For nearly 30 years, DUNLOP has worked closely with TWMR since its appointment as the official tire partner, supporting the development of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC), Asia’s premier road racing series. Together, the two organizations have been committed to creating a fair and highly competitive racing environment with world-class technical standards.
With this contract renewal, DUNLOP will continue to supply high-performance racing tires across all classes, as well as provide comprehensive technical support at each race circuit. The agreement reaffirms the strong trust between the two companies and their shared vision of further advancing motorsports across Asia.

Left: Ron Hogg, Promotion Director, Two Wheels Motor Racing (TWMR)
Right: Norihito Yanagizono, Senior Manager, Global Marketing Department, Tire Business Headquarters, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.

Comment from Ron Hogg, Promotion Director, TWMR
“I am delighted that we will be able to continue our partnership with DUNLOP through 2031. A collaboration spanning 30 years is a truly rare milestone and a testament to the unwavering passion both companies share for the development of motorsports in Asia. We are extremely proud of the strong relationship we have built over the years. As the championship continues to grow, we look forward to achieving even greater success together with DUNLOP for the future of motorsports in Asia.”

■ ARRC Overview
The Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) was established in 1996 as Asia’s premier road racing championship. Riders compete across multiple rounds held in various countries throughout Asia, earning points based on their finishing positions at each race to determine the series champion.
The championship plays an important role in nurturing young riders and serves as a key stepping stone toward the FIM Motorcycle World Championship. It features a four-class structure, ranging from the Asia Superbike class with a maximum engine displacement of 1000cc to the Underbone class, a category that has evolved uniquely within the Asian region.

From 2026, the Company unified its communication brand under DUNLOP. Across all products and services, DUNLOP embodies three core values: “Confidence that supports every challenge,” “Experiences that exceed expectations,” and “The challenge of pushing limits.” Through innovative experiences, DUNLOP strives to inspire positive emotions in people around the world. The brand statement, “TAKING YOU BEYOND,” expresses DUNLOP’s commitment to expanding the potential of everyone who takes on challenges and guiding them beyond their limits.

Advancing Motion, with Motorsport
At Schaeffler, motorsport represents far more than competition. As outlined in our Why We Race philosophy, the racetrack serves as an extremely demanding and proving ground for technology. As Schaeffler elevates engagement in the dynamic two-wheeler landscape in Asia, the platform offers a conducive opportunity to highlight Schaeffler’s broad technology portfolio that enable reliability and efficiency in high performance environments. This aligns with the company’s goal to drive innovation globally in the field of motion technology.

Maximilian Fiedler, Regional CEO Asia/Pacific of Schaeffler, said: “Motorsports is a powerful driver for innovation, constantly challenging us to refine and elevate the standards of our technologies. We have been pursuing this in Europe for our four-wheeler segment and now with the partnership in the Asia Road Racing Championship, we foray into the two-wheeler racing segment in the region. Two-wheeler business is a strong area for us in Asia Pacific and this initiative demonstrates our passion for advancing motion and delivering solutions that perform at the highest level, on the racetrack and on the road. We are thrilled to support this exciting championship with Two Wheels Motor Racing and to leverage our cutting-edge technologies together with our partners and customers.”   

Ron Hogg, Director, Two Wheels Motor Racing Sdn Bhd, said: “Schaeffler’s advanced motion technologies and proven expertise in the two-wheeler segment make them an ideal partner for the Asia Road Racing Championship. We are excited about this new partnership and together, we are focused on elevating the racing standards and delivering a world-class experience for riders and fans across the region, as a premier, innovation-driven racing championship.”

Showcasing Our Full System Expertise
With decades of precision engineering experience and a passion for advancing motion, Schaeffler proudly sponsors the ARRC to support the evolving two-wheeler market. Schaeffler will showcase its full system expertise at the event, from precision-engineered systems, reliable batteries, to engine components. Visitors and racing enthusiasts will gain exclusive insight into how Schaeffler’s products can enhance performance, durability, and efficiency across the entire lifecycle of two-wheelers.

Schaeffler Group – We pioneer motion
The Schaeffler Group has been driving forward groundbreaking inventions and developments in the field of motion technology for 80 years. With innovative technologies, products, and services for electric mobility, CO₂-efficient drives, chassis solutions and renewable energies, the company is a reliable partner for making motion more efficient, intelligent, and sustainable – over the entire life cycle. Schaeffler describes its comprehensive range of products and services by means of eight product families: From bearing solutions and all types of linear guidance systems through to repair and monitoring services. Schaeffler is with around 110,000 employees and more than 250 locations in 55 countries, one of the world’s largest family-owned companies and one of Germany’s most innovative companies.

Contact

At the start, Hafizh launched brilliantly off the line to seize the early lead, immediately putting himself in control of the race. Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES stayed close in pursuit, while Lachlan Epis of SWIFT GROW RACING TEAM slotted into third ahead of Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND and Mohammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM.

By Lap 3, Hafizh underlined his dominance, clocking the fastest lap of 2’05.621s at a blistering top speed of 288.8 km/h, with Keito just 0.888s behind, pushing hard at 290.3 km/h in pursuit.

The race began to settle into rhythm by Lap 4, with Hafizh leading ahead of Keito, Lachlan, Adenanta, Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA, and Andi Farid Izdihar of JDT RACING TEAM.

As the laps progressed, Hafizh steadily pulled away from the field. By Lap 8, he had built a commanding 4.792s advantage over Keito, with Lachlan, Zaqhwan, and Andi battling fiercely behind. A lap later, the gap extended further to 5.203s, while Andi made his move past Zaqhwan to climb into fourth.

On Lap 10, Andi continued his charge, overtaking Lachlan and setting his sights on Keito in second, as the JDT RACING TEAM duo began to assert their presence at the front.

By Lap 11, Hafizh’s lead had grown to 6.788s, while Andi closed to just 0.744s behind Keito. The pressure intensified further on Lap 12, with Andi narrowing the gap to just 0.215s, setting up a crucial battle for second place.

The decisive move came on Lap 13, when Andi executed a brilliant overtake on Keito at Turn 9, promoting himself into second and creating a provisional 1-2 for JDT RACING TEAM. Keito dropped to third, with Zaqhwan and Azroy Hakeem Anuar of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA rounding out the top five.

On the final lap, Hafizh was untouchable, cruising to victory with a dominant margin of 29’35.664s. Behind him, the fight for second went down to the wire. Despite Andi’s strong defence, Keito launched a last-gasp move on the final straight, snatching second place by just 0.006s, finishing at 29’40.443s, with Andi forced to settle for third at 29’40.449s.

Hafizh said, “The first win was nice, I had to do it twice, and we did it today. I can say it’s a perfect weekend with perfect pace. I stayed focused on my rhythm and didn’t look back. On the last lap, I actually ran out of fuel, but luckily I managed it to the finish. Thank you to my team, VAMOS! Special thanks to TMJ for this journey, and congratulations on the newborn. This victory is for all Malaysians who came to support us, even those who came straight after the football match last night. We delivered again as a team with P1 and P3. I’ve sacrificed a lot, training every day, cycling, gym work, riding… Everything! This double win is what I’ve been chasing since last year, and finally, we’ve done it.”

TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2
1. HAFIZH SYAHRIN ABDULLAH – JDT RACING TEAM (29’35.664s)
2. KEITO ABE – SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES (29’40.443s)
3. ANDI FARID IZDIHAR – JDT RACING TEAM (29’40.449s)
4. MUHAMMAD ZAQHWAN ZAIDI – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (29’43.402s)
5. AZROY HAKEEM ANUAR – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (29’43.523s)

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)

At the start, John Emerson Inguito of 4S1M EVO YAMAHA Racing Team launched strongly to take the early lead, with Gupita Kresna Wardhana of ZIEAR LFN HP969 ADELIN MCR RBT34 and Dimas Juli Atmoko of HJS YOUNGSTAR KAWAHARA RCTH SIXTY slotting into second and third respectively. The nature of UB150 racing quickly came into play, with the leading pack forming tightly from the opening laps.

By Lap 2, the front group had evolved into a multi-rider battle featuring Dimas, Husni, Muhammad Adib Arsyad Mohd Hisam of UMA RACING YAMAHA MAJU MOTOR TEAM, and Shahrol Syazras Shahrol Yuzy of YUZY ASIA TEAM, all exchanging positions in rapid succession. The intensity remained high on Lap 3, with Dimas, Gupita, Adib, and Husni continuing to swap the lead in a classic UB150 slipstream showdown.

Lap 4 saw further drama as Fadli Rigani of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM went down but managed to rejoin, while Inguito returned to the front ahead of Husni and Nazirul Izzat Md Bahauddin of UMA RACING YAMAHA MAJU MOTOR TEAM. Moments later, Nazirul was forced to slow down and signal a technical issue, dropping out of contention and reshuffling the leading order once again.

By Lap 5, the fight intensified with Adib, Syazras, Dimas, Husni, and Gupita locked in a relentless battle, all within striking distance as the race headed toward a dramatic conclusion.

The final lap delivered absolute chaos. Crashes involving Dimas and Kiki Sudarman Manurung of JPNW SND FACTORY RACING shook up the front group, while M. Syirat Sauki also went down but managed to rejoin, albeit out of podium contention.

As Syazras led into the final corner, victory seemed within reach, until Husni executed a perfectly timed move, diving through in the last turn. April King Mascardo of and Aqshal Ilham Safatulah of ONE FOR ALL followed through in the shuffle, pushing Syazras off the podium in a stunning finish. Husni crossed the line in 17’10.568s, just 0.114s ahead of Mascardo, with Aqshal a further 0.056s behind, sealing a dramatic all-out sprint to the chequered flag.
Husni said, “I would like to thank my boss and everyone involved in the team for their hard work and support. Before the TVS race earlier, I was actually hoping for rain, and Alhamdulillah, that wish came true. The wet conditions really worked in my favor, and I felt quite comfortable in Race 2. It’s a good start to the round, and I’m happy with how things turned out.”

TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2
1. HUSNI ZAINUL FUADZY – ZIEAR LFN HP969 ADELIN MCR RBT34 (17’10.568s)
2. APRIL KING MASCARDO – RACETECH YAMAHA PHILIPPINES RACING TEAM (17’10.682s)
3. AQSHAL ILHAM SAFATULAH – ONE FOR ALL (17’10.738s)
4. SHAHROL SYAZRAS SHAHROL YUZY – YUZY ASIA TEAM (17’10.940s)
5. MD SILMI HELSINKY – ONE FOR ALL (17’10.952s)

Under light but tricky rain conditions, Ramdan wasted no time asserting control, launching brilliantly off the line to seize the lead ahead of Indonesia’s Fadil Algassani Priyadi. Early drama unfolded as India’s Chiranth Vishwanath crashed out, setting the tone for a race that would demand precision over outright speed.

By Lap 2, Ramdan had already begun to stretch his advantage, opening up a 1.172s gap over Fadil, while India’s Sarthak Chavan slotted into third ahead of Spain’s Luis Miguel and Malaysia’s Md Naqib Rifqi. The front three quickly broke away, building a two-second cushion over the chasing pack. However, the treacherous conditions claimed more victims, as Nixon Keith Frost from New Zealand crashed, followed moments later by Fadil, who suffered a high-side incident.

Lap 3 brought further chaos, with Rakshith Shihari Dave from India also going down, underlining the demanding nature of the wet track where technique proved crucial. Up front, Ramdan remained composed and in complete control.

By Lap 4, the Malaysian star had extended his lead to 3.633s over Sarthak, while behind them, Naqib made a bold move to overtake Luis for third. Unfortunately, his charge ended abruptly with a crash at the final corner, denying the home crowd another contender in podium contention.
As the race entered its closing stages, Ramdan showcased his experience, maintaining a consistent rhythm and gradually increasing his advantage. By Lap 5, he had stretched the gap to five seconds over Sarthak, with Luis holding steady in third.

On the final lap, Ramdan delivered a flawless finish, crossing the line in 16’03.931s, an emphatic 8.336s clear of Sarthak, who secured second place at 16’12.267s. The battle for third saw Luis narrowly fending off Tyler King from New Zealand, who finished just 0.164s behind, as Luis claimed the final podium spot at 16’16.297s.

Ramdan said, “Winning in Malaysia is always my dream, and it’s always a special memory to win here every year. I want to thank TVS Racing and the crew, the last-minute setup work was really good. From the first time I went out on track, I felt this could be my race.

“In the second lap, I tried to create a gap and when I saw a small margin behind, I kept pushing a bit more to extend it. My strategy worked well, and to win again on home soil in front of the Malaysian fans is truly special. Thank you to everyone who came and supported me. I’ll stay focused for the next round in Buriram.”

TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2
1. MOHD RAMDAN ROSLI – MALAYSIA (16’03.931s)
2. SARTHAK CHAVAN – INDIA (16’12.267s)
3. LUIS MIGUEL – SPAIN (16’16.297s)
4. TYLER KING – NEW ZEALAND (16’16.461s)
5. ORATILWE PHIRI – SOUTH AFRICA (16’17.603s)

Hafizh made a phenomenal launch off the line, immediately seizing control of the race ahead of Lachlan Epis of SWIFT GROW RACING TEAM and Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA. Close behind were Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND and Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES, as the front group quickly formed under intense early pressure.

By Lap 2, Hafizh had already broken clear with a 1.771s advantage, while Zaqhwan and Keito moved past Lachlan in a fierce battle for position. On Lap 3, Hafizh underlined his dominance by clocking a blistering fastest lap of 2’05.677s with a top speed of 284.2 km/h, stretching his lead further as Keito advanced to second ahead of Zaqhwan.

Drama unfolded on Lap 4 when Lachlan crashed out in a high-side incident, while Hafizh continued to build his advantage, now 2.636s clear of Keito. Behind them, the battle intensified with Azroy Hakeem Anuar and Nakarin trading positions, as Andi Farid Izdihar of JDT RACING TEAM steadily climbed into contention.

From Lap 5 onwards, Hafizh was in a league of his own, consistently extending his lead beyond the three-second mark. By Lap 10, the gap had grown to 4.788 seconds, while Andi surged past Azroy to move into fourth, setting up a late-race charge.

The closing stages saw Andi continue his impressive pace, eventually overtaking Zaqhwan to secure third place, completing a strong showing for JDT RACING TEAM. Up front, Hafizh remained untouchable, crossing the line in a commanding 29’32.797s, 5.370 seconds ahead of Keito, who finished second at 29’36.823s. Andi sealed the final podium position at 29’38.088s, marking a perfect start to the season for the team.

Hafizh said, “I’m still not really happy with my pace because I was targeting consistent 2’05 mid to high, but I can be satisfied with the result. From the first lap, I already had a good gap, so I focused on understanding where I can improve further for Race 2. Even though it looked comfortable, I won’t relax because my competitors will come back stronger tomorrow. Physically, it wasn’t easy. I felt quite tired after qualifying session. My heart rate went up to 206, and I lost a lot of fluids. During the race, I just told myself to stay relaxed and enjoy it, and in the end, it paid off. A P1 and P3 for the team is a very good start.”

TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1
1. HAFIZH SYAHRIN ABDULLAH – JDT RACING TEAM (29’32.797s)
2. KEITO ABE – SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES (29’36.823s)
3. ANDI FARID IZDIHAR – JDT RACING TEAM (29’38.088s)
4. AZROY HAKEEM ANUAR – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (29’40.696s)
5. MUHAMMAD ZAQHWAN ZAIDI – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (29’44.378s)

The drama began even before lights out, as Muhammad Faerozi Toreqottullah of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA was forced to retire during the warm-up lap due to a technical issue. Once the race got underway, Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND made a lightning start to lead the pack, followed by Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA and Malaysia’s Khairul Idham Pawi. However, Khairul wasted no time asserting himself, quickly surging into the lead.

By Lap 2, Khairul led the charge, with Anupab Sarmoon just 0’141s behind, followed by Wahyu and Thanat, while Helmi had worked his way into fifth ahead of 2025 champion Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING.

The battle intensified on Lap 3 when Anupab clocked the fastest lap of 2’11.198s to take over the lead, only for Khairul to respond immediately and reclaim the position. The relentless exchanges continued into Lap 4, where Helmi made a decisive move up the order, overtaking Wahyu to place himself firmly in podium contention behind Khairul and Anupab.

Lap 5 marked a turning point in the race. While Anupab made another move on Khairul, Helmi capitalised brilliantly, slipping through unnoticed to seize the lead. From there, the Malaysian began to dictate the pace, with Anupab and Khairul in pursuit and Herjun Atna Firdaus of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM joining the leading group.

Helmi maintained control on Lap 6, as Herjun posted the fastest lap of 2’11.120s to close in, while the top five remained tightly packed. On Lap 7, Helmi responded emphatically with a fastest lap of 2’10.828s, holding off relentless pressure from Anupab, Khairul, Wahyu, and Herjun.

The pace intensified further on Lap 8, with Anupab hitting top speeds of 250 km/h and setting the fastest lap of 2’10.728s, but Helmi remained composed at the front. The race took another dramatic twist on Lap 9 when Khairul crashed out at Turn 4 while chasing second, promoting Wahyu and Herjun up the order.

Heading into the final lap, Helmi led the charge ahead of Anupab, with Herjun moving past Wahyu into third. McKinley Kyle Paz of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING joined the top five as the battle reached its climax. Despite immense pressure from Anupab throughout the final sector, Helmi held his nerve and crossed the line in 21’58.392s, sealing a sensational victory and reaffirming his reputation as the “King of Sepang.”

Anupab finished just 0.293s behind at 21’58.685s, while Herjun completed the podium at 22’02.372s after a consistent and determined ride.

Helmi said, “From the test day, I struggled a lot with my bike because this year we are using a new ECU, so we had to start from zero and couldn’t rely on last year’s data. Even in qualifying, the bike had no power due to an issue with the ECU. But for the race, we worked hard to improve, and Alhamdulillah, we managed to fix it. I also crashed this morning at the beginning of qualifying, which affected my confidence, but I told myself to stay focused and calm. In the end, I achieved this result, and it means a lot because this is my dream when I come here. I want to thank my team for their hard work, and also ask everyone to pray for my chief mechanic, Fahmi. He couldn’t be here, I miss him, and I hope he recovers and returns for the next round.”

TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1
1. MUHAMMAD HELMI AZMAN – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (21’58.392s)
2. ANUPAB SARMOON – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (21’58.685s)
3. HERJUN ATNA FIRDAUS – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (22’02.372s)
4. WAHYU NUGROHO – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (22’02.594s)
5. MCKINLEY KYLE PAZ – HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING (22’04.564s)

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 race burst into life with John Emerson Inguito of 4S1M EVO YAMAHA Racing Team launching into the lead, ahead of teammate Rendi Odding, Wahyu Aji Trilaksana of HJS YOUNGSTAR KAWAHARA RCTH SIXTY, and April King Mascardo of RACETECH YAMAHA PHILIPPINES RACING TEAM. As expected in UB150 fashion, the order began to reshuffle almost immediately.

By Lap 2, Shahrol Syazras Shahrol Yuzy of YUZY ASIA TEAM briefly took control before being displaced in a rapidly evolving lead group. Nazirul Izzat Md Bahauddin of UMA RACING YAMAHA MAJU MOTOR TEAM surged to the front, but was instantly put under pressure by Gupita, with the two riders trading positions in an intense early duel. Close behind, Dimas Juli Atmoko of HJS YOUNGSTAR KAWAHARA RCTH SIXTY and Ahmad Darwisy Ahmad Sahir of YUZY ASIA TEAM remained firmly in contention as the pack stayed tightly bunched.

Lap 3 saw Nazirul hold the lead, but Gupita signalled his intent by clocking the fastest lap of 2’42.509s, continuing to pile pressure on the front. Adytya Fauzi of JPNW SND FACTORY RACING, Dimas, and John all maintained their positions within the leading group, with no rider able to break clear.

The momentum shifted again on Lap 4 when John responded with a blistering 2’35.920s to lead the group, only for Nazirul to immediately capitalise on an opening to retake the position, with Rendi following closely behind as the race intensified.

Heading into the final two laps, the battle reached boiling point. No fewer than five riders remained locked together, with Wahyu emerging at the front ahead of April, Husni Zainul Fuadzy of ZIEAR LFN HP969 ADELIN MCR RBT34, Fadli Rigani of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM, and Dimas, as the leading pack prepared for a decisive final lap shootout.

In a dramatic final lap, Wahyu and Dimas initially led the charge, but from the shadows, Gupita executed a masterful surge through the pack. Timing his move to perfection, he sliced through the field and powered out of the final corners to clinch victory in 15’50.980s.

Dimas crossed the line just 0.002s behind in 15’50.982s, while Husni secured third place at 15’51.039s, completing a double podium for ZIEAR LFN HP969 ADELIN MCR RBT34. Wahyu and Rendi rounded out the top five after an all-out battle to the chequered flag.

Gupita said, “I want to thank my parents, my wife, my children, and my team for supporting me until I could be on the podium today. During the race, I tried to stay safe at the back, but in the middle stages I began working my way forward. I believed I could reach the front group, and on the final lap I made my move and went for the win. I’m very grateful, and it’s even more special to share the podium with my teammate, Husni.”

TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1
1. GUPITA KRESNA WARDHANA – ZIEAR LFN HP969 ADELIN MCR RBT34 (15’50.980s)
2. DIMAS JULI ATMOKO – HJS YOUNGSTAR KAWAHARA RCTH SIXTY (15’50.982s)
3. HUSNI ZAINUL FUADZY – ZIEAR LFN HP969 ADELIN MCR RBT34 (15’51.039s)
4. WAHYU AJI TRILAKSANA – HJS YOUNGSTAR KAWAHARA RCTH SIXTY (15’51.413s)
5. RENDI ODDING – 4S1M EVO YAMAHA Racing Team (15’51.443s)