Asia Superbike 1000

Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah is gearing up for a thrilling showdown in the final round of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Chang International Circuit Buriram, Thailand. The JDT RACING TEAM rider has navigated a challenging season, and with just two races remaining, he finds himself in a gripping battle for the ASB1000 title. Currently holding third place with 137 points, Hafizh is a mere five points shy of the championship leader, Yuki Kunii of SDG Team HARC-PRO Honda Ph., and only three points behind Andi Farid Izdihar of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo. The competition is fierce, with both Yuki and Andi showcasing exceptional skills throughout the season. In fourth place, Nakarin Atiraphuvapat of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo has 128 points and has an upper hand coming into the final round, having logged more laps at the Chang International Circuit Buriram than his rivals. Despite the odds stacked against him, Hafizh remains resolute. He understands that the path to the championship is fraught with challenges, especially after a difficult start at the Chang International Circuit Buriram, where he left without scoring any points in Race 1. “I hope we don’t have any problems like Round 1; Race 1 was a nightmare for us. We did not score any points. I think if we had scored more points in Round 1, maybe we would be more calm now,” he reflected, acknowledging the impact of that setback on his mental state. Yet, Hafizh’s determination shines through as he prepares for the final showdown. “But anyway, this is our first year with a new team. I know that I have experience, but everything is new. We need to put all of that together to prepare for the final round,” he stated, highlighting the importance of teamwork and preparation. As the only Ducati rider fighting at the top for the title in the ASB1000 category, Hafizh is keenly aware of the challenges posed by the predominantly Honda lineup. “We will work hard even though we are the only Ducati rider in the grid. We know that Buriram is a Honda track, and there are many Honda riders competing in the ASB1000 category. But we will see. This is a race where anything can happen; we will focus on doing our best,” he asserted, ready to tackle the races head-on.

First, a remarkable comeback. After a DNS (Did Not Start) in Race 1, Yuki Kunii triumphed in Race 2 during Round 3 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Then, he claimed a double win later in Round 5 of the ARRC, followed by celebrating the ST1000 overall champion title at the All Japan Road Race Championship! This year has showcased impressive growth from Yuki Kunii of the SDG Team HARC-PRO Honda Philippines. What else is there to pursue? We can only think of one goal: to claim the ASB1000 overall champion title in the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship! Yuki is aiming for something that seems almost impossible—well, not when you’ve given your best. The double champion title is what Yuki is hunting for this year! Yuki expressed his determination, saying, “Yes, of course I want to win again! I will definitely give it my all in the races. However, I have to be honest—there are some incredibly strong riders here in Buriram. It’s tough to confidently say, ‘I will win’ you know? Haha! But I will stay focused on my performance and do my best to compete at the highest level.” “Winning the championship title in the All Japan Road Race Championship has been such a tremendous boost to my confidence, and I can’t describe how excited I am at the prospect of becoming a champion again! The thrill of chasing another title really motivates me to push my limits and strive for greatness!” Yuki said, brimming with excitement. Reflecting on his journey from Round 1 to the penultimate round, Yuki noted, “If I compare where I started at the beginning of the season to where I am now, I can see how much I’ve grown. I’ve gained valuable experience and significantly improved my skills. I’m eager to see how I can perform and hopefully secure a spot in the top three.” “I believe that making history is a rare achievement, and I’m determined to become a double champion. It’s a goal I’m setting for myself, and I will put in the hard work and dedication necessary to reach it.” Yuki is well aware that there is no easy path to achieving this big dream. But daring to dream big means you have to go all in for it. “I’m particularly aware that riders like Hafizh, Andi, and Nakarin will be very strong competitors. Since we’re all fighting for the championship, I know they’ll be pushing themselves to the limit. It’s going to be an intense battle, and I’m ready to rise to the challenge!”

Never a dull moment in the Asia Superbike 1000cc race category as riders work their robust moves and mark their territories in their attempt towards being a champion. Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo is all prepped to make the most of his presence in Round 5 of the Idemistu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship which will be held at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit this weekend. The Thai rider who made his entry into the ASB1000 race category this season after finishing second runner up in the SS600cc race category has been making waves with his ability to adapt quickly to the demands of the high-powered machine and the technical skills required. Moving into a new race category is often a tough ride for most riders however, for Nakarin, it was all about adopting his past experiences and putting it into work immediately. Nakarin has in the last four rounds finished podium thrice, placing him at the third spot overall to-date with a total of 92 points. Nakarin’s achievements have been consistent in the last few years. In Season 2022, he bagged the third spot overall with a total of 137 points in the SS600 race category. In season 2023, the rider went on to pick up the rhythm in the race category and enhanced his performance to complete the race with a total of 182 points. He made third overall after finishing podium 6 times including two wins. It is proven that making a name in the game is not just about experience and technical capacities but also discipline and attitude. “I think attitude is really important. With the right attitude, comes the will to learn faster and do better. Without the right attitude, I would not even have the chance to gain the valuable experience. In terms of the machine, I enjoy riding the CBR1000RR R 2024 model despite the challenges in finding the right setting. I had the golden opportunity of joining the MSBK this season and competing with riders from several nations. This has also given me the added advantage in terms of preparing for the coming round. Apart from that, I also joined the marathon and cycling events around my hometown in Khon Khaen to build up my physique and stamina.” “Sepang is a long-distance circuit, also considered a high-speed circuit ground. I need to adjust my braking timing and also improve speed on the straight. The machine handling which is good adds on to the advantage at the corners. It also complements my riding style in a nice and smooth manner. Despite that, I am still finding ways to improve my speed with the electric accelerator. The goal is of course to finish podium in the remaining races and if possible, to be the champion for this season.”

One word says it all. Emotional. This single word perfectly captures how Soichiro Minamimoto felt during Round 4 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit. Soichiro crashed twice during the qualifying session, which required him to switch to a new bike and start from scratch with the settings. Despite these challenges, his struggles proved worthwhile as he ultimately claimed victory in Race 2. Soichiro shared, “It was incredibly emotional for me to realize that, despite my crash on Saturday, I was able to secure a win thanks to my amazing team. Experiencing two crashes during qualifying was quite disheartening, but the team never lost hope. They worked tirelessly to repair my bike, allowing me to stay focused on achieving a strong result. I felt like our late friend Haruki Noguchi was watching over us, so I made sure to share the news of our victory with him.” “Honestly, when I saw the destroyed bike, I was on the verge of giving up. However, the team’s relentless effort to get it back in shape gave me the motivation I needed to push forward,” said Soichiro. Victory in Race 2 marked Soichiro’s first win and podium in his debut appearance in the ASB1000 category, making this achievement even more special. “It felt like I had finally achieved something significant. Yamaha has been struggling in the ASB1000 category, so this is the most fulfilling win I’ve ever experienced. Securing a win in this category is crucial for both my career and our team’s future. It provides a significant boost that will positively impact our performance in upcoming races.” Reflecting on his previous season, where he claimed the overall championship after winning Race 1 and securing P2 in Race 2 in the SS600 category while feeling unwell, Soichiro finds that his current situation affirms his earlier statement, “I race better when I’m sick.” He said, “I think this statement is becoming more valid now because I experienced the same symptoms as I did during the final race last year, though I’m not entirely sure why.” Looking ahead to Round 5 at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, Soichiro shared, “Sepang Circuit is a difficult track, and I’m not particularly strong there. I expect it to be a tough race, but I will do my best and aim for the podium.”

In the blink of an eye, we find ourselves approaching the penultimate round of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. With that in mind, we can only expect the intensity to rise as riders vie for crucial points to climb the championship rankings. Nakarin Athiraphuvapat of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo appears to be one step ahead of his rivals in the ASB1000 category. Nakarin’s participation in the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia, provides him with a significant advantage for the upcoming Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, also held on the same track. His victories in both Race 1 and Race 2 during the MSBK further enhanced his edge. Nakarin shared, “Winning at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit gave me valuable insights into the track and how to effectively overtake and position myself against opponents. This experience will definitely benefit me in the upcoming ARRC Round 5.” Reflecting on his debut season in the ASB1000 category, Nakarin said, “As the season progressed, I gained a deeper understanding of the bike and the dynamics of the battles in this class. This experience has opened up more strategies for me to aim for victory.” Currently ranked in the top three of the overall standings, Nakarin expressed, “It’s beyond what I had initially expected for my first year. I’m thrilled to be in the top three and am focused on maintaining this position, as that’s my primary goal. To me, anything is possible. I’ll give it my all to move ahead and challenge for the top two spots as well.” Additionally, Nakarin has taken valuable lessons from Round 4 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit, Indonesia. “At Mandalika, I was perhaps too reckless with overtaking, which cost me valuable points. I’ve learned the importance of staying calm and measured. The key takeaway is to stick to my plan and avoid mistakes.” “I’m focusing on self-reflection and meditation to clear my mind. I’m also training rigorously on the bike and at the gym to ensure I’m in peak condition for Round 5,” Nakarin added. Regarding the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, Nakarin said, “PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit is a challenging track, particularly due to its weather conditions. I’d rate the difficulty of this circuit as an eight out of ten. The remaining two points depend on how the race unfolds.” Nakarin admitted that one major challenge he faces before the race is managing pre-race nerves, which can impact his performance. “One challenge is managing pre-race nerves, which sometimes disrupts my sleep. I’m working on not overthinking and instead focusing on enjoying the ride.”