Asia Production 250

KRITTAPAT’S DOUBLE SEALED THE CROWN

Round 5 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, delivered Race 2 in AP250 category. Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM completed a weekend double and wrap up the overall 2026 AP250 championship title with a round to spare. When the race started, Muhammad Fadhil Musyavi of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA made a bold getaway to lead into Turn 1, followed closely by Irfan Ardiansyah of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM, Candra H of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA, Galang Hendra Pratama of YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA, and Ahmad Afif Amran of AEON CREDIT JQK ZYNERGYS CARDINALS. However, Krittapat immediately went on the attack. Carving through the pack from the opening tour, Krittapat surged into the lead on lap 2. Irfan responded aggressively, pulling off a clean inside pass at the final corner to momentarily retake the point. The duel intensified over the next two laps as Krittapat repeatedly reclaimed the lead down the main straight, only for Irfan to counter back into the final turn on lap 3. Behind the top two, Gerry Salim of MsGlowForMen Racing Team joined the hunt alongside Fadhil, while Muh. Badly Ayatullah M of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM slotted in fifth. By lap 6, Rheza Danica Ahrens of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM made contact with the leading group. Gerry threw down a major challenge on lap 7, diving ahead to lead, but Krittapat shadowed him closely before executing an immediate countermove to regain command. The final lap saw Rheza slicing past Fadhil to lock onto Krittapat’s rear wheel heading into the ultimate sector. Looking to make a race-winning lunge at the final turn, Rheza pushed beyond the limit, losing the front end and crashed out of contention. Staying completely composed, Krittapat kept himself on line, powering across the finishing line first at 19’22.647s to claim victory and the championship crown. Fadhil capitalized on the late incident to secure second at 19’22.717s, while Gerry clinched the final podium step in third at 19’22.911s. Irfan and Candra rounded out the top five. Krittapat shared, “Heading into Race 2, the competition stepped up another level, everyone on the grid was pushing much harder and fighting with incredible strength compared to yesterday. With the track temperatures soaring much higher today, tire management became my ultimate priority. I had to ride smart, stay disciplined, and preserve my grip for the final laps.” “A huge, heartfelt thank you goes out to my entire team for their relentless hard work throughout this exhausting week. I also want to express my deepest gratitude to all our sponsors, my loving family, and every single Thai fan who cheered me on from home. Standing here after giving everything on the track, I am simply overwhelmed with happiness, words honestly cannot describe how much this means to me.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2 1. KRITTAPAT KEANKUM – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (19’22.647s) 2. MUHAMMAD FADHIL MUSYAVI – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (19’22.717s) 3. GERRY SALIM – MsGlowForMen Racing Team (19’22.911s) 4. IRFAN ARDIANSYAH – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (19’23.315s) 5. CANDRA H – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (19’23.322s)

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KRITTAPAT, ONE WIN FROM AP250 GLORY

Round 5 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia saw the AP250 category tackled an intense eight-lap contest in Race 1. Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM displayed supreme composure to claim a hard-fought victory. Earlier in Qualifying, Muhammad Fadhil Musyavi of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA captured pole position with a strong 2’31.806s lap, lining up alongside Irfan Ardiansyah of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM and teammate Candra H on the front row. When the race started, Fadhil launched cleanly to seize the early advantage ahead of Candra. However, Krittapat was immediately on the move from third on the grid. Biding his time through the opening sectors, Krittapat carved his way through the pack before the end of the first tour to take the lead. On lap 2 at Turn 1, a collision unfortunately eliminated both Ahmad Afif Amran of AEON CREDIT JQK ZYNERGYS CARDINALS and Fahmi Basam of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM from contention. Out front, Krittapat dictated the pace while a chasing group began closing in. Irfan slot into second, applying pressure to trim the deficit to just 0.195s by lap 5. Behind them, Rheza Danica Ahrens of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM staged a rapid charge from the midfield, setting the race’s fastest lap of 2’24.596s on lap 3 to join the battle alongside Fadhil and Gerry Salim of MsGlowForMen Racing Team. By lap 7, Rheza had bridged the gap to sit just 0.014s behind Krittapat. The final lap turned into a tactical showdown between the leaders. Rheza launched a bold attack to momentarily snatch the lead, but Krittapat held his nerve. Krittapat executed a clean counter-move to reclaim P1, powering down the main straight to take the checkered flag at 19’29.168s. Fadhil capitalized on the late scramble to snatch second place at 19’29.261s, edging Rheza into third at 19’29.445s. Krittapat shared, “First and foremost, I want to say a massive, heartfelt thank you to my entire team. They worked tirelessly all week long to give me such a competitive machine, and standing on the top step of the podium in Race 1 is the ultimate reward for all their sweat and dedication in the garage. Going into the race, I didn’t overcomplicate things with a strict plan. My only mindset was to stay calm, ride with pure instinct, and push hard from start to finish.” “Throughout the laps, my main focus was to be smart, managing the engine temperatures and preserving the tires so I would still have the grip to last the whole race. Deep down, I kept telling myself to trust my ability and just execute what I knew I was capable of. To cross that finish line first and actually achieve it is an incredible, emotional feeling. We set out to take this victory, and we did it.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1 1. KRITTAPAT KEANKUM – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (19’29.168s) 2. MUHAMMAD FADHIL MUSYAVI – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (19’29.261s) 3. RHEZA DANICA AHRENS – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (19’29.445s) 4. GERRY SALIM – MsGlowForMen Racing Team (19’29.761s) 5. IRFAN ARDIANSYAH – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (19’29.820s)

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FADHIL LED DAY ONE

Round 5 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 got underway today at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. Across two practice sessions in the AP250 category, Muhammad Fadhil Musyavi of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA clinched the top spot in the Combined Practice standings after a brilliantly timed push in Practice 2. In Practice 1, Rheza Danica Ahrens of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM adapted quickest to the tricky track conditions, posting a 2’24.472s on his 9th tour to take the early honors. His teammate Irfan Ardiansyah backed up the squad’s performance with a 2’24.915s on lap 8 to secure second. Fadhil completed a closely matched top three at 2’24.964s, while Peerapong Luiboonpeng of ONE FOR ALL and Nguyen Huu Tri of MOTUL HONDA ASIA TEAM settled into fourth and fifth. Practice 2 saw lap times tighten dramatically, and Fadhil found his breakthrough on his 7th lap, stringing together clean sectors to record a 2’24.350s. The Indonesian rider’s effort proved to be the quickest lap of the entire day, moving him straight to the top of the combined timesheets. Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM produced an equally stunning recovery after Practice 1. Krittapat matched Fadhil’s intensity on his 7th lap, clocking 2’24.402s to claim second overall, missing the top spot by a margin of just 0.052s. Rheza’s Practice 1 benchmark held firm against the afternoon improvements, earning him third place in the combined standings. Behind him, Nguyen took fourth overall with a 2’24.515s while clocking the session’s highest top speed of 194.2kph. Candra H completed the top five for YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA with a 2’24.771s, ensuring two team machines concluded Friday among the frontrunners. Fadhil said, “Alhamdulillah, finishing fastest and claiming P1 in Practice 2 is a tremendous result for us, and it allowed us to dial in a strong setup for both Race 1 and Race 2. Insyaallah, we can build on this momentum and deliver an even stronger performance tomorrow.” “The track was quite tricky today, especially during Practice 1, which caught me off guard because it was honestly my first time dealing with such conditions here. I had to stay patient, learn how the bike reacted, and wait for the right moment to push. I hope track conditions improve tomorrow so that I can ride a smart, clean race, bring the bike home safely, and secure a great result for the team.” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE 1. MUHAMMAD FADHIL MUSYAVI – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (2’24.350s) 2. KRITTAPAT KEANKUM – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (2’24.402s) 3. RHEZA DANICA AHRENS – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (2’24.472s) 4. NGUYEN HUU TRI – MOTUL HONDA ASIA TEAM (2’24.515s) 5. CANDRA H – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (2’24.771s)

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IRFAN, FROM REPLACEMENT TO CONTENDER

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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IRFAN CLAIMED EMOTIONAL HOME WIN

The AP250 category delivered an eventful Race 2 today at the Mandalika International Circuit, Indonesia for Round 4 of the LFN FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026. Irfan Ardiansyah of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM navigated through intense battles to secure a brilliant home victory. The race began with immediate disruption. Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM took the early lead but slid out at Turn 1. This allowed Hiroki Ono of HONDA RACING VIETNAM to take charge, followed closely by Gerry Salim of MsGlowForMen Racing Team and Riichi Takahira of Tian yu Asia Racing MFZ. By Lap 2, Irfan made his move to take the lead, overtaking Hiroki, while Andi M. Fadly of Pro Power Antares MT Kawasaki settled into fifth position. The middle sector of the race saw fierce competition and constantly shifting positions. On Lap 3, Muhammad Fadhil Musyavi of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA set a fast pace of 1’47.367s to move into third behind Gerry. The pace quickened further on Lap 5 when Aldiaz Aqsal Ismaya of YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA clocked a 1’47.092s. On Lap 6, Fahmi Basam of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM briefly took the lead before crashing a lap later. Hiroki also suffered a crash, removing another front-runner from contention. In closing stages, Riichi assumed the lead. Irfan responded on Lap 8 with the fastest lap of the race at 1’46.919s. On final lap, Rheza Danica Ahrens of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM was leading the pack when Candra H of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA attempted an inside pass. The two collided and crashed out. With Krittapat, Hiroki, and Rheza all failing to finish, and Candra finishing down in P18, the top four riders in the championship standings lost valuable points. Irfan claimed victory after crossing the line first at 18’00.799s. Riichi claimed his first career podium finish in second place at 18’01.193s, while Fadhil secured third at 18’01.350s. Irfan stated, “That was an incredibly tough and physically demanding race right from the very first corner. The wind out on the circuit was exceptionally strong today, which made it extremely difficult to find a consistent rhythm, hit our braking markers, and manage the overall race pace. The conditions were so unpredictable, I had to stay patient and ride a highly tactical race.” “My primary focus was simply to protect my track position, stay safely within the leading group, and conserve my energy and tyres for a final, decisive attack. I targeted the last lap to make my ultimate move, and to be able to execute that strategy perfectly and bring home the win is just an unbelievable feeling. The tension in those final corners was immense, but I managed to keep my focus intact.” “I want to express my deepest gratitude to my incredible team for giving me a winning bike, as well as my family and everyone who has continually supported me. Finally, standing on the top step of the podium at a home race is a feeling like absolutely no other. To achieve this victory here at Mandalika, hearing the cheers from the passionate Indonesian fans, makes this one of the most special and emotional moments.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2 1. IRFAN ARDIANSYAH – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (18’00.799s) 2. RIICHI TAKAHIRA – Tian yu Asia Racing MFZ (18’01.193s) 3. MUHAMMAD FADHIL MUSYAVI – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (18’01.350s) 4. NGUYEN HUU TRI – YUZY ASIA TEAM (18’01.748s) 5. MUH. BADLY AYATULLAH M – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (18’01.981s)

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HARD EARNED VICTORY FOR KRITTAPAT

Round 4 of the LFN FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 happened today at the Mandalika International Circuit, Indonesia. In Race 1 of the AP250 category, Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM secured a victory after a demanding ten-lap race. Following the qualifying session, Krittapat Keankum claimed pole position with a time of 1’45.328s. He was joined on the front row by Hiroki Ono of HONDA RACING VIETNAM with his lap time of 1’45.668s and Candra H of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA at 1’45.837s. As the race began, Hiroki Ono surged forward to take the initial advantage. However, Krittapat Keankum quickly responded, overtaking him to reclaim the top spot before the end of the lap. Behind the leaders, Gerry Salim of MsGlowForMen Racing Team settled into third, followed closely by Riichi Takahira of Tian yu Asia Racing MFZ and Muhammad Fadhil Musyavi of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA. The race dynamics shifted notably on the third lap. Irfan Ardiansyah of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM found his rhythm, setting a fast lap of 1’46.996s. He moved up to challenge for the lead and successfully overtook Krittapat. Meanwhile, an unfortunate incident further back in the field saw Zhong Wen Ze of Tian yu Asia Racing MFZ and Galang Hendra Pratama of YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA collide, resulting in both riders crashing out of the competition. The fight for the lead remained fluid as the laps progressed. On lap 4, Candra pushed past Irfan to take control of the race. Krittapat then fought his way back to the front on lap 5, with Reykat Yusuf Fadilah of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM moving up into third. During this phase, Hiroki Ono experienced a fall but managed to quickly pick up his bike and rejoin the race. By lap six, Irfan was back in the lead, followed by Reykat and Krittapat. The leading pack stayed tightly grouped. On lap 8, Gerry set a new fastest lap of 1’46.683s to stay well in contention. The penultimate lap saw Reykat overtake Krittapat, while Gerry and Riichi also battled firmly for the front positions. The tenth and final lap saw Fadhil briefly held the lead as the front-runners constantly traded places through the circuit’s corners. Ultimately, Krittapat Keankum navigated the busy field effectively, making a clean and decisive move to cross the finish line first with a total time of 17’43.380s. Fahmi Basam of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM finished second at 17’44.445s, while Gerry secured the final podium spot at 17’44.667s. Krittapat commented, “Going into that final lap, my heart was racing, and I knew I had to give it absolutely everything I had left in the tank to secure the best possible position. I wanted this win so badly for the team, and I ended up pushing the bike just a little bit too hard, riding right on the absolute limit of what the tires could handle. Because of that, the rear started to lose its grip, and I was dealing with a lot of sliding through those critical final few corners. It was definitely a tense, nerve-wracking moment where I thought I might lose it all, but thankfully, I managed to keep the bike under control, hold my breath, and safely bring it home to the finish line. Crossing that line was a feeling of pure relief and joy.” “Despite that heart-stopping end to the race, I am so incredibly grateful and emotional about this result today. Standing on the top step of the podium is a dream realized. I want to say a massive, heartfelt thank you to my entire team. They worked tirelessly, late into the night and from the early morning sessions, to give me such a highly competitive machine. This achievement is a true reward for all their sweat and hard work in the garage, I couldn’t have done it without them. Finally, I want to send my deepest appreciation and love to all the Thai fans cheering for me back home, as well as to all of our amazing sponsors. Hearing your cheers and knowing you have my back gives me the strength and motivation to keep fighting at the very front of the pack, no matter how tough the race gets. Thank you so much to everyone who believes in us!” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1 1. KRITTAPAT KEANKUM – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (17’43.380s) 2. FAHMI BASAM – YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM (17’44.445s) 3. GERRY SALIM – MsGlowForMen Racing Team (17’44.667s) 4. CANDRA H – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (17’44.820s) 5. REYKAT YUSUF FADILAH – YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM (17’44.935s)

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KRITTAPAT TIMED IT PERFECTLY

The LFN FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 returned to the Mandalika International Circuit in Indonesia for Round 4, saw Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM claim the top spot in the Combined Practice in AP250 category. The action began on Friday morning with the Indonesian riders looking to establish an early rhythm and dictate the pace on a track they know intimately. Muhammad Fadhil Musyavi of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA set the initial benchmark in Practice 1, logging a solid 1’46.930s to take the lead. His teammate, Candra H, followed closely behind with a 1’47.004s, indicating the local squad had found a comfortable setup right out of the box. Reykat Yusuf Fadilah, representing YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM, completed an all-Indonesian top three. Meanwhile, experienced contenders Hiroki Ono of HONDA RACING VIETNAM and Krittapat began their day quietly, evaluating track conditions to finish fourth and fifth respectively. In Practice 2, Candra H managed to find extra speed through the sweeping sectors, taking over the top position with an improved time of 1’46.714s. However, the international riders were steadily beginning to close the gap. Krittapat moved up into second place with a 1’46.908s lap time. The afternoon session also saw Irfan Ardiansyah put ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM firmly into the mix by securing third, pushing early leader Fadhil Musyavi down to fourth. Fahmi Basam rounded out a tightly contested top five for YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM. In Practice 3, Krittapat executed a clean flying lap to break the 1’46 barrier, clocking an impressive 1’45.998s. This effort secured him the fastest lap of the day. Hiroki also found significant late pace, jumping to second overall with a 1’46.031s, falling just fractions short of the top spot. Despite losing the outright lead, Candra H remained consistent, posting a 1’46.363s to secure a vital third overall. Meanwhile, Rheza Danica Ahrens delivered a crucial late lap of 1’46.547s to place his ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM machine in fourth. Fadhil Musyavi’s Practice 3 time of 1’46.571s ensured he completed Friday’s combined top five. Krittapat shared, “I am taking this weekend step by step, focusing solely on doing my absolute best each time I leave the pit lane. Right now, I am not thinking about the championship points at all. My mind is locked on this circuit and the job in front of me. I really want to thank my entire team for their incredible hard work today. They gave me a fantastic setup and constantly pushed me to reach that top spot on the timesheets.” “Looking ahead to tomorrow’s Qualifying and Race 1, we are not planning to make any major changes to the bike because the base package is already excellent. Instead, the improvement has to come from me. I just need to adjust and refine my riding style slightly, and if I can do that, I am confident I can produce an even faster lap time.” “Honestly, Mandalika is a very demanding circuit for me to master. Because the track is located right next to the beach, we have to battle some very strong winds. It makes Sector 2 particularly difficult to tackle alone, as you really feel the drag without a slipstream. It is a tough physical and technical challenge, but I am fully prepared to give everything I have tomorrow.” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE 1. KRITTAPAT KEANKUM – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (1’45.998s) 2. HIROKI ONO – HONDA RACING VIETNAM (1’46.031s) 3. CANDRA H – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (1’46.363s) 4. RHEZA DANICA AHRENS – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (1’46.547s) 5. MUHAMMAD FADHIL MUSYAVI – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (1’46.571s)

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HIROKI’S CHARGE CONTINUES

Hiroki Ono’s impressive season continues as the 2026 LFN FIM Asia Road Racing Championship travels to the Mandalika International Circuit for the Round 4 in AP250 action. Stepping in as a replacement rider for HONDA RACING VIETNAM, Hiroki has quickly made an impact by securing three victories. By matching the win tally of his leading rivals, his performance has created an interesting new storyline for the season. Despite his immediate success, Hiroki remains calm and grounded about his results. “Of course, as a racer, I always step onto the track with a strong desire to win. However, coming into this season as a replacement rider, I truly did not expect to achieve three victories this quickly. It has been a wonderful surprise, and it validates the hard work we have put in together.” While he is closing the gap in the standings, Hiroki refuses to be distracted by title calculations. “Honestly, I am not putting my focus on the championship standings right now. The pressure of points can be distracting. My main priority is simply to fight hard and increase my number of wins. I firmly believe that if I keep pushing for the podium, the final standings will naturally take care of themselves.” Hiroki travels to Indonesia carrying clear momentum from his recent double victory in Japan. “Motegi was my home race, so naturally, I felt a deep sense of comfort and confidence there. Racing in front of my home crowd was special. While I might not have that exact same home advantage here at Mandalika, I am still carrying a lot of positive energy and belief into this weekend.” He knows the Indonesian track will test the grid. “On paper, the circuit layout might look easy, but it is actually highly technical. In the AP250 class, mastering slipstreaming will be absolutely essential. I am really looking forward to the challenge. We have a solid plan in place, and my goal is to get through our setup work within the limited practice time to refine our package for Sunday.” His quick adaptation is largely due to his strong bond with HONDA RACING VIETNAM and his previous ARRC experience. “The competition in AP250 is definitely higher than my past experience in the TVS category, but that makes it more fun. The battles are tight, and I rely heavily on my racecraft to strategize.” “More importantly, the team places a great deal of trust in me, and I trust them completely. We are getting stronger every session. My highest priority right now is not the championship, but acting as a mentor, providing useful feedback to help develop the young Vietnamese riders, and bringing solid data back to the team.”

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HIROKI SEALED DREAM HOME DOUBLE

  The AP250 class at Mobility Resort Motegi saw Japan’s Hiroki Ono of HONDA RACING VIETNAM complete a dream weekend with a hard-fought victory in Race 2 of Round 3 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026. After claiming Race 1 honours on Saturday, the home favourite secured a memorable double victory in front of his home fans.   The race got underway with Fahmi Basam of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM making a strong launch from the grid, but he was soon challenged by Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM, who moved into the lead. Behind them, Riichi Takahira of Tianyu Asia Racing MFZ settled into third place.   The pace intensified as Hiroki set the early benchmark on Lap 2 with a fastest lap of 2’08.853s. While Gao Ziang of ONE FOR ALL saw his race end prematurely following a crash, the battle at the front continued to grow more competitive.   The race continued with constant position changes among six riders. Hiroki, Riichi, Krittapat, Fahmi, Candra H of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA, and Irfan Ardiansyah of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM traded places lap after lap, with no rider able to establish a decisive advantage.   On Lap 7, Md Danial Syahmi Ahmad Shahril of UMA RACING YAMAHA MAJU MOTOR ASIA TEAM crashed out while running with the leading group. Riichi then briefly seized control of the race, only for Hiroki to fight back on Lap 8.   On the final lap, Riichi led Krittapat and Hiroki, while Irfan, Candra, Fahmi, and Rheza Danica Ahrens remained firmly in contention. The battle became increasingly intense, and Teppei Kugawa of SANWA RACING TEAM crashed out amid the frantic closing exchanges.   Hiroki produced a perfectly timed final attack to snatch victory in 21’34.185s. Irfan Ardiansyah charged through to finish second, just 0.105s behind, while Candra H secured third place, 0.119s adrift of the winner.   The victory marked Hiroki’s second win of the weekend and completed a perfect home round for the Japanese rider, much to the delight of the Motegi crowd.   Hiroki commented: “My feelings are very similar to yesterday, but today’s race was even more challenging from my side. The competition was incredibly close, and I knew I had to maintain my position at the front and save something extra for the final few laps. In the last two or three laps, I gave everything I had and pushed beyond my limits. I gave more than 100%, and when I crossed the finish line in first place, it was an unforgettable feeling. To achieve a double victory here at my home round in Japan makes this moment even more special and emotional for me. This result would not have been possible without the incredible effort from the team. Everyone at HONDA RACING VIETNAM worked tirelessly throughout the weekend to give me the best package possible, and I am truly grateful for their dedication and support. I would also like to thank all our sponsors, especially our Japanese sponsors, as well as the Japanese fans who came to the circuit and cheered for me every lap. Racing in front of my home crowd and rewarding them with two victories is something I will never forget. Thank you for believing in me and supporting me all the way.”   TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2 HIROKI ONO  – HONDA RACING VIETNAM (21’34.185s) IRFAN ARDIANSYAH – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (21’34.290s) CANDRA H – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (21’34.304s) RIICHI TAKAHIRA – Tianyu Asia Racing MFZ (21’34.426s) MUHAMMAD FADHIL MUSYAVI – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (21’34.738s)

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HIROKI CLAIMED HOME GLORY

Home hero Hiroki Ono of HONDA RACING VIETNAM produced a commanding performance under pressure to secure a memorable victory in Race 1 of the AP250 class at Round 3 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 at Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan. The race saw fierce multi-rider battles, and it was Hiroki who emerged victorious with a winning time of 21’34.483s, delighting the Japanese crowd after fending off challenges from some of the strongest contenders in the championship. Starting from the front row, Hiroki wasted no time asserting himself at the front, surging into the lead at the start ahead of fellow Japanese rider Riichi Takahira of Tianyu Asia Racing MFZ and pole-sitter Fahmi Basam of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM. However, the race quickly developed into a tactical battle among a tightly packed leading group. By Lap 3, Fahmi launched his attack, overtaking both Hiroki and Riichi to take control of the race. The Indonesian rider looked poised to strengthen his championship campaign, but the lead continued to change hands as riders searched for every possible advantage around the demanding Motegi circuit. Lap 4 saw Riichi move to the front, giving the home fans two Japanese riders at the sharp end of the field. Hiroki soon responded while Fahmi, Irfan Ardiansyah of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM, Candra H of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA and Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM remained firmly in contention. The intensity increased further midway through the race. Fahmi reclaimed the lead on Lap 5 before Irfan briefly took over at the front one lap later, highlighting just how competitive the leading group had become. By Lap 7, Riichi was once again leading ahead of Hiroki and Irfan, while the battle for podium positions remained impossible to predict. On Lap 8, Fahmi’s challenge came to a sudden end after crashing out of contention. The incident removed one of the race favourites and intensified the battle among the remaining front-runners. With two laps remaining, Hiroki and Riichi engaged in a captivating duel at the front, the pair repeatedly exchanging positions while carrying the hopes of the home crowd. Behind them, Irfan remained within striking distance, waiting for an opportunity to launch a decisive move. That opportunity came on the final lap. Hiroki held firm at the front while Irfan executed a crucial pass on Riichi to move into second position. Further behind, the battle for the final podium place erupted as Krittapat surged through in the closing stages to secure third. At the chequered flag, Hiroki sealed a hard-earned home victory ahead of Irfan, who crossed the line just 0.161s behind. Krittapat completed the podium in third, only 0.418s adrift of the winner. Hiroki shared, T”he race was incredibly tough because I was battling with some of the strongest riders in the championship from the very first lap. The pace was intense and there was no time to relax, so my strategy was to stay at the front as much as possible and try to control the rhythm of the race. Every lap was a fight, especially with the lead changing hands so many times. To win here at Motegi, in front of the Japanese fans, is a very special feeling for me. I could hear the support from the crowd and it gave me extra motivation to keep pushing until the chequered flag. This victory means a lot because the entire HONDA RACING VIETNAM team worked extremely hard throughout the weekend. We faced many challenges, but everyone kept believing and never gave up. I’m very proud of what we achieved together, and I want to dedicate this win to the team, our supporters, and everyone who has been behind us.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1 1. HIROKI ONO – HONDA RACING VIETNAM (21’34.483s) 2. IRFAN ARDIANSYAH – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (21’34.644s) 3. KRITTAPAT KEANKUM – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (21’34.901s) 4. CANDRA H – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (21’35.093s) 5. RHEZA DANICA AHRENS – ASTRO HONDA RACING TEAM (21’35.174s)

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