2026 Round 5

ANUPAB, AGE OVER AGGRESSION

2026, 2026 Round 5, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

SS600 is often dominated by young riders eager to push to the absolute limit, but 33-year-old Anupab Sarmoon is quietly dismantling the competition with pure tactical patience. The YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM veteran arrives at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia for Round 5 of FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 this weekend as a key contender, carrying strong momentum after a crucial breakthrough. Anupab’s championship campaign gained serious traction during the previous round at the Mandalika International Circuit, Indonesia. While his rivals fought hard at the front, Anupab delivered a masterclass in race management, ultimately securing his first victory of the season in Race 2. That win has tightened the title landscape. Heading into this weekend’s Malaysian double-header, he sits third in the rider standings, tied on points for second place, and trailing the overall championship leader by a mere nine points. Rather than feeling the pressure of the championship race, the Thai rider is thriving on the positive atmosphere within his camp. “The team is working exceptionally well right now. My crew and I understand each other on a profound level, and we are completely aligned in our approach to this title fight. That mutual trust breeds confidence, and I firmly believe things will go very well for us at Sepang.” His recent success highlights the value of staying calm when the racing gets chaotic. “Age brings a different kind of advantage in this class. Instead of getting caught up in the frantic early laps, I rely on a steady, highly measured approach. I deliberately avoid reckless skirmishes, preserving my tires and energy. I just wait, observe, and look for the exact right moment at the end to seal the deal.” Translating his winning Mandalika pace to the wide layout and long straights of Sepang will be the team’s primary technical hurdle. “The base setup we built in Indonesia is excellent, but Sepang has its own unique character. The demands aren’t radically different, but we definitely need to tweak a few things to handle the track. I’ll get a true feel for the adjustments during Friday’s first practice session. Honestly, I love riding this circuit, our historical data here is good, and I think we are absolutely ready.” Even with the championship standings so close, there is no secret strategy for Anupab this weekend. He is keeping his game plan incredibly simple, relying on nothing but a straightforward push for the top spot across both races. “My focus is just to score as many points as possible. I am going to fight hard for them out on the track. I want to be ranked first after this round.”

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IRFAN, FROM REPLACEMENT TO CONTENDER

2026, 2026 Round 5, Asia Production 250, Latest News /

What began as an unexpected call-up has quickly turned into a fierce championship surge for Irfan Ardiansyah. Heading into Round 5 of FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit this weekend, the ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM rider brings undeniable form to the AP250 grid after claiming a milestone home victory last time out. Irfan’s journey throughout the 2026 campaign has been inspiring and extraordinary. Stepping into the championship during Round 2 as a late replacement rider for his injured teammate, he faced a steep learning curve with significantly less time on the bike compared to his full-season rivals. His debut weekend was a test of patience, yielding a modest P14 in Race 1 and P7 in Race 2. Despite the tough start, Irfan rapidly adapted to the machine. The turning point arrived during Round 3 at the Mobility Resort Motegi in Japan, where he delivered a brilliant double P2 finish to collect 40 crucial points. “Looking back, that Motegi weekend was when everything started to click for me. It felt good to see the step-by-step progress, and I was really grateful that the hard work was beginning to pay off.” That momentum carried over to Round 4 at his home track, the Mandalika International Circuit in Indonesia. However, the weekend began with frustration in Race 1, where he finished in P10. “I was actually in a strong podium position in Race 1. I was just unlucky when another rider pushed me wide in the last two corners of the final lap. We didn’t change the bike setup at all overnight because we knew the pace was already there.” Channeling that disappointment into motivation, Irfan returned to the track the following day and stormed to a sensational victory in Race 2. The triumph marked a historic milestone in his career, securing his long-awaited first AP250 victory with ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM on home soil in the ARRC. “Crossing the finish line to finally win at home was an indescribable feeling. It was a massive rush of gratitude, pride, and mixed emotions that I will never forget.” What makes Irfan’s current form even more impressive is his position in the general classification. Despite missing the season opener entirely, he has rocketed up the standings following his Mandalika triumph. He currently sits fourth in the AP250 championship standings with 82 points—just a single point away from third place and only ten points adrift of second. His rapid rise into the overall title conversation caught even the rider himself off guard. “I completely did not expect to be fighting for the top three in the standings this quickly,” Irfan admitted candidly. “When I looked at the points table after Round 4, I was honestly a bit confused and surprised to see myself sitting in fourth. It really showed how far we have come in such a short time.” Now turning his attention to the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, Irfan enters the weekend with absolute clarity. “I know this track well, and I genuinely feel its layout suits my riding style. I am not stepping onto the grid to manage points or calculate standings. My goal is to fight for the top spot, target race wins, and keep building this momentum.”

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HUSNI POISED TO CLINCH TITLE EARLY

2026, 2026 Round 5, Latest News, Underbone 150 /

Winning a championship is a remarkable feat, but defending it requires an entirely different level of resolve. Heading into this weekend’s crucial Round 5 of FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, reigning UB150 Champion Husni Zainul Fuadzy of ZIEAR LFN HP969 ADELIN MCR RBT34 stands on the verge of proving his lasting dominance. Carrying the hopes of his team and a commanding 67-point lead, Husni has the rare opportunity to mathematically lock in back-to-back titles early, right here on Malaysian soil. Following a flawless performance in Round 4, Husni currently dominates the rider standings with 157 points. His closest competitor, Rendi Odding of the 4S1M EVO YAMAHA Racing Team, sits in second place with 90 points. This substantial 67 point advantage means that if Husni can maintain a lead of more than 50 points over his rivals by the conclusion of this weekend’s races, he will be crowned the overall 2026 UB150 Champion early. Despite the mounting pressure, Husni remains remarkably composed. “I refuse to let the championship expectations become a burden this weekend. I have been in this exact position before, having fought for the title last year, so my mindset is to stay completely grounded. I am not changing my approach just because of the points gap. My primary focus remains exactly the same as always, it is pushing for the top step of the podium. Hopefully, if everything aligns perfectly, I can lock up the championship early here.” The UB150 category is universally renowned for its chaotic and unpredictable nature. However, after scoring a perfect 50 points in the previous round, Husni is carrying significant momentum. “Securing back-to-back victories last round was an incredible boost. Alhamdulillah, that flawless performance has given me immense motivation and a deep sense of confidence heading into Sepang.” “Everyone knows how fiercely competitive this class is. My strategy is simply to stay focused, carefully analyze the race during every single lap, and ensure I am in the optimal position to strike during the crucial final two laps.” With rival riders pushing to the absolute limit to keep their own title hopes alive, Husni has no plans to ride defensively. “I intend to fight fiercely and give absolutely everything on the track to secure the best possible points. I know the other riders will be aggressive. My method for handling that intense pressure is to maintain my composure. I will stay completely calm and ensure I do not get easily provoked into making unnecessary mistakes.” “I am praying that everything goes smoothly this weekend. Defending this title and becoming the 2026 champion again would be an absolute dream come true. I am so deeply grateful for my team, and everyone who has tirelessly supported and prayed for my campaign.”

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