At the start, Candra H of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA and Rheza Danica Ahrens of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM launched brilliantly off the line, with Riichi Takahira of Tianyu Asia Racing MFZ settling into third ahead of Race 1 winner Krittapat. However, it did not take long for Krittapat to assert his authority, slicing through the field to take control and immediately begin building a gap.
By Lap 2, Krittapat had already stretched his advantage to just 0.817s over Galang Hendra Pratama of YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA, while Fahmi Basam of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM surged past Riichi to move into contention. The intensity behind the leader continued to rise, but Krittapat remained untouchable.

On Lap 3, Fahmi clocked the fastest lap of 2’26.388s to briefly move into second, only for Galang to respond and reclaim the position. One lap later, Krittapat answered with authority, setting a blistering 2’24.677s to maintain a safe buffer, as Riichi regrouped in second, trailing by 2.695s.

As the race entered its middle phase, Krittapat’s dominance became increasingly evident. By Lap 5, he had extended his lead to around 3 seconds, while Rheza applied pressure on Riichi in the fight for second. Behind them, Muhammad Fadhil Musyavi and Candra engaged in a fierce battle for fourth, adding further drama to an already action-packed race.

Lap 6 saw another shift in the order as Rheza executed a decisive move to overtake Riichi for second, but by then, Krittapat had surged even further ahead, stretching his advantage to nearly 4 seconds. The chasing pack continued to shuffle positions, with Candra and Riichi trading places, while Panjaruch Chitwirulchat of HONDA RACING THAILAND steadily climbed through the ranks.

Heading into the final lap, Krittapat was in a league of his own, commanding a 5.410s lead. Behind him, chaos unfolded as Fahmi suddenly raised his hand due to a technical issue, dropping out of contention and leaving a six-rider battle for the remaining podium spots.

In a dramatic run to the line, Rheza timed his move to perfection, surging ahead on the final straight to claim second place in 19’38.912s, just 0.076s ahead of Candra, who secured third at 19’38.988s.

Unchallenged at the front, Krittapat crossed the chequered flag in a dominant 19’33.870s, sealing a flawless weekend and celebrating his first double victory of the 2026 season.

Krittapat said, “In the beginning of the race, I was quite nervous, especially with the possibility of rain. But then I told myself to stay focused and just go for it. It’s hard to put my feelings into words, but I’m determined to keep pushing and continue doing my best.”

TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2
1. KRITTAPAT KEANKUM – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (19’33.870s)
2. RHEZA DANICA AHRENS – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (19’38.912s)
3. CANDRA H – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (19’38.988s)
4. PANJARUCH CHITWIRULCHAT – HONDA RACING THAILAND (19’39.008s)
5. MUHAMMAD FADHIL MUSYAVI – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (19’39.028s)

The race began with a blistering start from Rheza Danica Ahrens of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM, who immediately took control ahead of Candra H of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA. However, the order quickly shifted as Riichi Takahira of Tian yu Asia Racing MFZ and Fahmi Basam of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM surged into contention. Early drama struck as Muhd Jazzil Juraimi of TEAM ACR was forced to retire due to a technical issue.

By Lap 2, the leading group intensified, with Rheza holding firm ahead of Fahmi, Candra, and Riichi, while Krittapat began working his way forward. Thailand’s Panjaruch Chitwirulchat of HONDA RACING THAILAND made a decisive move to the front, overtaking Rheza to seize the lead. Moments later, chaos unfolded as Riichi and Candra collided and crashed, followed shortly by Galang Hendra Pratama, dramatically reshaping the race.

Lap 3 saw Panjaruch and Rheza locked in a fierce duel for the lead, swapping positions corner by corner. Krittapat settled into third, with Fahmi and Muh. Badly Ayatullah M of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM keeping close contact in a tightly packed front group.

The momentum shifted again on Lap 4 as Krittapat surged into the lead ahead of Panjaruch and Rheza, showcasing strong pace and control. However, the relentless exchanges continued, and by Lap 6, the front group remained inseparable, with Fahmi, Badly, Panjaruch, and Rheza all taking turns at the front before Krittapat reclaimed the lead.

On Lap 7, Badly made a bold move to take control, but Krittapat responded immediately, clocking the fastest lap of the race at 2’24.971s to stay firmly in contention as the race built towards a dramatic finale.

The final lap delivered pure chaos. Krittapat briefly regained the lead, only for Panjaruch to strike back, with Rheza also forcing his way into second. Badly, who had been a key contender, crashed out, while Krittapat once again fought his way to the front. Fahmi moved into second with Rheza in third, setting up a tense final sector.

In a heartbreaking twist, Fahmi crashed out at the final turn while pushing for victory, leaving the door wide open. Krittapat seized the moment and powered across the finish line in 19’32.842s to secure a hard-fought win. Gerry Salim of MsGlowForMen Racing Team capitalised to take second, just 0.269s behind at 19’33.111s, while Malaysia’s Md Danial Syahmi Ahmad Shahril claimed third at 19’33.171s, much to the delight of the home crowd.

Krittapat said, “On the last lap, I knew what I had to do. I’m really thankful to my team for their support, and also to my family. This victory means a lot to me.”

TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1
1. KRITTAPAT KEANKUM – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (19’32.842s)
2. GERRY SALIM – MsGlowForMen Racing Team (19’33.111s)
3. MD DANIAL SYAHMI AHMAD SHAHRIL – UMA RACING YAMAHA MAJU MOTOR ASIA TEAM (19’33.171s)
4. PANJARUCH CHITWIRULCHAT – HONDA RACING THAILAND (19’33.237s)
5. RHEZA DANICA AHRENS – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (19’33.439s)

The opening session immediately showcased strong pace across the field, but it was Krittapat who led the way with a solid 2’24.786s, placing him at the top of Practice 1. Behind him, the ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM duo of Muh. Badly Ayatullah M and Rheza Danica Ahrens posted 2’25.406s and 2’25.512s respectively, while Candra H of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA and Aiki Iyoshi of TEAM SDG WITH HARC-PRO rounded out the top five in a tightly matched session.

In Practice 2, Krittapat maintained his sharp form with another strong lap at 2’25.005s, keeping his position at the top of the standings. Fahmi Basam of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM closed in with 2’25.191s, while Galang Hendra Pratama of YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA posted a competitive 2’25.586s to remain among the lead group. Md Danial Syahmi Ahmad Shahril of UMA RACING YAMAHA MAJU MOTOR ASIA TEAM and Spain’s Unai Calatayud Pascual of Pro Power Antares MT Kawasaki completed the top five.

But it was during Practice 3 that Krittapat delivered his strongest statement of the day. The Thai rider unleashed a blistering lap of 2’24.292s, the fastest of all three sessions, showcasing both refinement in setup and growing confidence heading into Qualifying. Fahmi remained close behind with 2’24.465s, followed by Rheza with 2’24.545s, while Galang and Aldiaz Aqsal Ismaya ensured the YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA squad placed both riders inside the session’s top five.

With combined times taken from all sessions, Krittapat Keankum emerged as the fastest rider overall, marking a strong start to his 2026 AP250 campaign. Fahmi secured second, with Rheza completing the top three for the day.

Krittapat expressed, “Today we finished P1 and kept everything consistent. We tried a new setup, explored new racing lines, and tested some techniques, and everything felt very good. I will do my best in tomorrow’s Race 1.”

TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE
1. KRITTAPAT KEANKUM – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (2’24.292s)
2. FAHMI BASAM – YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM (2’24.465s)
3. RHEZA DANICA AHRENS – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (2’24.545s)
4. GALANG HENDRA PRATAMA – YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA (2’24.751s)
5. ALDIAZ AQSAL ISMAYA – YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA (2’24.791s)

But the step back into AP250 is far from easy. With faster riders, stronger teams, and tighter lap times than ever before, Peerapong knows the challenge ahead is immense. “This year’s AP250 race is a very tough one for me because many of the riders have competed here consistently. The pace is high, the experience level is high, and I know I have a lot of work to do.”

However, his years in UB150 have equipped him with valuable strengths that he believes will carry over into this new campaign. “Racing UB150 taught me a lot, especially about maintaining concentration and solving problems immediately during intense pack battles. Those skills will help me a lot as I adapt to AP250 again.”
As for expectations, Peerapong’s answer is simple but powerful, “We are competing to win. My team and I will do our best to fight for victory.”
With a highly competitive AP250 entry list for 2026, identifying rivals is difficult, but Peerapong remains open and focused. “Honestly, all the racers are talented. We’ll have to see how things develop at the first race. From there, we’ll know where we stand and what we need to improve.”

Now, with Sepang International Circuit hosting the season opener, Peerapong enters 2026 with a mix of gratitude, determination, and quiet fire. His long-awaited victory last year reignited something powerful, and AP250 might just be where that fire burns brightest.

After competing last season aboard a Kawasaki with MOTUL KAWASAKI SNIPER MANUAL TECH, Aiki begins a bold new chapter in this season by joining SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES. It marks not only a change of team, but a complete shift in machinery. For the first time in his career, Aiki will race on a Honda.

For many riders, such a transition would be unsettling. For Aiki, it is fuel.

“Honda is an unknown world for me, but that’s exactly why I’m excited. New challenges are what push a rider to discover his true potential,” he shared, embracing the uncertainty that lies ahead.

Adapting to a new bike in AP250 is no small task. Every detail, from braking feel to corner exit, demands recalibration. Aiki knows the learning curve will be steep, but he is prepared to meet it head-on. “Everything is new, so every lap matters. I want to understand the bike deeply and make each session count. That’s how progress is built,” he explained.

Transitions don’t shake Aiki’s focus. “My sights are only set on the championship. Nothing less,’ he said, exuding the quiet confidence of a rider who knows exactly what he wants.

Pre-season testing will be crucial, but Aiki believes his experience racing against Honda riders gives him a valuable foundation. “I’ve battled Hondas for years, so I understand their strengths. Now it’s about fine-tuning the setup and unlocking that performance for myself,” he said.

What excites him most, however, is the opportunity to grow alongside one of the most respected teams in the paddock. “Every part of this journey excites me. I want to win with a top team, and SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES. gives me that belief,” Aiki added.

As determined as ever, he makes sure his fans know exactly where he stands. “Even on a Honda, I will ride my own way. I’m not here to lose. I’m here to win. My fans’ supports mean everything to me,” he said with conviction.

This move is more than a change of colours. It is a test of adaptability, mentality, and ambition. “I believe this step will help me grow, not just as a rider on track, but as a person. And I’m ready to keep growing,” Aiki concluded.

A new bike. A new team. A new challenge.
For Aiki Iyoshi, the AP250 journey in 2026 is just beginning, and he intends to make it count!

Some riders grow into a championship.
Arbi arrived as if he had been ready all along.

In his very first full season of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, the ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM rider treated the AP250 class not as a place to learn, but as a stage to own. Race after race, Arbi showed a maturity far beyond a debutant. Arbi is calm when the grid got chaotic, precise when the pressure rose, and fearless in moments most riders would hesitate.

What defined his season wasn’t just speed. It was composure. Arbi rode with the clarity of someone who trusted his craft entirely. His corner entries were smooth, his exits sharp, and his overtakes carried a quiet confidence that left rivals second-guessing. Even in races where victory seemed far, he never broke rhythm. He calculated. He adapted. He struck at the perfect moment, often without drama, always with purpose.

Those who watched closely noticed something else. Arbi is not loud, yet everything about him is intense. Intense in focus, intense in discipline, intense in the way he carries the responsibility of wearing the ASTRA HONDA colours. He listens, he learns, he refines. And, the results show.

To end a first full season as Overall Champion is not common. To do it with the poise of a seasoned contender is exceptional.

Arbi has set the bar high. If this is only the beginning, how far can he possibly go?

The race began with Krittapat making a solid launch to take the early lead, with Arbi Aditama of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM immediately giving chase and applying pressure in the opening corners.

By Lap 2, Arbi overtook Krittapat, and the pair engaged in continuous position swaps as they built a one-second gap over the second group. Behind them, Noprutpong Bunprawes of HONDA RACING THAILAND initially held third, but later lost the spot to Davino Britani of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM.

On Lap 4, Arbi attempted to break away, but Krittapat stayed glued to his rear wheel. Further back, Candra H of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA clocked the fastest lap of the race with a 1’51.683s, climbing steadily into sixth.

By Lap 5, the Arbi and Krittapat’s duel continued, while Noprutpong reclaimed third from Davino to lead the chase group.

In the final lap, the race erupted into a three-rider fight. Krittapat overtook Arbi, Noprutpong seized the moment and made his move past Arbi as well. Arbi rejoined the battle, turning the closing corners into an intense three-way sprint to the line.

But it was Krittapat Keankum who crossed first, taking a dramatic victory in 18’45.076s, followed closely by Noprutpong in 18’45.209s. Arbi completed the podium with 18’46.086s.

Krittapat said, “From the last lap onward, every turn reminded me why I was pushing. It’for my team, and for my family. And today, it all paid off. Winning my home race and claiming my first AP250 victory is an unforgettable moment. I’m so happy!”

Arbi, who secured the 2025 AP250 Championship, said “At the end of the race, I forgot to set the engine brake map. When I braked and the bike kept rolling forward, I realised my mistake. I hit the brake hard, the bike slid, and I knew I wouldn’t save it. Still, it was a good effort and a big lesson for me. Well done to Krittapat, he managed to beat me today. It was a fun race overall; we fought cleanly, strongly and in a world-championship style. Thank you to my team, my mechanics and everyone who supported me throughout the season. See you next year! The level this year was very high, all the riders and bikes improved a lot. I’m proud to take the championship in this category, and I’m excited to try the next category and fight for the title again.”

TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2
1. KRITTAPAT KEANKUM – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (18’45.076s)
2. NOPRUTPONG BUNPRAWES – HONDA RACING THAILAND (18’45.209s)
3. FADILLAH ARBI ADITAMA – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (18’46.086s)
4. CANDRA H – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (18’52.539s)
5. PANJARUCH CHITWIRULCHAT – HONDA RACING THAILAND (18’52.667s)
TOP 5 – OVERALL RIDER STANDINGS
1. FADILLAH ARBI ADITAMA – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (212 points)
2. KRITTAPAT KEANKUM – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (163 points)
3. MD IZAM IKMAL – VICTOR RACING TEAM (144 points)
4. MOHAMMAD MUROBBIL VITONI – YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM (122 points)
5. CANDRA H – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (121 points)

TOP 5 – OVERALL TEAM STANDINGS
1. ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (277 points)
2. YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA MBKW2 (170 points)
3. YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (163 points)
4. YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (158 points)
5. VICTOR RACING TEAM (144 points)

From the start, Md Izam Ikmal of VICTOR RACING TEAM made a promising launch, but Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM who led the pack initially, with Arbi and Davino Britani of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM close behind. By Lap 3, Indonesia’s Candra H of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA set the fastest lap at 1’52.628s, keeping the pressure on Krittapat as Davino briefly took the lead.

The front group engaged in relentless exchanges over the next laps. On Lap 5, Arbi surged to the top, followed by Krittapat and Noprutpong Bunprawes of HONDA RACING THAILAND. The battle intensified on Lap 6, as Noprutpong clocked the fastest lap (1’52.462s) to take the lead, only for Davino to reclaim it. Krittapat responded with another fastest lap (1’52.218s), climbing back into contention before Arbi once again assumed command.

By Lap 8, Panjaruch Chitwirulchat of HONDA RACING THAILAND joined the fray, further heating up the fight for the podium. On Lap 11, Arbi pushed aggressively, attempting to pull away from a trio of Yamaha riders – Krittapat, Teeranai Tubtim of YAMAHA VIT CHOBURI, and Muhammad Fadhil Musyavi of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA.

The final lap brought high drama. At the last corner, Teeranai and Fadhil collided, crashing out of podium contention and leaving the way clear for Arbi to cross the finish line victoriously at 18’52.468s. Krittapat secured second place at 18’53.074s, while Noprutpong completed the podium in 18’53.508s.

With this victory, Arbi amassed a total of 196 points, comfortably ahead of Izam in second with 142 points, officially crowning him the 2025 AP250 Overall Champion.

Arbi said, “This has been an incredible season, truly my season in AP250. Alhamdulillah, I won today for the team, for myself, and for my family. Thank you so much for all the support. This race was very tough, extremely hard, but I kept pushing. At first, I didn’t plan to take risks, but when they attacked, I told myself I would attack too. My championship margin was big enough, so I decided to go for it, take the risk, and fight. And now, I can’t even describe how happy I am. Thank you!”

TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1
1. FADILLAH ARBI ADITAMA – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (18’52.468s)
2. KRITTAPAT KEANKUM – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (18’53.074s)
3. NOPRUTPONG BUNPRAWES – HONDA RACING THAILAND (18’53.508s)
4. GALANG HENDRA PRATAMA – YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA MBKW2 RACING (18’54.406s)
5. CANDRA H – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (18’54.279s)

Thailand’s own Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM showcased impressive pace, topping the combined practice results with a fastest lap of 1’51.039s set in Practice 3. Krittapat’s performance underlined his local-circuit expertise and set him up as a strong contender for the Qualifying session.

Close on his heels, Fadillah Arbi Aditama of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM posted 1’51.242s, while Thailand’s wild card rider, Teeranai Tubtim of YAMAHA VIT CHOBURI completed the top three with 1’51.374s. Fourth place went to Galang Hendra Pratama of YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA MBKW2 RACING at 1’52.104s, and Candra H of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA rounded out the top five with 1’52.186s.

Krittapat shared, “I feel that I can achieve faster lap times than what I managed today. We focused on improving my riding skills and optimizing the bike’s performance. In Practice 1, we faced an issue with the brake pump, but we did everything we could to fix it, and by Practice 3 I was able to set a good lap time. At the moment, I feel no pressure, but I will give my best in tomorrow’s Race 1.”
TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE RESULT
1. KRITTAPAT KEANKUM – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (1’51.039s)
2. FADILLAH ARBI ADITAMA – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (1’51.242s)
3. TEERANAI TUBTIM – YAMAHA VIT CHOBURI (1’51.374s)
4. GALANG HENDRA PRATAMA – YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA MBKW2 RACING (1’52.104s)
5. CANDRA H – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (1’52.186s)

As Fadillah Arbi Aditama of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM strategizes for the championship title in the Asia Production 250cc of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the season finale, Izam Ikmal of VICTOR RACING TEAM bucks up further to defend his 1st runner up position from Thailand’s rising star, Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM. What’s it going to be at Chang International Circuit? Can Izam rise above the challenge to create a celebratory moment for his team after more than 10 years?

Izam may not be new to the Asian road racing scene however after a number of setbacks, one could only wonder if he would be able to re-calibrate his standards and performances. This season, he returned not only with a renewed inspiration but with a certain fury to dominate the circuit grounds as reflected during the nip and tuck with his closest contenders. While he has secured his position second in the overall standings after hitting five podium-finish, his battle is still not over especially with home-boy, Krittapat tailing closely with a 17-point difference.

But the trip down that road may not be as smooth or easy for Izam who clearly lacked advantage on the home-ground of his closest contender. During the season opener, Izam took one “DNF” and 7 points at Chang circuit whereas Krittapat took home 20 points on that weekend after Race 2. Clearly, Krittapat knows the circuit like the back of his hands and holds better chance at taking Izam down but again, with the Malaysian rider’s enhanced dexterity and manoeuvring moves, Round 6 may just conclude with an interesting twist.

Commenting on the race, Izam said, “It would be a tough fight especially with Krittapat, on his home-ground circuit that he is very well familiar with but there is no other solution but to put up a brave front, embrace all possibilities and make sure that my strategies align with my mission to finish ahead of him. Right now, I am pretty confident with the machine compared to Round 1 where we utilised a different version. I am also used to the circuit layout which I have been riding on since 2016. While that advantage may not be the same as the other contenders, safe to say that I know the circuit ground well enough to manage the circumstances.”

“The new machine definitely comes with its perks but it is also equally important to have the right set of skills and mindset. I think my riding style and techniques match the performance and power of the machine. Right now, I just have to continue being positive throughout. The possibilities of being a champion is still there but it would be an effort that requires a lot more due to the point differences. But if it happens, it would be the best and most unforgettable moment for me and my team. Worse comes to worst, I would like to fall back on 1st runner up which would make me equally happy. The advantage would surely be my experience but once again, it is not easy defeat a home-boy. I will try my best and hope that this success would open to doors for me to participate in the SS600 next season – my all-time dream!”