Asia Superbike 1000

When Thai rider Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND hit the spot in the Asia Superbike 1000cc race category with a double win at Chang International Circuit, was it true dexterity or merely the home-ground factor? Round 2 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will be held at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit this week and home to closest contender Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA. Once teammates, now rivals at best – it was evident when Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA went on a chase to topple the Thai lad who did not budge even an inch from the racing lines. It did seem like a play of finest skills with a pinch of added advantage on Nakarin’s part but definitely the road to victory is long and winding. With round 2 being held on the Malaysian playground, the tables are now turned and all eyes are on homeboy, Zaqhwan. Will he be able to live up to the pressure of the home-ground factor? Nakarin has quickly built a reputation since his debut as the rising star in the ASB1000 race category last season but seasoned pro, Zaqhwan on the other hand who has been riding for six years aboard the high-powered machine, bagged the jackpot back in 2022 making the competition and the coming round highly unpredictable. In Race 1, Nakarin concluded the race with a 0.2s gap despite Zaqhwan’s blistering top speed at 303.4km/hr whereas in Race 2, Nakarin marked a gap of 1.2s. Both the riders are currently raking it at the top of the chart but again, it’s still an early bet especially with five more rounds to go. Commenting on the race, Nakarin said, “All I can say is that I have prepared myself very well for the upcoming race by polishing my skills and enhancing my body capacities to be in control of the machine. The team and I have also worked hand-in-hand to ensure that everything is in order for the coming race. The new CBR1000 engine has an advantage will surely be better for Sepang circuit than the previous version. With that, I believe that I can put on a competitive fight with Zaqhwan. He is quite strong, especially on his home-ground. I have always liked Sepang circuit because of its long straights. I have fine-tuned my techniques on the racing lines and braking points therefore, I think its going to be an exciting experience. Yes, it is challenging and requires specific skills but with ASB1000 championship title in mind, I will go all out. My goal is be on the podium in all races. That is the ultimate expectation.” Zaqhwan on the other hand said, “It was a storm at Chang circuit with Nakarin who was expected to perform in an outstanding manner on his home-ground. Home circuit is always an added advantage and my turn is coming up soon. I want to give my best but at the same time enjoy the ride with the win in my mind. That’s the aim ultimately. I think the speed of the machine is more or less similar to Nakarin’s since we are using the same machine. The team is definitely different this season so we both might have added advantage and some limitations in certain areas. I believe that the coming race will stir up some intense moments for both of us, that’s for sure. It is also home to many Malaysian riders including Hafizh and Azlan who have both clocked in a great deal of time on the ground. I will remain positive, calm and focus on my passion for race. When I won the title two years ago, I lost the momentum and the feeling. This season is all about making a comeback, to prove my worth and dominance in the race. Hopefully, I can achieve that.”

HONDA RACING THAILAND’s Nakarin Atiratphuvapat proudly waved the Thai flag on the ASB1000 podium as he celebrated his double win in the opening round of the 2025 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship in front of his home crowd. After winning Race 1 on Saturday, Nakarin concluded a successful outing at the Chang International Circuit, Buriram, Thailand, with another commanding victory, clocking a time of 20’54:547s. Nakarin’s dominance in the ASB1000 race began as early as lap 1 when he edged past Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi and Azroy Hakeem Anuar of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA. The Thai rider wasted no time pulling away and establishing a lead ahead of the chasing duo. As Nakarin crossed the finish line in first, Zaqhwan’s dream of securing his first victory was dashed when he ended the race in second with a time of 20’55:752s. Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES rounded out the podium in third with a time of 20’57:462s. Nakarin’s solid performance at the Chang International Circuit has placed him at the top of the championship standings with a perfect 50 points. Nakarin shared, “Today, the track temperature was hot. My race pace wasn’t so fast, but I tried to concentrate on my riding, focusing only on what was in front of me. I attacked from the beginning. When I saw I had a one-second gap from the group, I controlled the pace. Towards the end, I felt more tired, and Zaqhwan was closing in, but I managed to control the situation. It was a perfect race and a perfect weekend. I’m also happy to finish the home race with such a great result for Round 1.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2

Race 1 of the opening round of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship in the ASB1000 category at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, saw Thai rider Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND clinch a commanding victory, securing the top spot on the podium. During the qualifying session, Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA earned pole position with the fastest lap time of 1’35:056s. Nakarin followed closely in second with a time of 1’35:276s, while Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of JDT RACING TEAM secured the third grid position with a time of 1’35:378s. As the race began, Zaqhwan took the early lead, with Nakarin moving into second position ahead of Hafizh. Nakarin overtook Zaqhwan at Turn 3 on the opening lap. The top three riders quickly created a 1:550s gap from the chasing group. Running in P4, Apiwath Wongthananon of A1 ENERGY BMW RACING TEAM also began to pull away from the group in pursuit of the front-runners. Throughout the race, Nakarin and Zaqhwan exchanged the lead multiple times, displaying a fierce battle between the former teammates. Their pace pushed them 2:883s ahead of the rest of the field, and the gap continued to grow lap by lap. By lap 6, Apiwath overtook Hafizh to move into P3, aiming to secure a podium finish on home soil. On the final lap, Nakarin was in the lead, with Zaqhwan reaching a top speed of 303.4 km/h in an attempt to close the gap. Despite the pressure, Nakarin denied the overtaking attempt and proudly crossed the finish line to take the victory with a time of 16’06:372s. Zaqhwan finished in second place with a time of 16’06:613s, while Hafizh secured third place after overtaking Apiwath on the final turn, finishing with a time of 16’11:288s. Nakarin said, “This race was really difficult, especially learning the track conditions, since it was raining earlier in the SS600 race. I just tried to go step by step. I saw Zaqhwan was really fast, so I stayed behind him for a while. It might have looked like I was giving him space, but in the last three laps, I started pushing again. I noticed Zaqhwan getting a bit slower, and I knew I had to win this race, because I’ve been waiting for this moment since last season in this class. I’m very happy. I dedicate this victory to all the Thai fans and my team for their hard work and support.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1

The 2025 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship roared to life today at Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, where Apiwath Wongthananon of A1 ENERGY BMW RACING TEAM surged to the top as the fastest rider in the combined ASB1000 practice sessions. In Practice 1, Andi Farid Izdihar of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM displayed strong pace, setting the quickest lap at 1’36:021s. Just 0:061s behind him was Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of JDT RACING TEAM with 1’36:082s, placing him second, while Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of A1 ENERGY BMW RACING TEAM secured third with 1’36:119s. During Practice 2, Azlan moved to the top with a lap time of 1’36:291s. Andi finished in second at 1’36:462s, while Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA rounded out the top three with 1’36:488s. Struggling to adapt to his new BMW machine after switching from Yamaha, Apiwath showed impressive improvement in Practice 3, where he rocketed to the top with a fastest lap of 1’35:758s. Zaqhwan closely followed with 1’35:812s, while Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND placed third at 1’36:185s. With the combined results from the three practice sessions, Apiwath emerged as the fastest overall, while Zaqhwan and Andi secured second and third positions, respectively. Apiwath said, “Today was really exciting, with a new team, a new bike, everything was new! My lap times were good, and I was able to learn the bike and work well with the crew. In Practice 3, I tried a different setup, which was better than before. We’ll see how tomorrow’s Qualifying goes. The BMW machine is really fast for me, and I know I still need more time to learn the new bike, but it’s a step-by-step process. I know all the riders in ASB1000 are very strong, and my goal is to be on the podium this weekend.” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE

The Asia Superbike 1000cc category came to an exhilarating conclusion at Race 2 of the season finale of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Yuki Kunii of SDG Team HARC-PRO Honda Ph. claimed a hard-fought victory, securing both the win and the 2024 championship in a thrilling battle at the Chang International Circuit. Yuki got off to a great start, quickly taking the lead in the race. However, just three laps into the contest, Andi Farid Izdihar, the Race 1 winner, along with his teammate Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo, overtook Yuki and took control of the front. As if the pressure wasn’t enough, another rider from the same team, Md Zaqhwan Zaidi, closely followed, adding even more intensity to the competition. As the race progressed, the front group of four Honda riders were locked in fierce battle, with Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of TKKR BMW Racing Team starting to make up ground from P5, gradually closing the gap and positioning himself as a potential challenger. On Lap 10, the Japanese rider Tetsuta Nagashima from Astemo SI Racing with Thai Honda made an impressive move, shooting up to P2, which further stirred the front group. This prompted Yuki to pick up the pace, as he realized the pressure was mounting with the fierce competition right on his tail. At this critical moment, Yuki formed a gap of 2:993s between himself and the trio of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo riders. Yuki’s efforts were rewarded as he dug deep and widened the gap, ensuring there would be no last-minute overtakes. He crossed the finish line with a time of 20’47:479s, securing not only the victory but also the 2024 championship. Completing the podium were Tetsuta Nagashima, who finished second with a time of 20’48:415s, and Andi Farid Izdihar, who took the third spot with a time of 20’50:927s. After the race, Yuki shared his thoughts emotionally, “Yesterday, we faced some challenges at the start, but in Race 2, we gave it everything we had. In the beginning, I focused on maintaining my position, and towards the end, I managed to create a gap and keep the pressure off. This victory, and this championship, is not just for me. I want to dedicate it to my late teammate Haruki Noguchi. Haruki always gave his best for the team, and it’s truly heartbreaking that he is no longer with us. This win and the championship are for him. I hope he is watching from above and smiling.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2 TOP 5 OVERALL STANDING TOP 5 TEAM OVERALL STANDINGS

Race 1 of Round 6 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship in the ASB1000 category at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, saw Andi Farid Izdihar of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo clinch a commanding victory, securing the top spot on the podium. During the qualifying session, Andi Farid Izdihar earned pole position with the fastest lap time of 1’34:700s. His teammate, Nakarin Atiratphuvapat, followed in second with a time of 1’34:876s, while Yuki Kunii of SDG Team HARC-PRO Honda Ph. secured the third grid position with a time of 1’34:975s. As the race began, the trio from Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo—Andi Farid Izdihar, Nakarin Atiratphuvapat, and Md Zaqhwan Zaidi—took the lead, with Zaqhwan moving into second place ahead of Nakarin. The championship leader, Yuki Kunii, was in P5, attempting to close the gap with the front riders. The Honda Asia-Dream Racing trio displayed impressive speed, with Zaqhwan reaching a top speed of 300km/h as he overtook the Thai rider, Nakarin, to take P2. By lap 6, the top three riders had pulled a gap of 2:345s ahead of the second group, while Yuki struggled to overtake Japanese wildcard rider Tetsuta Nagashima of Astemo SI Racing with Thai Honda. Yuki was subsequently overtaken by Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of JDT Racing Team. Despite the challenges, Yuki started to show signs of improvement, making his way up to P4, while Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of TKKR BMW Racing Team’s position after a fall on lap 10. Andi became more comfortable in the lead, creating a gap of 2 seconds ahead of Zaqhwan. On the final lap, Yuki, who had been trailing Nakarin closely, managed to overtake him to secure P3. Race 1 concluded with Andi crossing the finish line to claim victory with a time of 20’44.539s, making him the new championship leader with 165 points—5 points ahead of Yuki. Andi Farid Izdihar said, “In the beginning, I just focused on maintaining a good pace, which is the right strategy. I didn’t expect to still claim the victory after making some mistakes, but I’m happy with the result. Tomorrow, we’ll analyze everything before Race 2, but for now, I want to celebrate and release the tension.” Zaqhwan finished in second place with a time of 20’46:156s, while Yuki secured third with a time of 20’48:724s. TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1ASB1000