Asia Superbike 1000

KUALA LUMPUR – The 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) ASB1000 class is building up to a mouthwatering season ahead after the announcement of its newest outfit, Malaysia’s A1 Energy BMW Racing Team, but with two very familiar faces on board. At the ripe old age of 40, 2019 ASB1000 champion Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman isn’t about to hang up his leathers and makes a return to the championship alongside 2024 Supersport 600 champion Apiwath Wongthananon of Thailand. Azlan Shah, who is also a two-time Supersport 600 champion, said he was coaxed out of his decision to retire after the team put forward an enticing offer, armed with the latest BMW M1000RR and a stable environment which would allow them to develop. “Last season we struggled and it affected me so much that mentally I wasn’t in the best condition at each race. For this year, it is a relief and I’m happy about the team and the up- to-date machinery, also the strong support from the BMW factory and Alpha Racing. This will definitely give me a boost for each race,” said Azlan.“I am only hoping to achieve better results and provide a strong challenge to the younger riders.” Apiwath, 31, moves back up to the ASB1000 class, having moved down to the second-tier Supersport 600 class to successfully clinch the title last year. He had finished fourth in the ASB1000 class a year prior. This time he is aiming for successive titles in two different classes.“I am very excited. This is a new challenge for me. I know this is a very good team, so my target is to become champion in ASB1000 this year. I will give my best at every round and try to attack to win each one,” said Apiwath, who goes by the nickname of ‘Stamp’, who will also be riding a BMW for the first time in his career, having won the Supersport 600 title with Yamaha last year. “Azlan is an experienced rider. I have to learn the M1000RR riding style from him and I believe he will be a strong teammate this year,” he added.The team is backed by Malaysian-owned A1 Energy Sdn Bhd, which is an enterprise specialising in high-performance fuels, lubricants and advanced energy solutions, and the company describes its expansion into motorsports as part of a strategic ambition to provide energy solutions that perform at the highest levels, even under extreme conditions. “A1 Energy’s primary objective is to establish itself as a trusted and authoritative brand within the regional motorsport ecosystem. Through our strategic partnership with alpha Racing GmbH and BMW Motorrad Motorsport in the prestigious ASB1000 category, we aim to showcase both the technical capabilities of our products and our steadfast commitment to the sport. We are dedicated to pushing the limits of performance, supporting our team in their pursuit of consistent podium finishes, and reinforcing our position as a competitive force throughout the 2025 season,” said team principal Noor Hirman Mohd Esa. “Our long-term vision is to establish A1 Energy Racing as a permanent, performance-driven force within the Asian motorsport arena. We aspire to evolve beyond sponsorship into a fully integrated team structure encompassing rider development, talent scouting, advanced technical R&D, and the potential expansion into international championships. Our ambition is for the A1 Energy BMW Racing Team not only to compete, but to lead — setting new benchmarks in professionalism, teamwork, and racing excellence. “I am deeply honored to assume this role on behalf of A1 Energy. It is a true privilege to lead this exciting journey into the ASB1000, alongside world-class riders, passionate engineers, and a dedicated,” said Noor Hirman. BMW Head of Customer Racing Uwe Geyer expressed his delight at teaming up with A1 Energy in the ARRC. “We are delighted to join forces with A1 Racing in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. They are flying the flag for us in the most important international Superbike racing series in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Geyer. “A1 Racing is a very experienced team with strong riders, and they all know how to ride to glory with the BMW M 1000 RR. So it’s great to see them lining up with our latest model, the 2025 BMW M 1000 RR, in their hunt for success in ARRC.” “They benefit from all our experience gathered in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), where we won the title last year. All we learned in WorldSBK directly went into development of the new M 1000 RR customer racing bikes. A bike capable of winning, a highly professional team and fantastic riders – all is set for a successful campaign. We’re crossing our fingers and are looking forward to the 2025 ARRC season!”With all pieces of the puzzle in place, the team now prepares to get down to business with the 2025 Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship kicking off with Round 1 at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand on April 25-27, which will be the first of six rounds of the championship.

The fight and fury just got better with the Asia Superbike 1000cc race category of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship and is bound to scorch the grounds of Chang International Circuit this weekend. As the season finale kicks in this weekend, will Andi Farid Izdihar of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo rise above the challenge and defeat Japanese contender, Yuki Kunii of SDG Team HARC-PRO Honda Ph.? It was a shocker when Yuki Kunii bolted right to the top of the overall chart with his double win at Sepang International Circuit especially after pulling in on a low profile in the first two rounds. His victory in his home-ground circuit after a “DNS” was the motivation needed to tame his machine and accelerate further towards the possibilities. In Mandalika, he strung the momentum right and took home one podium-finish at the second spot before throttling with his maximum capacity for an unexpected outcome in Round 5. The question remains, “Will he be able to tackle the challenges of Chang circuit?” Considering a 2-point difference with his closest contender, the odds are high but not impossible. Yuki Kunii certainly has what it takes but again, racing is unpredictable at its core and with man and machine, the possibilities are limitless. Commenting on the coming race, Yuki said, “We already had the experience of a double-P4 in the season opener, so that’s that and we hope to up the ante for a better outcome. I think at this point, if I am able to give my all, that would make me happy. At the moment, there is no pressure but I am pretty sure that the pressure will start mounting during the race weekend and it’s all about managing it well. At Chang, I think every one of the riders are fast and they definitely will speed up. But in my point of view, I think Andi will be very strong as will Hafizh and Chip Nakarin who is the home-ground rival. The change of machine has been very helpful and I am able to compete more competitively at this point. The bike is extremely powerful and my confidence level is much better now. All in, I am good to go for this weekend and keeping my fingers crossed that I will make it at the top!” As for Andi Farid, it was not exactly a pleasure holding on to the throne for the first two rounds. As pressure mounted, he caved and fell two notches down in Round 3 when he took a “DNF”. But the Indonesian lad is not one to mess with and when opportunities presented itself on his home-ground, Andi was quick to seize and strike before moving himself back up comfortably where he belonged. Comparing with his closest contenders, Andi definitely has an upper-hand on the grounds of Chang circuit. But again, will he be able to fight the gravity of the storm that is about to hit the grounds? Will Andi be able to tip the scales in favour of himself? Andi said, “Personally, taking a stride alongside former MotoGP rider and future Moto2 rider does not induce any kind of pressure in me. I just want to enjoy the ride and see where we end up. At the end of the day, I can only be focused on my performance and apart from that, it is beyond our control. The contenders are all strong and just waiting their moment to strike. They have their strengths and weakness in different sectors but I take it that this is what makes it even more exciting. Compared to last season, yes, I am more ready now and I have picked up on valuable insights. I have better understanding and greater clarity which I think worked well for me throughout. I am keeping my fingers crossed that there will be no major setbacks though.” Also in contention are Hafizh Syahrin of JDT Racing Team and Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo. While Hafizh may have countered his challenges with productive outcomes throughout the season, Chang may not necessarily be a bed of roses for the Malaysian boy. As for Thai rider, Nakarin has his shots lined up for him on his playground but again, tying the lose ends may not be as easy as it may seem. In a nutshell, ASB1000 race category is about to heat up the grounds this weekend.

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!”