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HAFIZH TOP AT HOME SOIL

2025, 2025 Round 5, Asia Superbike 1000, Latest News /

Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2025 kicked off today at the Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia, with the ASB1000 class delivering high-speed action under hot conditions. It was Malaysia’s Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah of JDT RACING TEAM who emerged fastest overall, topping the combined practice results with a 2’05.808s lap in Practice 3. Syahrin’s consistent pace and strong performance set the benchmark for the weekend, putting him in prime position ahead of qualifying. Close on his heels, compatriot Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA claimed second overall with 2’05.887s, while Australia’s Lachlan Epis of SAVITAR RACING ASIA secured third at 2:06.095s. Rounding out the top five were Keito Abe of SDG HARC-PRO. HONDA PHILIPPINES in fourth at 2’06.187s and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of A1 ENERGY BMW RACING TEAM in fifth with lap time of 2’06.323s. Hafizh Syahrin commented, “It was a good first day. I’m really happy with my pace in Practice 3; we rode almost like in a race. There is still room for improvement, but the team and I did very well. It was unfortunate that my teammate crashed in Practice 1 and lost valuable track time and bike mileage. I wish him a speedy recovery. Tomorrow, we’ll see how it goes, and I will do my best for Qualifying and Race 1.” TOP 5 FASTEST – PRACTICE (COMBINED)

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KASMA EYES STRONG QUALIFYING

2025, 2025 Round 5, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2025 fired into action today at the Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia, SS600 class saw riders faced demanding track with temperatures peaking at 40°C across the practice sessions. Malaysia’s Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING emerged as the fastest rider overall, topping the combined practice results with a blistering 2’09.864s lap in Practice 3. His commanding pace set the benchmark for the weekend, putting him in a strong position heading into tomorrow’s qualifying session. Close on his heels, Indonesia’s Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA secured second overall with 2’10.303s, while Malaysia’s Mohammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM claimed third at 2’10.548s. KHAIRUL IDHAM PAWI of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA posted 2’10.612s for fourth, and teammate Muhammad Helmi Azman finished fifth at 2’10.659s, completing a tightly packed top five. Kasma said, “Syukur Alhamdulillah. For my bike, the team did a great job, and I hope we can continue like this tomorrow. I will try to find some setup improvements to reduce lap times, and I hope I can also have a good race, InsyaAllah.” TOP 5 FASTEST – PRACTICE (COMBINED)

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ARBI OVERCAME HEAT

2025, 2025 Round 5, Asia Production 250, Latest News /

Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2025 roared into action today at the Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia. With temperatures climbing to 39.8°C, AP250 riders faced the challenging heat as they fought for fastest lap times in three practice sessions. It was Indonesia’s Fadillah Arbi Aditama of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM who emerged as the fastest rider overall, topping the combined practice results with a 2’23.372s lap. Arbi showed impressive consistency throughout the day, balancing speed and control to manage the demanding conditions. Close behind, Mohammad Murobbil Vitoni of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM secured second overall with 2’23.481s, while Thailand’s Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM claimed third at 2’23.714s. Japan’s Aiki Iyoshi of MOTUL KAWASAKI SNIPER MANUAL TECH finished fourth with 2’23.923s, and Malaysia’s Mohamad Danial Syahmi Ahmad Shahril of UMA RACING YAMAHA MAJU MOTOR ASIA TEAM rounded out the top five at 2’24.451s. Arbi shared, “It was a good day overall. We had strong pace in Practice 1 with the cooler conditions, and I felt much more comfortable. Especially on the Honda bike, I could carry more speed and maximize its performance. Unfortunately, around midday, the temperature was very high, so we couldn’t maintain the pace like usual. But we tried to find a better setup, and Practice 2 went well. I tried to manage myself, control the pace, and break away from the group, but they wouldn’t let me go alone. Nevertheless, it was a good day for me. We will do our best for tomorrow’s Qualifying and Race 1.” TOP 5 FASTEST – PRACTICE (COMBINED)

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DIMAS SET BENCHMARK

2025, 2025 Round 5, Latest News, Underbone 150 /

Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2025 happened today at the Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia, witnessed riders battled both the heat and the technical track in the opening two practice sessions for UB150 class. After a fiercely competitive day, it was Indonesia’s Dimas Juli Atmoko of RACETECH SIXTY Racing who emerged as the fastest rider overall. Dimas stamped his authority in Practice 2 with a blistering 2’32.015s, edging ahead of a strong field and setting the benchmark for the weekend. Close on his heels was compatriot Gupita Kresna Wardhana of ZIEAR LFN HP969 MCR RBT 34, who combined consistent pace across both sessions to secure second overall with 2’32.789s. Fahmi Basam of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM claimed third at 2’33.024s, showing solid speed and adaptation to the hot conditions. Rounding out the top five were Ahmad Afif Amran of Pitsbike Superfast JRT Racing Team in fourth at 2’33.571s and Md Akid Aziz, also of Pitsbike Superfast JRT Racing Team, in fifth with the lap time of 2’33.643s. Dimas commented, “During Practice 1 and Practice 2, Alhamdulillah, the results were very positive for my preparation for the Superpole session. My mechanics and team always strive to improve from the previous races. I also feel more motivated after winning the race in Mandalika. For this race, I hope I can reach the podium and score more points. I will continue to work hard for good results.” TOP 5 FASTEST – PRACTICE (COMBINED)

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RAMDAN AIMS TO CONQUER

2025, 2025 Round 5, Latest News, TVS Asia One Make /

Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2025 ignited today at the Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia, watched the TVS ASIA One Make Championship riders delivered thrilling action under scorching conditions, pushing to find the perfect rhythm during the two practice sessions. Malaysia’s Md Ramdan Rosli dominated the day, emerging as the fastest rider overall with a blistering 2’22.099s lap in Practice 2. His impressive pace set the benchmark for the weekend and gave him a solid foundation heading into tomorrow’s qualifying session. India’s Sarthak Chavan stayed hot on his heels, securing second in the combined practice results with 2’23.131s, while Japan’s Hiroki Ono, the reigning pace-setter from previous rounds, claimed third at 2’23.274s. Spain’s Luis Miguel and Indonesia’s Rendi rounded out the top five, posting competitive lap times of 2’24.030s and 2’24.467s, respectively. Ramdan shared, ” About today’s practice sessions, I’m really happy. From Practice 1 and Practice 2, I did well in everything regarding both the engine and the suspension. I didn’t make any changes to my bike starting from Practice 1, so I just enjoyed the moment on track and tried to set a good lap time. In Practice 2, the track temperature was a bit higher compared to this morning, but I still kept improving my lap times. I will maintain this momentum for tomorrow’s Qualifying as well as Race 1. Of course, since this is a home-ground race, I will give 120% to try to win both races” TOP 5 FASTEST – PRACTICE (COMBINED)

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AZLAN – BOOSTED AFTER FIRST WIN, EVEN MORE FOR HOME-RACE

2025, 2025 Round 5, Asia Superbike 1000, Latest News /

The fiery dance to the Asia Superbike 1000cc rhythm ended when Hafizh Syahrin of JDT RACING TEAM flaunted his prowess all the way to the spot of glory on the podium in Race 1 at Mandalika International Circuit. The Malaysian rider recalibrated his moves in Race 2 but before he could wing it once again, he succumbed to the winning tricks of fellow countrymen, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of A1 ENERGY BWM RACING TEAM. What would the odds be during Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Sepang International Circuit? Season 2025 began with pain points for both the riders who struggled to find the best performance setup for the machine. While it was more evident for Azlan who gradually became a back-bencher, Hafizh was not exactly free of the nagging burden until Race 2 at Motegi where he flew to his defining moment, bagging his first win for the season. His winning momentum continued with his performance amplifying the capacities of his Ducati, drawing an impressive gap of 2.9s from his closest contender, Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND. But who would have thought that Azlan who began his mission for the day from the seventh spot on the grid would circle in with his brilliant all-time strategic move to claim not only a win but also hope for his team to make it into the A-lister, potentially penetrating the top five league?! Azlan pulled a stunner on that day, scaling the benchmarks higher in what is perceived as competence versus speed and currently sits at the sixth spot in the overall standings, 6 points shy from Azroy Hakeem Anuar of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA at the fifth spot. The question is, with Sepang circuit being home to the long list of highly competitive riders in the race category, will Azlan be able to guard his reputation with yet another accomplishing showmanship? Commenting on the race, Azlan said, “I would say the turning point was when everything finally clicked together — my rhythm, my confidence and the bike setup. In Race 2 at Motegi, I felt like I was truly riding at my own pace again. That moment gave me the belief that we could fight back this season. In terms of machine, for a long time, it was tough for the team to find the right setup. The team worked really hard to analyse every detail and we finally found a balance between stability and agility. Before, the bike felt unpredictable. Now, with the right setup, it matches my natural riding style – late braking, carrying corner speed and being aggressive on exits. That change allowed me to ride more freely and confidently.” “Consistency is definitely key. At Sepang, we need to be smart with tire management and patient with overtaking. My strategy is to stay focused on finishing strong in both races, avoiding unnecessary mistakes and taking opportunities when they come. If I can maximize points at home, the top five is definitely within reach. The biggest challenge though is that the Malaysian riders will be motivated to perform in front of the home crowd. The pace will be intense because they know the track very well. But that also pushes me to be sharper – it’s not just about speed but rather about handling the pressure and racing smart. I also have a good fighting spirit. Even when things don’t go my way, I never give up. I’ve been in this sport for a long time, and my experience helps me stay calm under pressure. That resilience is what keeps me moving forward when others might give in.” Speaking about mission for the season, Azlan said, “The mission is simple: to fight back, stay consistent, and finish the season strong. I want to show that no matter how tough the start was, we have the ability to turn things around. More than just results, I want to prove to myself, my team and the fans that I can still compete at the highest level.”

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HELMI WILL VIE FOR TOP THREE

2025, 2025 Round 5, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

The Indonesian flag raised at the podium post SuperSports 600cc of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship was a testament to the wit and grit of Indonesian riders, Md Adenanta Putra and Herjun Atna Firdaus of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM who graced the top spot in Race 1 and 2 respectively at their home-ground. The real question is though, while Adenanta has tamed his machine on various circuit grounds, can Herjun trail his footsteps and ward off the pressure from home-boys in Round 5 that will be held at Sepang International Circuit? It was unfortunate that Adenanta slipped and fell in Race 2 at Mandalika before savouring the sweet success of a double-win but his teammate, Herjun was quick to fill in his space to ensure the 25-points remain intact within their team. The heat of rivalry is bound to get hotter for the Indonesian lad who has just found his fame, especially on a circuit ground more familiar to aggressive players such as Kasma Daniel of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING and Md Helmi Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA who have clocked not only impressive lap times but also marked victorious in their pursuit. In Round 2, Kasma bagged the second spot in Race 1 and Helmi took the winning prize in Race 2. The capacities of the riders are clearly undeniable especially in a game where mileage adds up to their advantage. Between the duo, Kasma has whipped up a storm throughout the season and sits pretty at the third spot overall with only a 1-point difference with his closest contender, Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM. Helmi, although his light has dimmed a little this season, his competitive stride is nevertheless evident in all races and is expected to fire up once again on his home-soil. Commenting on the race, Helmi said, “This year would be considered the toughest season for me because as we have observed, there are many competitors who are closing in really fast in terms of machine performance. We definitely have more to improve on the capacities of the machine so that we can remain competitive among the top scorers. As for myself, hard work is always a must and that is what I will be doing to be on par with the counterparts. Sepang being my home-ground does not make it easier for me but I am for a double-win. I have to take advantage of the home-ground factor if I want to see better results, more so after the struggles we have faced in the last couple of rounds. I believe that we can make a comeback.” “Having said that, I know it will require some new strategies. Although Sepang is my home-ground, other riders are also quite familiar with the track layout. Most importantly, the goal is not to over-pressure myself. I hope to remain calm and composed throughout the weekend and ride through the familiarity, without any major issues with the machine. There are also added value for me here. I will surely have the support of my fans and family members so, with that in mind, I hope to draw some courage and do better. Preparations are as usual – the workouts to build my physique and my mental capacities. The team has also given us some mileage through bike trainings. So, let’s see how it goes. Since on paper, I can still fight for the top three positions, that will be aim for now and I will do my best to ensure I’ve given my all.”

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ALWAYS WITH A POSITIVE OUTLOOK!

2025, 2025 Round 5, Asia Production 250, Latest News /

Fadillah Arbi Aditama of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM astounded the paddock at Mandalika circuit when he scored a double-win and although he was later penalised to third spot in Race 2, his charm has not gone unnoticed as he continued to top the chart steadily and confidently throughout the season. With a 37-point difference to Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILANG RACING TEAM, can the Indonesian boy draw an unbeatable gap at Sepang International Circuit in Round 5? First, a hat-trick in the beginning of the season, then a steep decline on the point front due to regulation requirements and after that, an upward trend in performance on home-soil – Fadillah is definitely not on a pathway of recovery but of stardom. With four more races to go, it’s all about managing the strategies and keeping it calm but will Fadillah aim higher? Would he settle for enough points or would he go for the sought after 25-pointer? The crossroads simply mean either succumbing to his contenders or potentially ending in complete loss of points, depending on how the cards are laid and played. At Sepang during round 2, Fadillah concluded Race 1 with a striking performance when he scored the top spot on the chart. But of course, there are the likes of Krittapat, Izam Ikmal of VICTOR RACING TEAM, Irfan Ardiansyah of MAEZTRO NWN SCK HONDA RACING TEAM and Galang Hendra Pratama of YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA MBKW2 RACING who have all earned a spot on the Malaysian podium. With the strong contention waiting to strike at multiple angles, Fadillah has to make calculated moves and avoid risks where possible. Fadillah commented, “Despite the point difference between myself and the next in line, I will go all out at Sepang. There is nothing more colourful that hitting the bullseye with a double-win. Also, it will give me a better standing at Chang circuit. There is not much risk on my hand considered the margins. But most importantly, for us, it is about creating the rivalry impact that stimulates the experience of riding. That’s the way we move forward – to be stronger. Sepang circuit itself gives us an added advantage especially on the fast corners. But again, we also need to keep our focus on slow speed corners – which is a little bit of a disadvantage for us.” “Throughout the season, I have definitely gained a lot of experience – from the riders, the different riding techniques and managing the machine on different circuit grounds. The competition is also becoming stiff on a round-to-round basis which makes it even more interesting. We have to create an impact as a team and the rising contention fuels us to do better. Despite the regulations and RPM cut, we are positive in our approaches. The FP sessions usually give us time to re-look into the setup of the machine and usually it ends with a good outcome. The goal for any team is to make the most out of the experience but for us, its nothing less than a championship title. That’s where we are headed!”

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DIMAS, FIRED UP!

2025, 2025 Round 5, Latest News, Underbone 150 /

Without a shadow of doubt, the road to stardom for Husni Zainul Fuadzy of ZIEAR LFN HP969 MCR RBT 34 in the Underbone 150cc race category is paved in gold and while he lost his chances of claiming the crown early at Mandalika, his moment to shine may just show up in Round 5 at Sepang International Circuit. What spins the narratives differently though is the story of Fahmi Basam of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM and Dimas Juli Atmoko of RACETECH SIXTY RACING who will take their battle to the next level for the 1st runner spot. After his double-win, Dimas quickly scaled three spots up to the third place, with only a 3-point difference with his closest contender Fahmi who currently graces the second spot. But turning the tables around may not be a completely easy task in the UB150 race category known for its highly competitive battlefield and unpredictability, especially with a rival fully equipped with the capacities needed to maintain his game plan. Over the course of eight races, Fahmi has not only showcased his prowess but has also stepped up onto the podium five times, making him one of the finest contenders to the troop of riders. Dimas on the other hand is not bad himself considering the three podium-finish he obtained to-date however what could be a concerning factor in the upcoming round is his double DNF on Sepang grounds in round 2. Could he overcome the fears of possible shortcomings, keep up to his winning momentum and glide to a celebratory finish at Sepang? Not forgetting the likes of Malaysian teammates, Ahmad Afif Amran and Md Akid Aziz of PITSBIKE SUPERFAST JRT RACING TEAM who are sure to speed up on their familiar grounds. Commenting further, Dimas said, “The win at Mandalika was definitely attributed to the machine condition especially since we have been working hard to fine-tune the setup from the beginning of the season. The difference back then and now, I would say is that, I was too hesitant to take risky moves due to the regulations. For the coming round at Sepang, thankfully, we already have data from the previous race. Maybe back then it was not my lucky day, or maybe, I did not have it in me. But right now, more so with the double-win, I am more confident and I think I can do well enough to take a step up on the podium.” “With a 3-point difference, my motivation level has fired up. I finally stand a chance to be at the top three positions. Of course, racing to the top is not possible at the moment but surely, the top three spots are still open for contention. Racing is not always about skills and speed, especially in the Underbone race category whereby everyone is on par in terms of competency and everyone has a chance to strike the iron while its hot. It also has a lot to do with luck too. I am prepared physically and mentally and I will for sure give my all to hit my target. The only thing I hope for now is that luck will be on my side as well by God’s grace.”

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BEING OPTIMISTIC – THE ONLY WAY FORWARD

2025, 2025 Round 5, Latest News, TVS Asia One Make /

Defending champion and currently chart topper, Hiroki Ono of Japan has relentlessly pursued his mission to rise as a championship for the second consecutive year TVS Asia One Make Championship. However, his genius manoeuvring moves were progressively hampered by the enhanced and robust performance of Sartak Chavan of India and Ramdan Rosli of Malaysia who have both delivered a competitive stride throughout the season. The Japanese currently leads with a total of 151 points, followed by the Indian at 148 points and the Malaysian at 146 points. With not much of a difference in points, the rivalry which is evidently stronger this season has brought the trio to a close contention for the championship title. Unlike last season where Hiroki drew a huge point gap by Round 5, claiming an early champion title, this season has definitely been a test to his dexterity, consistency and competency. Can Hiroki accelerate further away from round 5 onwards? Last season, Hiroki scored a 25-pointer in Race 1 at Sepang before crumbling to a defeat by Ramdan at the second spot after a steady streak of win throughout the season. This season, Hiroki made it to the podium once at the second spot in Race 1 at the very same circuit ground. Clearly, Hiroki’s confidence at Sepang may not be as appealing especially with Ramdan injecting intense pressure and now with an additional rival, Sartak inching closer. That raises the question as much as it exhilarates the race further, will Hiroki be able to maintain his position on the scoreboard? Hiroki commented, “This season has been very tough for me. We have struggled with the machine from the very beginning of the season but that improved at Round 3 in Japan. I can only say that I was unlucky in the races before that and also in Race 2 at Mandalika. Emotionally, it has been frustrating but this is racing. This bounds to happen.; it is inevitable. But I am taking the high road to stay strong mentally so that I can focus on completing the rest of the rounds successfully. It is going to be challenging especially with the difference in performance compared to last season but I am determined to see through the full season with 100% effort.” “The rivals are definitely very strong – Sartak and Ramdan. They for one, have very good understanding of the machine therefore they are able to optimise the machine performance. I believe that the remaining races would be quite interesting. There will surely be an edge in the competition, especially for Ramdan at Sepang. I am not very good on that circuit ground but I am not bad either. In Round 2, I was just unlucky so hopefully and being optimistic, this round would rub off some good luck for me. The championship battle will surely go on till the very last race. That is something different from last season where I was able to take the title earlier. Anyway, the goal is to bag consecutive championship title. So, let’s see.”

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