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FIM ASIA AND ARRC UNVEILS 7-ROUND 2019 CALENDAR

2019, Latest News /

FIM ASIA AND ARRC UNVEILS 7-ROUND 2019 CALENDAR 7-round season for 2019 2-race format retained New host venue – Korea International Circuit   2019 is set to be an exciting season for the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Along with the highly anticipated introduction of the ASB1000 class, the race calendar has been expanded into a 7-round championship.   The 2-race format which has been in practice since 2000 has been retained. The Championship will now feature four main classes – the ASB1000 (Asia Superbike), SuperSports 600cc, Asia Production 250cc, and the Underbone 150cc.   The action starts with an official test on March 5 and 6 at the Sepang International Circuit on May 5 and 6, 2019.   Without further ado, please find below, the 2019 race calendar as announced jointly by the FIM Asia and the Asia Road Racing Championship:   2019 FIM ASIA ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP   Round Circuit Country Date Official Test Sepang International Circuit MALAYSIA March 5 – 6, 2019 Round 1 Sepang International Circuit MALAYSIA March 8 – 10, 2019 Round 2 The Bend Motorsport Park AUSTRALIA April 25 – 28, 2019 Round 3 Chang International Circuit THAILAND May 31 – June 2, 2019 Round 4 Suzuka Circuit JAPAN June 28 – 30, 2019 Round 5 Korea International Circuit SOUTH KOEA August 9 – 11, 2019 Round 6 Sepang International Circuit MALAYSIA September 19 – 22, 2019 Round 7 Chang International Circuit THAILAND November 29 – December 1, 2019

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ARRC BREAKS NEW GROUND IN SOUTH KOREA

2019, Latest News /

The FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) continues to break new grounds as it seeks to promote the sport of motorcycle racing in the Asian region. In 2019, the ARRC will follow up on this year’s successful Australian debut with a venture into South Korea. At the time of writing, the race is provisionally set to be held from August 9 to 11, 2019 at the Korea International Circuit (KIC) in Yeongam. The Formula One circuit has hosted numerous regional car races since its inception in 2010. The Asia Road Racing Championship will be the first international motorcycle road racing event to be held at the KIC. “Over the past few years, the Asia Road Racing Championship have been working hard towards forging mutually beneficial partnerships with other Asian federations, promoters, and circuit owners. We believe that by working together, we would be able to better serve the needs of the motorcycle racing industry in this region,” said Ron Hogg, Director of Two Wheels Motor Racing, the race promoters of the Asia Road Racing Championship. “We are particularly excited to become the first international motorcycle racing event to be held in South Korea. For that, we would like to thank the members of the Korea Motorcycle Federation, especially KMF President Mr. Lee Dong Ki, who had worked hard to ensure the success of this new partnership.” The three-year agreement between all parties will see South Korea as the host venue for the ARRC from 2019 to 2021. KMF President, Mr. Lee Dong Ki added that the ARRC will be the first Road Racing event held under the FIM rules in South Korea. “I believe that this will bring a big contribution to the development of Korean motorsports, particularly motorcycle racing.”

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ANDI FARID DOUBLES UP AT SENTUL

2018, 2018 Round5, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

Astra Honda’s Andi Farid Izdihar completed a statistically perfect weekend by adding a Supersport 600 Race 2 win to the pole position and Race 1 he achieved on Saturday in ARRC Round 5 at Sentul International Circuit, Indonesia. The first half of the race looked much like the previous day’s, as Ahmad Yudhistira rocketed away from the middle of the front row to take the lead. Farid struggled to get away cleanly and Zaqwan Zaidi and Ratthapong Wilairot pushed him back to fourth. By the end of the first lap, the red and white Honda was through to second and began pushing his compatriot’s Kawasaki for the lead, while Zaqwan tagged on, looking intent on making the most of the absence of championship rivals, Anthony West and Yuki Ito. Ratthapong Wilairot tried to stay with the leaders, but was two tenths of a second a lap off their pace and slowly drifted back, while Farid’s team-mate, Irfan Adiyansyah, contested fifth place with Decha Kraisart, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, and Tomoyoshi Koyama  in a group behind. The pattern of the race began to change from lap nine of 16, as tyre wear became an increasing factor and Zaqwan lost touch with the fight at the front. After a few rehearsals, Farid got past Yudhistira, who, after an initial attempt to fight back, slipped out of reach of the leader. Meanwhile, Yamaha Thailand’s Rattaphong got the better of Zaqwan and moved away to make a Honda-Kawasaki-Yamaha podium look likely. Further back, Azlan Shah was not having an easy time in the dispute over fifth, which was being led by Irfan. Farid’s lead increased in the last few laps, as Yudhistira struggled on the Manual Tech KTY Kawasaki’s worn Dunlops and he took his second win of the weekend by more than three seconds. Ratthapong was another two seconds behind, resisting a last lap charge by Zaqwan, who was fourth. Irfan took fifth as he, Decha, Azlan and Koyama all crossed the line within four tenths of a second. Keminth Kubo and Taiga Hada were ninth and tenth, while Ramdan Rosli, Sheridan Morais, Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin, Zulfahmi Kairudin Amirul Hafiq Azmi took the remaining point scoring positions. While it is still unknown whether West will race in the final round at Buriram, he leads the championship by 34 points from Azlan, who added just 17 at Sentul. Three points behind Azlan, Farid and Yudhistira are tied on 99, while Zaqwan has 94 and Koyama 91. With 50 points on the board, all five riders have a chance of winning the title.

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AHWIN TAKES FIRST WIN AS RHEZA SEALS AP250 TITLE

2018, 2018 Round5, Asia Production 250, Latest News /

The Astra Hondas were again untouchable in Race 2 at Sentul, as Rheza Danica Ahrens and Awhin Sanjaya steamed away from the rest of the field, initially with team-mate Mario Suryo Aji, who then fell out of the reckoning for the third race in succession. Awhin made another perfect start to lead off the line, followed by Andy Fadly, Mario, Anuparb Sarmoon and Rheza, who messed up his launch once again. By lap two it was an Astra Honda 1-2-3, with Fadly and Rafid Topan Sucipto making determined efforts to spoil the party. Anuparb fell back into the clutches of a chasing group of seven bikes led by Muklada Sarapuech. Just as it looked like an Astra Honda podium lockout, Mario crashed heavily at Turn 9 on lap eight of 12, leaving Fadly and Rafid to dispute third. On the last lap, assumptions of team orders that would see Awhin make way for Rheza to win were dismissed, as the team-mates swapped positions and snapped at each other. Awhin got the better of his team-mate on this occasion to take his first AP250 win. Rheza looked displeased on the slowing down lap, though a smile made it to his face as the fact he had won the title began to sink in. Fadly got the better of Rafid to join the podium, while Muklada again shrugged off her left wrist injury to win a hard fight for fifth from wildcard, Sigit Purno Harjono, Anuparb, Anggi Setiawan, Rey Ratukore, Yossie Legisadewo, M. Faerozi and Nico Julian, and Peerapong Boonlert who were all split by just 1.5 seconds on the line. With Rheza already declared champion with 193 points and Mario’s misfortunes, Anuparb moves into second place on 126 points, four ahead of Mario, while Awhin has 117, and Rafid 113.

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HAZIQ WINS RACE 2 BY A WHISKER

2018, 2018 Round5, Latest News, Underbone 150 /

With Izzat Zaidi second in the standings and declared unfit to ride, the focus of Underbone fans for Race 2 was whether SCK Rapido Hi Rev Honda’s Helmi Azman could clinch the 2018 championship by finishing first or second at Sentul. In a race that featured a good deal more wheel-to-wheel combat than we had seen in Race 1, the Malaysian championship leader kept himself clear of danger for most of the race, staying within striking distance of the front of a leading group that consisted initially of five, then 11 bikes as the bunch behind took advantage of the battle at the front. Gupita Kresna, who finished third in Race 1, only made it to the first corner; Travis Hall was another noteable first lap crasher. After a poor showing on Saturday, the UMA Racing Yamahas of Haziq Fairues and Akid Aziz made their presence felt, trying to break away on occasion, but without success. Wildcards, Agung Fahrul and Wawan Wello, also kept themselves in contention. Helmi was well placed on the last lap, until a bike got out of shape in front of him forcing him to slow and change direction. He had to settle for sixth, while Haziq, Agung and Akid crossed the line together, separated by an almost imperceptible five hundredths of a second. Wawan took fourth ahead of Reza Fahlevi, Helmi and Adib Rosley. Amirul Ariff Musa, Wahyu Nugroho and Iaham Elsan Efendi rounded out the top ten. It was another bad day at the office for 2016 champion, Wahyu Aji Trilaksana, who could only finish 14th. Helmi, with 164 points will take a championship lead over Izzat of 42 to Thailand at for the sixth and final round. Ahmad Fazli Sham and Akid Aziz lie fourth and fifth with 87 and 83 points respectively.

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FARID EDGES YUDHISTIRA IN SUPERSPORTS THRILLER

2018, 2018 Round5, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

Andi Farid Izdihar broke new ground for himself and Astra Honda by delivering the team’s first Supersports pole position and first win and podium finish of the season after 16-lap battle with Manual Tech KYT Kawasaki’s Ahmad Yudhistira. Starting from the middle of the front row, Yudhistira got the holeshot from Farid and rode a confident race in the lead as the 20-year-old pressed him relentlessly. Behind them, MUSASHI Boon Siew Honda’s Zaqwan slotted into an increasingly distant third place, before being passed by a plucky Ratthapong Wilairot, who was riding impressively after dislocating his shoulder in a fast crash at Turn 2 on Friday. The Yamaha Thailand rider looked to have made third place his own, but a problem with his R6’s gear lever forced him to run wide, which let Zaqwan back through. Farid’s team-mate, Irfan Irdiyansyah, made a poor start before making his way back up into contention and eventually past Ratthapong. Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, who started hoping to close the championship gap on the absent Anthony West, found his Kawasaki unable to rev into the power band and struggled as Taiga Hada and Tomoyoshi Koyama pushed him down the order. Late in the race, as the front two moved further ahead, Farid converted pressure into a pass on Yudhistira, who snatched back the lead a few corners later. With tyre wear playing an increasing part in proceedings, Farid kept pushing on the last lap, slithering in front under braking for Turn 10 and holding on as the Kawasaki powered back at him on the run to the line to get within three hundredths of a second. More than eight seconds back, Zaqwan fought off a late charge by Irfan to claim third, another four seconds clear of Ratthapong. Hada and Koyama were another two seconds back in sixth and seventh, while the ailing Azlan was eighth in front of Azroy Anuar, Keisuke Kurihara and Thai duo, Passawit Thitiwararak and Decha Kraisart. Zulfahmi Kharudin, in as a replacement rider for his own team, was 13th, 38 seconds adrift of Farid. Webike IKAZUCHI replacement riders, New Zealander, Liam Taylor MacDonald and Sheridan Morais finished 14thand 17th respectively.

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WIN NUMBER 6 FOR RHEZA, AS ASTRA HONDA TAKE 1-2

2018, 2018 Round5, Asia Production 250, Latest News /

A convincing display by Astra Honda’s Rheza Danica Ahrens and Awhin Sanjaya left the rest of the AP250 field fighting over the remaining places in Race 1. Rheza’s 15-year-old team-mate and only realistic title rival, Mario Suryo Aji, fell on lap 2, thereby handing over another 25 points advantage. Mario had earlier led a front row lockout after a perfect qualifying session for the Honda home team. With the rest of the field unable to match the pace of the flying Honda’s at the front, a group of five riders behind them fought a pitched battle for third. Manual Tech KYT Kawasaki’s Andy Fadly initially looked strongest, before Muklada Sarapuech, riding with the left clip-on of her Honda adapted to accommodate her injured wrist, pushed her way through, hassled all the way by Rafid Topan Sucipto. M. Faerozi  threatened them just behind, while Anuparb Sarmoon fought to stay in contact. Rafid forced his way past Muklada on the final lap and held his advantage to grab the final place on the podium, while she, in turn, got to the finish line 14 hundredths ahead of Fadly. Faerozi and Anuparb finished sixth and seventh ahead of the best wildcard of the day, Sigit Purno Harjorno, who was 1.5 seconds clear of Anggi Setiawan, Richard Taroreh, Peerapong Boonlert and United M-Mate’s wildcard, Yossie Legisadewo.

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ADVANTAGE HELMI AS WILDCARD AGUNG WINS AT SENTUL

2018, 2018 Round5, Latest News, Underbone 150 /

Advantage Helmi as wildcard Agung wins at Sentul Agung Fahrul, one of six wildcard riders in today’s opening race at Sentul , left his mark on the 2018 championship by taking a win from Helmi Azman, whose main rivals, Izzat Zaidi, Ahmad Fazli Sham and Whayu Aji Trilaksana fell further behind. Starting from fourth on the 26-bike grid, Agung stayed in the top five throughout and frequently held the lead, before timing a perfect run to the chequered flag to win from SCK Rapido Hi Rev Honda’s Helmi, who had begun work for the day with a 23 point advantage in the standings over RCB Yamaha’s Izzat. The drama bagan on the startline, when Wahyu’s Yamaha was pushed off the grid with a problem, effectively snuffing out the 2016 champion’s title chances. Haziq Fairues converted his pole position into an early lead, which he traded with Agung, Helmi and SND Factory’s Gupita Kresna, before falling back from the 11 bike leading group with mechanical problems. Defending champion, Akid Aziz also broke down and pulled into the pits on lap eight. A fast game of cat and mouse for nine laps gave way to a fist fight at the front at the end, with bikes fanning out across the circuit’s 15 metre width as they fought for advantage. Agung  gained a bike length at the start of the last lap, which computed into  a win of 0.153s over Helmi, who crossed the line a few hundredths in front of Gupita, Amirul Ariff Musa, Izzat, Syahrul Amin and fellow wildcard, Wawan Wello. Fazli Sham finished eighth from Rusman Fadhil and Murobbil Fatoni, who completed the top ten. Izzat suffered a heart-stopping crash after taking the chequered flag, being ejected from his machine, apparently due to another rider hitting his rear wheel. Helmi goes into Race 2 having extended his lead over Izzat by another 9 points and over Fazli Sham by a further 12.

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ZAQHWAN SCRAMBLES AHEAD OF LOCALS IN FREE PRACTICE

2018, 2018 Round5, Latest News, Supersports 600 /

Friday’s free practice at Sentul International Circuit initially went as expected, as Astra Honda’s Andi Farid Izdihar and Irfan Ardiansyah, together with Manual Tech KYT Kawasaki’s Ahmad Yudhistira, locked out the top three slots on the timing screens in the first two sessions. Then MUSASHI Boon Siew Honda’s Zaqwan Zaidi spoiled the neighbourhood party by barging his way past first past Yudhistira, then Andi Farid, with a lap of 1:30.424 to end Free Practice 3 almost two tenths ahead of the Astra Honda man. Looking at combined times, Yudhistira was next on 1:30.682. The next four fastest all clocked their best times in the second session. Irfan was fourth for the day with a 1:31.029, from Yuki Ito, Taiga Hada and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, whose best round was 1:31.422. Behind Azlan were another five riders in the 1:31s: Keminth Kubo, Decha Kraisart, Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin, Tomoyoshi Koyama and Ratthapong Wilairot, who did his best time of 1:31.704 in session 3. The Yamaha Thailand rider had been running close to the top in the first session, before destroying his YZF-R6 and dislocating his shoulder in crash at the fearsomely fast Turn 2. He sat out the lunchtime session in the Medical Centre while his bike was being rebuilt before coming back with a strong run in Free Practice 3. All the above-named riders can be expected to improve their times by around half a second in Saturday morning’s qualifying session as they target Zaqwan’s 2017 pole winning 1:29.628. With championship leader, Anthony West, sidelined by his provisional doping test suspension, and Joe Francis absent and Patrick Li absent, Webike IKAZUCHI have drafted in South African World Supersport winner, Sheridan Morais, and New Zealander, Liam Taylor MacDonald. Morais was the quicker on day one, getting round in 1:33.327, as he found his way with the bike and the unique challenges of Sentul’s track surface.

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MARIO LEADS INDONESIAN FIRST DAY DOMINATION

2018, 2018 Round5, Asia Production 250, Latest News /

Indonesian riders led all free practice sessions in Asia Production 250cc by margins that left the rest wondering how to respond. Astra Honda’s Mario Suryo Aji set the fastest time of the day just 8 laps into the first session, recording 1:42.310, which is half a second better than Gerry Salim managed on his way to pole position in 2017 and 0.8s better than championship leader, Rheza Danica Ahrens, managed in the early run-out. Home advantage aside, there was more evidence of the depth of the new generation of fast Indonesians, as Yamaha riders, M. Faerozi and Rafid Topan Sucipto also dipped under 1:43 to top the second and third sessions, while Manual Tech KYT Kawasaki’s Andy Fadly managed a best time of 1:43.074. The best of the visitors was Yamaha Thailand’s Anuparb Sarmoon, who lies third in the championship. He clocked his best time of 1:43.549 on his fourth flying lap of the day, but spent the rest of the day in the 1:44s. AP Honda’s Muklada Sarapuech, who makes a return after the nasty hand injury she sustained at Suzuka, was a few hundredths adrift of her compatriot and two tenths clear of team-mate, Kritchaporn Kaewsonthi, who improved through the day to record 1:44.702 in the final session.

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