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WHO WILL IT BE?

2023, 2023 Round 6, Asia Production 250, Latest News /

Entertaining at its best, the riders of the Asia Production 250cc has taken the game up a notch with their mind-blowing performances. Rising above it all are duo of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM, Rheza Danica Ahrens and Herjun Atna Firdaus who can’t seem to get enough as they navigate through the challenges of rivalry to be the best. The Indonesians are just one round away from making it in their games. But between them, who would hail as champion? It’s all happening this weekend in Round 6 of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the Chang International Circuit. Taking a double-win at the season opener, Rheza immediately awed the audience with his extraordinary performances but his teammate Herjun began getting his grip from round 2 onwards before darting a bullseye with a hat-trick in round 3 and round 4. The two key riders of ASTRA HONDA are undeniably well equipped with the ideals of a perfect rider and although the 23-point difference holds them apart with Rheza having the upper-hand, it is a matter of time before mastery and fate collides and the narratives takes an entirely different direction. Commenting on the coming race, Rheza said, “It was a fantastic start for us at Chang International Circuit, to be honest. Then, as expected, there was a cut of 500 in RPM after Malaysia and another 500 in Sugo. That was devastating and challenging at the same time. I struggled a little bit in that situation but to be frank, the team got over it almost immediately and did a great job to make sure that I was still competitive and fast on the circuit. Without challenges, where is the fun in racing, isn’t it? I still am very happy with our performances and I do hope that luck would be on my side in the coming last two races at Chang. The circuit is one of my favourites in the ARRC calendar. So, definitely I look forward to the coming round with the hope that it will go as planned without any major setbacks.” The ever-positive spirited lad continued, “I have a lot of confidence in my team and I am pretty certain that I have a big chance for the title win this season. It all boils down to effort as well. I can’t afford to sit back and relax. It is hard work from the beginning till the end. The machine is a complete package and has been complemented me well throughout the season. It is undoubtedly fast and that is one of its best features, thanks to my crew. I enjoyed every moment aboard the machine. When it comes to my teammate, we share a lot of things about the race during the race week. We brainstorm where we can and work out on issues pertaining to the circuit. I am fully motivated for the next season and I hope to be just as competitive like this season. I have learnt a lot throughout this season and I will move forward with that knowledge for a better outcome.” Herjun on the other hand said, “This is the second season that I have been making my mark in the AP250 race category. It gives me great honour to be in the fight for the Asia Champion title this season. Personally, my most memorable moment was Round 4 in Mandalika where I took the double win in the presence of my parents. That win was priceless. In Zhuhai however, I had a bad time in Race 1 which cost me valuable points. I made a mistake at that time in the first lap, at the last corner. It was a tough time as I had to deal with my emotions to make it back on the podium. In Race 2, I managed to embrace it and made it third. So, the overall experiences that I had in the last two rounds has been somewhat a bitter-sweet memory for me and I am grateful for it.” He went on to say, “I understand that my biggest rival are my teammates who are really good in their games. But whatever said and done, I am focused on my own achievements. I believe that if I do well, it will benefit the team overall. This time around, I think I have improved tremendously and that has worked well for the machine too. So, it is a combination of man and machine. Definitely, our crew has been a great addition and support in our overall achievement’s throughout. For the coming round, I am aware that the challenges are inevitable. The part that will be tough in my opinion is the two long straights, even more so with the RPM cut of 1000 which will surely make a whole lot of difference. Nevertheless, I have speed in sector three, so there is an upside! The team has been ever supportive, be it when I won or lost. They have been my backbone. I will do my best as a rider. Buriram, here I come!” Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

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ONE MORE TO GO!

2023, 2023 Round 6, Latest News, Underbone 150 /

From flag-off to the chequered flag, the Underbone 150cc race category is an action-filled race series that has never failed to leave the audience at the edge of their seats. What makes it even more exciting is the ability of its riders to make bold moves and strike at the right moment to free themselves of the mounting pressure trailing them. Among them, Nazirul Izzat of UMA Racing YAMAHA Maju Motor Asia Team and Shafiq Rasol of ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team are two exemplary riders who have fought a good fight in breaking the barriers and will do it one more time in a bid to claim the Champion title in Round 6 of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Chang International Circuit this weekend. Both the Malaysian riders have been in their A-game throughout the season with Nazirul bagging a spot on the podium five times including three wins whereas Shafiq, four times including two wins. Not easy but they did it. The riders have showcased their capacities not only in the manoeuvring techniques but also in managing their strategies, on-the-go. The UB150 race category comes with its unique proposition where everyone is presented with the opportunity to win and this is where the riders’ quick act matters. It’s either make or break! Nazirul and Shafiq seemed to have discovered the winning tactic but who would rise above the challenge this time around? Nazirul commented, “At Chang circuit, I will do my best and fight to be ahead of the troop. At the same time, I also have to be really careful this time around. My goal is to get enough points in both races and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I would be able to make it champion this time around. I really like Chang circuit but I have not had the luck just yet to take a spot on the podium so far. What I have achieved though it the fastest lap time at the circuit. I am hoping though that this time around, I would be able to stand on the podium. Of course, I have some weakness in a number of turns and I think the toughest one would be the last corner because it is quite narrow and everyone will be rushing towards the finish line. So have to be a little careful over there. My machine however has been in an excellent condition throughout the season. I have been quite consistent from round 1 up until today. But from round 2 onwards, my luck has been really good and I managed to get onto the podium. The setup of the machine has really helped me in my achievements overall. As for the preparation for the coming round, I have been working out; jogging and gym. We also do some training at Sepang circuit and also at the go-kart track. The trainings are not too strenuous to avoid any injuries that would hamper our road towards the championship title. I am thankful for the good memories this season when I won and finished podium in the races. Of course, there has been some hard time too. More like a pressure especially in Zhuhai because there is a constant need to maintain the standings. To a point where I think my performances was impacted. The underbone race category is one of the most interesting one and it is unpredictable but I love it! Round 6, here I come!” Shafiq on the other hand said, “I personally think that Round 6 will be very competitive as it is the last round for the season. The Chang circuit is one that favour a lot because there are many rolling speed corners especially the last turn which is highly anticipated. I have to stay focused in both races and try my best to win it so that I can obtain maximum points of 25 each. Without that, the chances of me taking the championship title will be tough as there is a difference of 44 points between myself and my contender. I will go all out to try and make that happen. Throughout the season, the team has worked really hard in providing me with a well-set machine. That has gone a long way in helping me with my standings overall. I was DNF twice this season because I fell at Sepang once and another time in Japan. That has cost me the points in the race. This is the first time I am racing in the UB150 race category but I gained a lot of experience as a wildcard rider at Sepang in the last season. That has definitely helped me with my performances this year. As an underbone rider, I have to say that I have gained a lot of experiences especially riding alongside riders who are not just experts in their game but one of the best in Asia. For me, this has been one of my biggest moments therefore I will not take it lightly in the coming round.” Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

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FINAL CALL FOR THE SEASON!

2023, 2023 Round 6, Latest News, TVS Asia One Make /

Quite a ride it has been in the TVS Asia One Make Championship throughout five rounds of this season. With the participation of highly competitive riders coupled with a powerful machine, the show has become increasingly compelling. Raking it high on the charts and in contention of the championship title are Malaysian duo, Mohamed Muzakkir and Md Ramdan Rosli as well as defending champion, Vorapong Malahuan of Thailand who will be gearing up for the season finale at the Chang International Circuit. Round 6 of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will be the final call. Vorapong Malahuan returned this season after carving history last year as the very first champion in the debut season of the race category. He had a flying start when he took the double-win at his home- ground circuit but his capacities were tested instantly with the presence of Malaysian duo, Muzakkir and Ramdan who took him down in their home circuit. The battle continued as they charged at each other for the most sought-after spot. Vorapong went on to lead the chart for the following two rounds but in a twist of fate, a casualty between him and Ramdan gave Muzakkir a lucky break to take a leap up the leaderboard. Vorapong commented, “Frankly speaking, this season has been quite a show especially with at least five to six highly capable riders. Especially Hiroki who made his entry since Round 3. He has been really strong in all sectors and he is capable of riding using slick tires. That is something that I have to learn from him. There are definitely some major differences compared to last season especially in terms of the lap time. The lap time are comparatively similar to that of the AP250. So, it is challenging. For the upcoming round, I will have to up my performances for sure. Top five competitors are really strong therefore I can’t afford to take a much-relaxed approach. I won twice in Round 1 but I had technical issues in Japan and in Zhuhai, I lost the championship points. It was a tough time, this season. In terms of the machine, in my professional views, it was developed for international circuits and second-year running, it has made quite a significant impact. The information provided by our fifteen riders have been crucial in their development for each round. For the coming round, I will do my best. I am still highly motivated to ride but at the same time, I also want to coach. So, next season maybe a different scene entirely for me.” Ramdan on the other hand said, “So far, this season has been good for me. I have truly enjoyed this category and it has given me a different perspective overall in terms of riding techniques and handling. Honestly, I thought I could win the championship title but to be fair, it has been tough especially with four riders fighting for the same spot. I am focused though to have a good race in Round 6 and to finish on the podium for both races. I did have some issues at Chang circuit in Round 1 but I would like to leave that behind and move forward with the overall experience that I gained this season to ensure that the mistakes are not repeated. The pressure is definitely there. No doubt! Any rider would feel a certain kind of anxiety but the goal is to give my best and minimise errors where possible. The level of competitiveness in the TVS Asia race category has definitely improved. Some of them with prior experiences from the debut season and some who are new. We have the likes of Hiroki who has been able to inject a different kind of thrill which makes it even more compelling. At the moment, I just want to finish the season with a good note and get an awesome result. For the coming season, I do hope that I can race in ARRC again!” As for Muzakkir, he said, “It is a season of ups and downs for me but understandably, this is motorsports. I have experienced this many times so I am able to manage my expectations will this time around. TVS has done an awesome job with the championship – the professionalism of the crew members and the machine’s capacities are exceptional. It has been a happy moment for me each time we raced. Being in contention for championship is solely a one-man’s job. As it is a one-make series, there are no teammates. Everyone has the same goal which is to win. My strategy has been the same throughout the season which is to stand tall on the podium and complete the race with maximum points. One of the challenges would be the machine in each round. We get different machines and sometimes, it is a fantastic one and sometimes we get the ones that has crashed before. Having said that, the mechanics of TVS Asia always did a great job to ensure optimisation of the machines. Racing at Buriram, which is like my second home and one of my favourite circuits, I have a better confidence. Sector 2 is my strong point and with a perfect setup, I think I can make it. Of course, we have the likes of Ramdan and Hiroki who are both world championship riders, Vorapong who is the defending champion and not forgetting Piyawat and Decky who are all great riders. But again, we all have our own set of skills, equally competitive. Sometimes, what matters more is plain luck.” Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

FINAL CALL FOR THE SEASON! Read More »

THE MAN OF THE HOUR!

2023, 2023 Round 5, Asia Superbike 1000, Latest News /

Impressive speed and interesting mastery, the riders of the Asia Superbike 1000cc went on another exciting feat today in Race 2 of Round 5, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Zhuhai International Circuit. Markus Reiterberger of ONEXOX BMW TKKR Tea, once again made a grand finish when he crossed the finish line and bagge not just the winning prize for the day but the Championship title for the season. Taking a glance at the performances yesterday, Markus took a relaxed approached on the first lap as he trailed Zaqhwan with Azlan pacing at P3. By lap 2, he made a switch alongside his teammate ahead of Zaqhwan. The trio maintained the position for the bulk of the 13-lap race before Azlan lowered his pace. Zaqhwan seized the opportunity and took a slide ahead into P2. By then, Markus was on his way towards carving yet another victory as Azlan gave one last push to superseded Zaqhwan. Zaqhwan however did not cave in and completed second while Azlan finished third. It was a good start for Markus who fled to take lead at turn 1. He was followed swiftly by Zaqhwan at P2 and Azlan at P3. As the trio went on a blistering speed, group two behind who was led by Kosuke tried to catch up before Andi took over at P4. Markus seemed confident and kept Zaqhwan at bay but the latter went on in an attempt to close the gap. Azlan who was 4.2s away from Andi managed his pace at P3. Four laps down, Zaqhwan inched closer to Markus with a gap of 0.35 seconds but the German rider was determined to strike it big this time around. By the 8th lap, Markus accelerated well to widen the gap. That gave him a breather as he went on with the remaining laps. But the Malaysian rider, also the defending champion was in the game to win. He pursued relentlessly. Ten laps down and the chase went on. Markus had to avoid mistakes at all cost and so he did. He went on the final lap, picked up speed and drew a comfortable gap before taking one final turn towards the finish line, marked his best at 20’10:902s to claim not just a win but the win of glorious victory as the Champion of Season 2023 for the Asia Superbike 1000cc race category! Commenting on the race, Markus said, “My start was ok. But I was really late on the brake at the first corner and I almost went out but luckily, I managed to stay within the line. I saw Zaqhwan on the inside and I know that he was really trying very hard today, maybe even more than yesterday. So, I really pushed hard today and tried to be as fast as I can on each lap. As soon as I had a little bit of gap, I cut off because I had two high moments and then he came back. So, I had to push myself again and until the end. I thank my team. The machine is really a beautiful one and we will try to keep pushing!” Md Zaqhwan Zaidi of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA made it second at 20’12:812s. Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of ONEXOX BMW TKKR Racing made it third at 20’17:344s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

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CHEERS FOR THE THAIS!

2023, 2023 Round 5, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

Highly competitive and meticulous in their moves, the riders of the SuperSports 600cc have been raising their benchmark of excellence in each other round. This time around, it was Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of Honda Racing Thailand who took the win in Race 2 of Round 5, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship that was held at Zhuhai International Circuit. Yesterday’s battle witnessed the Boon Siew duo and Gen Blu lad pitting themselves against each other for a taste of victory. Helmi took lead with Azroy and Soichiro putting intense pressure. Khairul who took the start at P10 made his way up to P4 minutes before the red flag was raised. Disrupted by the incident and 2 laps short, the foursome began their moves shortly after. On the last lap, Azroy and Helmi engaged in one final fight before Azroy took Helmi down for the winning spot. During the race earlier, Adenanta very quickly took his position at P1 momentarily before Azroy swiped places with him. Nakarin took P3 before sliding from the inside ahead of Adenanta at turn 1 of lap 2. Meanwhile Soichiro and Helmi lined up at P4 and P5 before Helmi switched places with him. By the end of lap 2, Adenanta lost his pace and dropped to P6 with Ratthapong ahead of him. Before the lap ended, Ratthapong’s machine gave way and Khairul moved into P5 all the way from P10. Into lap 4, Azroy who was leading confidently lost control and crashed into the gravel. With Nakarin leading and four laps down, Helmi went for Nakarin while Soichiro remained close. Khairul was catching up. Into the sixth lap, Helmi cleverly took a slide from the inside ahead of Nakarin but Nakarin was quick to retrieve. The Thai rider was adamant. In each of Helmi’s attempt, Nakarin was fast to swing right back ahead until Helmi made a mistake, giving Khairul the opportunity to move ahead. Khairul kept his enemy close as he went on to pressure Soichiro but the Japanese was strong. Soichiro went for Nakarin and took a shot from the inside but Nakarin pulled back up ahead. On the final lap, Helmi took a slide from the inside into P3 shortly before Khairul crashed. Soichiro made one last attempt but Nakarin flew ahead to bag victory at 19’33:407s. Commenting on the race, Nakarin said, “Amazing race today. I was totally pumped up. I lost yesterday so today, I made sure that I was in full form, ready to be on top of my game. I kept up with my pace and maintained my position so that I don’t lose the momentum. It worked very well for me. I thank everyone who has supported me especially my Thai fans and team. More importantly, I wanted to make sure that my points were maximised. It is an awesome day for me. Thank you, all!” Soichiro Minamimoto of YAMAHA GEN BLU Racing Team ASEAN made it second at 19’33:475s. Md Helmi Azman of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team took third at 19’34:470s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

CHEERS FOR THE THAIS! Read More »

VEDA MADE IT!

2023, 2023 Round 5, Asia Production 250, Latest News /

The competition among the Asia Production 250cc riders has always been a captivating one with the ladies and gentlemen of the best kind taking the rhythm up a notch. Sailing through flawlessly and bagging the top spot was Veda Ega Pratama of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM in Race 2 of Round 5, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship which was held at Zhuhai International Circuit. Recapping the performances of Race 1, Veda took charge of the circuit making waves on each lap while,Muklada, Jakkreephat and Rheza battled their rivalries behind. With two more laps to go, Veda who had made a 7-second gap, had a ride through penalty, which gave the trio an instant pass to supersede him. Veda lost his chance but the lady was all out to bring the boys down. On the final lap, Muklada blazed her way to victory with Rheza taking the second spot and Jakkreephat landing himself third. Veda was quick to make his move at turn one, immediately taking lead as Jakkreephat and Muklada took P2 and P3. Nevertheless, Faerozi and Rheza were quick in getting ahead of Muklada before lap 1 ended. Muklada would not give up. As her teammate diligently trailed Veda, Muklada was fighting a battle with Faerozi and Rheza for the third position. She embraced the challenges as she went on to compete competitively. By the end of lap 3, Veda was 0.7s away from Jakkreephat who maintained his pace at P2. Mid lap 4, Herjun began making his moves and glided ahead of the trio. By then, Viet Nam emerged among the second troop. By mid-race, the duo in front were pacing with no pressure. But the intensity among the back troop became nerve-wrecking. Herjun took lead with Faerozi and Viet Nam chasing aggressively for the third place. With another three laps to go, Veda was 4.8 seconds away from Jakkreephat. Herjun and Faerozi picked up speed but Viet Nam caught up quickly. On the final lap, Veda and Jakkreephat went on to complete the race at first and second spot respectively. The second troop had one final battle before Herjun took speed to finish third. Commenting on the race, Veda who logged in at 18’20:774s said, “Race 1 didn’t work out for me because of the ride through. So, this was my time to make up for my loss yesterday. I did my best to stay focused and keep up with my pace. With that, I managed to draw a good big gap and avoided all threats from the back. I thank my team, crew members and everyone who have supported me throughout!” Jakkreephat Puettisan of Honda Racing Thailand clocked in second at 18’30:018s. Herjun Atna Firdaus of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM made it third at 18’34:804s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

VEDA MADE IT! Read More »

TWO THUMBS UP FOR THE WEEKEND!

2023, 2023 Round 5, Latest News, Underbone 150 /

The endless battle for victory is one of the most important features in the Underbone 150cc race category which makes it different from the rest. Md Shafiq Rasol of ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team concluded the competition this evening when he claimed the winning spot in Race 2 of Round 5, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Zhuhai International Circuit. The 6-lap race began with Akid on the pole-position. As the battle heated up, the usual exchange of positions happened, swiftly amidst the chaos. Standing tall and striking in his moves was Akid who maintained his position at P1 on 5 laps. While the other riders attempted to take him down, he confidently rode on the racing line before dashing towards the finish line. He took his first win for the season. Behind him, Fazrul took second followed by Shafiq at third. Akid once again went on to take lead at the first turn followed by Shafiq and Murrobil. By the end of lap 1, Shafiq emerged ahead of the troop followed by Fazrul before Akid struck to take back his position. By the end of lap 2, Akid drew a gap of 1.058s away from Afif. The huge troop behind him chased him while playing their part in staying ahead of their contenders. By mid-race, Akid was comfortably gliding ahead with a gap of 1.788s. By then, it seemed almost impossible for the big troop to catch up with Akid. Unfortunately, luck was not his side. His machine gave way and threw him off his game. With two more laps to go, the competition became stiff as the riders aggressively fought to stay ahead. On the final lap, Wawan took lead with Shafiq trailing but after the final turn and towards the finish line, Shafiq slip-streamed ahead of Wawan and clocked in first at 12’10:676s. Commenting on the race, Shafiq said, “I would first like to say a big thanks to the team and crew for their hard work and endless support. This was an amazing race for me. In fact, the weekend was truly an awesome one. I took third yesterday and being able to win today is a great achievement for me. During the race earlier, I tried to stay ahead of the troop from the beginning but I was left out mid- race. At the final lap, I tried as much as possible to get back ahead and I managed to get it right!” Second was Murrobil Vittoni of LFN H. PUTRA 969 INDONESIA Racing Team clocking in at 12’10:685s. Wawan Wello of Pitsbike JRT Tech 2 OneWay Racing Team made it third at 12’10:753s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

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DOUBLE WIN, AGAIN!

2023, 2023 Round 5, Latest News, TVS Asia One Make /

It was yet another exciting feat among the TVS Asia One Make Championship riders as they glided for a better spot. Hiroki Ono of Japan was unbeatable today as he went on with the much-anticipated moves to bag the best spot on the podium in Race 2 of Round 5, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship held at Zhuhai International Circuit. It was Hiroki as usual at the lead position in Race 1. Different this time around was Muzakkir who kept his pace close to the Japanese, placing intense pressure. Ramdan and Vorapong trailed behind. Mid- race, it was game over for Ramdan and Vorapong when they collided, opening a wide pathway for Taiyo a P3. With no threats from behind, Muzakkir went all out to attack Hiroki. Hiroki however was not about to be defeated. He broke free from that intensity and fled towards victory. During the race earlier, Hiroki was quick to take his spot ahead of the others followed by Muzakkir at P2. Mid-lap, Vorapong swerved ahead for a moment before Malaysian duo took a slide ahead with Muzakkir at P2 and Ramdan at P3. On lap 2, Ramdan picked up speed and made it past Muzakkir. Hiroki remained strong in the lead position. The battle was evident between Ramdan and Muzakkir and by the third lap, the latter made it back into P2. Meanwhile, Piyawat was at P4 and Taiyo at P5. The Malaysian duo went on to pressure Hiroki. As they exchanged positions multiple times, Hiroki did not engage in the threats. By mid-race, Hiroki drew a gap of 0.613s while Muzakkir and Ramdan battled furiously. With another two laps to go, Hiroki was getting faster and further away from pressure at 2.826s gap. Muzakkir remained steadily at P2 with Ramdan attempting to close the gap. At the final lap, Hiroki was already on his way towards yet another double victory while Ramdan looked out to strike. Hiroki clocked in at 14’28:690s. Commenting on the race, Hiroki said, “Today was great. I kept to my lap time well. I have made five wins in total out of the six races since my entry into this race category. I thank my Japanese sponsors for that and I thank TVS Asia team for the wonderful opportunity given to me. My ultimate goal and drive every round were to take a win, nothing more and nothing less. That’s how I motivate myself to push beyond the limits. It is not so much of the championship title. This weekend has definitely been a wonderful one!” Md Muzakkir Mohamed of Malaysia was consistent as he concluded the game second at 14’31:751s. Taking third was Md Ramdan Rosli of Malaysia, logging in at 14’31:814s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

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POWERFUL AS EVER

2023, 2023 Round 5, Asia Superbike 1000, Latest News /

It was a statement of excellence and extraordinary sportsmanship among riders in the Asia Superbike 1000cc as they went on yet another feat in Race 1 of Round 5, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) at Zhuhai International Circuit. Markus Reiterberger of ONEXOX BMW TKKR Team once again took the limelight with a win. Earlier today, the riders accelerated at their best capacities to secure their comfort zones on the grid in the qualifying session. Markus of ONEXOX BWM TKKR Team seemed to have found moves that worked well for him on the circuit. He took the pole position when he clocked in fastest at 1’32:265s. Teammates, Andi Farid and Zaqhwan Zaidi of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA took the second and third spot on the grid when the concluded with their best lap time at 1’32:714s and 1’32:575s. It was a fantastic start for Zaqhwan who went right ahead to take lead with duo of TKKR trailing behind. Seconds into the race, Kasma lost control and collided with Lachlan. At P4, Andi Farid kept well to the momentum. Before lap 2 ended, Markus made his move ahead of Zaqhwan and at turn 1 of lap 3, Azlan took a slide ahead of Zaqhwan from the inside. By the 4th lap, Markus worked on eliminating pressure but Azlan kept up with his pace. Meanwhile, Zaqhwan maintained a close distance with Azlan as Andi kept his cool at P4. With seven more laps to go, Markus tried to widen the gap with his teammate while Andi attempted to close the gap with his teammate. By the end of lap 8, Markus was 1.176s away from Azlan. The positions among the top four riders did not change up until then. Yuki was 14.098s away at P5. With each lap, Markus pulled himself further away from the trio trailing him. With three more laps to go, Azlan lost his pace. Zaqhwan immediately took advantage and paced up at P2 but Azlan went on to pressure his contender. At the final lap, Markus shot ahead towards victory at 20’16:469s. Commenting on the race, Markus said, “It was a tough race. Like I have expected, the test on the brakes were really very strong. But I was not 100% sure if I could speed away because the others were also very strong and fast. To me, in order to do the lap time, I have to push harder. In the middle of the race, I managed to draw some gap but I hit the track limits twice. I wasn’t very sure but someone showed me two track limits but I wasn’t sure. I kept calm till the end and luckily it was not track limits. I am really happy and there is another race tomorrow. I will do my best!” Md Zaqhwan Zaidi of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA maintained the momentum and avoided Azlan before landing himself second at 20’19:674s. Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of ONEXOX BMW TKKR Team followed suit for the third position at 20’19:717s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

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1-2 FOR BOON SIEW HONDA

2023, 2023 Round 5, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

There is nothing more exhilarating than a good battle among contenders in a bid to be the best. It was exactly that among the SuperSports 600cc riders as they went for the jugular in their attempt to make the right cut in Race 1 of Round 5, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship held at Zhuhai International Circuit. Azroy Hakeem Anuar of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team made a fiery finish to claim victory. During the qualifying sessions earlier today, the riders took a notch up to fight for the front row. But the trio who made it were teammates Helmi Azman and Azroy Hakeem of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team at the pole position and second spot on the grid with their fastest lap time at 1’36:751s and 1’36:858s as well as Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM who made it at the third spot on the grid when he scored 1’36:893s. Helmi was off to a fantastic start, immediately taking lead at turn one followed by Soichiro at P2 and Azroy at P3. Adenanta who started off at P3 dropped one position down into P4 whereas, Khairul who started at P10 worked his way into P5. While the trio ahead kept their distance from the troop behind, Khairul charmed his way into P4. Adenanta was not about to give up as he furiously chased Khairul. Meanwhile, Yamaha rider, Soichiro moved ahead of the Helmi into P1 but lost his pace to Helmi at the end of lap 3. Into lap 4, Azroy went on to take charge. By mid-race, Khairul was close to the trio ahead of him. Azroy took lead and his teammate, Helmi exchanged positions with Soichiro. Khairul was waiting to strike. Just as the battle heated up, the red flag was raised. As soon as the red flag was lifted, the riders went on to continue from where it was left. This time around, Soichiro from P3 moved into P1 with Azroy behind him. Khairul moved into P3 from P4 as Helmi trailed closely. With three laps to go, Helmi took a slide from the inside at turn 1 and moved ahead of Khairul. Within minutes, Helmi worked his way once again from the inside into P2. At the final lap, Azroy and Helmi exchanged positions at the few last turns. Khairul tried to close the gap with Soichiro but failed. Azroy and Helmi went on a neck and neck battle on the straight before the former clocked in first at 9’47:222s. Commenting on the race, Azroy said, “I thank everyone for the hard work. It has been a long time since I made it to the podium. It has been quite unlucky for me this season with tire and machine issues. It is a mixed emotion for me. There is joy and sadness. But this victory is dedicated to my beloved mother who recently passed away. This time around, I had nothing to lose and I pushed beyond the limits. The championship is far-fetched but I hope to complete the season with more wins.” Teammate, Md Helmi Azman took second spot at 9’47:487s. Soichiro Minamimoto of YAMAHA GEN BLU Racing Team ASEAN clocked in third at 9’47:686s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

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