight at the front this season. Motegi will definitely be a different challenge, but I believe in my machine and in the team. The key is to stay focused and execute everything step by step, and if we do that, we can be in the fight where it matters most.”  

Few changes in motorcycle racing demand as much patience and adaptability as switching manufacturers. For Aiki Iyoshi of TEAM SDG WITH HARC-PRO, the 2026 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship season has brought exactly that challenge. After spending previous seasons aboard Kawasaki machinery, the Japanese rider made the significant decision to switch to Honda for his AP250 campaign. While the move offered exciting new possibilities, it also required Aiki to start a new learning process, adapting his riding style and understanding a machine with characteristics vastly different from what he had become accustomed to. As the championship prepares for Round 3 at Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, Aiki arrives at his home round encouraged by the progress made during the opening two rounds and optimistic about what lies ahead. The transition, however, has been far from straightforward. “I’ve switched from Kawasaki to Honda, and the process has involved learning many new things. We are still exploring different setup directions and trying to better understand how to unlock the full potential of the motorcycle. There is still a lot to learn, but the important thing is that we are moving in a positive direction. Every session gives us new information, and I can feel that we are making steady progress.” Despite the challenges, Aiki believes the Honda package has already revealed promising characteristics that could become major strengths as the season progresses. “Looking back at the first two rounds, I am reasonably satisfied with the progress we have made, although there is still much more to come. The Honda is very light and easy to handle, which gives me confidence in many areas of the circuit. Of course, every machine has its strengths and weaknesses, and there are still aspects we need to improve. But I believe both the bike and I will continue to develop from the next race onward.” Having spent years racing Kawasaki machinery, Aiki has quickly noticed that the Honda demands a different approach. “The strengths of the Honda are completely different from the Kawasaki. The bike has very good torque and its lightweight nature helps in changing direction and managing the motorcycle during races. At the same time, there are areas where we still need to improve stability. If we can maximize the strengths while continuing to improve the weaker areas, I believe the results will naturally follow.” While the adaptation process remains ongoing, Aiki is excited by the potential that still remains untapped. “I do not think I am yet able to fully unleash my potential with this motorcycle. There are still things I am learning every time I ride. But that is also what makes this challenge exciting. I strongly believe there is much more performance to come, and I am looking forward to discovering it together with the team.” Building confidence with a completely new machine while racing against competitors who already have years of experience on their packages can be difficult. Yet Aiki’s confidence continues to grow with every round. “To be honest, I had significant anxiety at the beginning of the season because everything was new. But the team has been working incredibly hard and approaching every challenge with a positive attitude. Seeing that effort motivates me even more. Their commitment gives me confidence, and I want to repay that hard work with strong results.” The timing of Round 3 could hardly be better. For Aiki, Mobility Resort Motegi represents not only another championship opportunity but also the chance to compete on home soil in front of Japanese fans. “There will be several improvements to the motorcycle for Motegi, which makes me very excited for this round. At the same time, I am putting extra focus on my physical preparation because I want to arrive in the best possible condition. Racing at home is always special, and I want to make the most of the opportunity.” Mobility Resort Motegi could also provide an important indication of just how far the Honda project has progressed. With greater familiarity on the machine, planned updates to the package and the advantage of racing at a circuit he knows well, Aiki believes the weekend could become a turning point in his season. “I believe I can achieve a strong result at Motegi. This race is very important because a good performance here would give me a lot of confidence heading into the second half of the season. It would show that all the hard work from the opening rounds is starting to pay off.”