Supersports 600

Round 5 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 brought to a conclusion in the Race 2 of SS600 category at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA capitalized on an opening at the final corner to claim a breathtaking victory. When the race got underway, Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM made a solid launch to seize the holeshot, pursued closely by Muhammad Faerozi Toreqottullah of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA. Race 1 winner Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND slotted into third, but a mechanical problem on the opening tour forced him into sudden retirement. The championship fight intensified instantly as Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING began his assault from fourth. On lap 3, Wahyu posted a fast lap of 2’11.241s to stay within touching distance of the leaders just as Faerozi and Kasma drafted past Anupab. Kasma then made a decisive move on Faerozi into Turn 1 on lap 4 to take the lead. The middle stages produced non-stop overtakes among the frontrunners. Muhammad Helmi Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA clocked the race’s fastest lap of 2’11.056s on lap 5 to join the podium scrap, while Anupab executed a bold dive at the final corner to momentarily disrupt Kasma’s rhythm. Kasma quickly countered on lap 6, leading the pack through intense pressure from Anupab, Faerozi, and Wahyu. On lap 8, Wahyu picked off Faerozi for third, locking onto Kasma and Anupab. On the final lap, Kasma held the front into the technical sectors, but Wahyu made his move on Anupab to seize second. With Kasma defending into the final turn, the Malaysian ran wide on corner entry, Wahyu seized the opening immediately, out-dragging Kasma down the main straight to take the checkered flag first at 22’03.535s by a 0.078s margin. Kasma settled for second at 22’03.613s, while Anupab secured third at 22’03.774s. Faerozi and Helmi rounded out the top five. Wahyu said, “Alhamdulillah, I am so proud of my entire team. They worked tirelessly from the moment we arrived, overcoming every challenge even when our freight containers arrived late. A huge thank you to my family and my loving wife back home. Your endless prayers and support mean everything to me. The start of the race was wild and chaotic. Into the first lap, someone made an aggressive dive-bomb move on the inside that felt reckless and nearly took us all out.” “Instead of losing my head, I stayed calm, focused on surviving the opening exchanges, and settled into the rhythm of the front group. Seeing my teammate Faerozi fighting up ahead gave me a boost of motivation. I kept my head down, matched the pace of my racing ‘brothers’ at the front, and waited for the right moments to strike. Alhamdulillah, all that patience and determination paid off, and we were able to take the victory once again.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2 1. WAHYU NUGROHO – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (22’03.535s) 2. KASMA DANIEL KASMAYUDIN – HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING (22’03.613s) 3. ANUPAB SARMOON – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (22’03.774s) 4. MUHAMMAD FAEROZI TOREQOTTULLAH – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (22’04.098s) 5. MUHAMMAD HELMI AZMAN – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (22’04.352s)

Round 5 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia delivered intense contest in Race 1 of SS600 category. Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND claimed a vital victory and tightened the title chase. Earlier in Qualifying, championship leader Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING dominated by clocking pole position at 2’14.884s, more than a second clear of Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM and Muhammad Helmi Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA. As the race started, Anupab made a solid launch to seize the holeshot, followed closely by the YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA pairing of Muhammad Faerozi Toreqottullah and Wahyu Nugroho. Kasma settled into fourth while Thanat steadily pushed forward from sixth on the grid, picking off Herjun Atna Firdaus of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM by lap 2. Kasma mounted a furious charge, posting the fastest lap of the race on lap 3 with a blistering 2’10.256s to capture the lead, but had to immediately serve the first of two long lap penalties. The turning point unfolded on lap 4 when Kasma served his second consecutive long lap penalty, dropping down to seventh. Thanat pounced instantly, sweeping past Anupab to inherit P1. From that moment, the race developed into a duel between the Thai frontrunners. Thanat focused on hitting his marks, while Anupab kept the pressure relentless, hovering just 0.263s behind. Behind them, Wahyu launched a steady comeback, executing a decisive pass on Herjun on lap 7 to secure third place. On the 10th and final lap, Anupab closed down a half-second deficit to sit just 0.177s behind Thanat, waiting for an opening to strike. However, Thanat held defensive lines to cross the finish line first at 21’58.357s, edging out Anupab by 0.103s. Wahyu completed the podium in third at 21’59.307s, while Herjun and Helmi rounded out the top five. Thanat shared, “Heading into the race in these conditions, my confidence was high because we’ve had so many positive outings here at Sepang. We knew we had the outright speed, so during the race my objective was simply to focus on my own rhythm, stay mentally grounded, and maintain strong race pace without letting outside distractions affect me.” “We desperately needed P1 today, and when Kasma had to take the double long lap penalty, I knew it was our moment to capitalize and leave everything on the track. Taking the win brings my points so much closer to Kasma in the championship fight. It’s an incredible feeling for me and the entire team, and we’re ready to carry this hunger into tomorrow.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1 1. THANAT LAOONGPLIO – HONDA RACING THAILAND (21’58.357s) 2. ANUPAB SARMOON – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (21’58.460s) 3. WAHYU NUGROHO – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (21’59.307s) 4. HERJUN ATNA FIRDAUS – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (22’02.414s) 5. MUHAMMAD HELMI AZMAN – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (22’03.849s)

The FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 continued its battle for Round 5 at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia today. Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND emerged on top, showcasing commanding speed across both outings to lead the Combined Practice standings. Thanat set an early benchmark during Practice 1 when he recorded a 2’11.055s on his 9th tour to take the top spot. Malaysia’s Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING applied immediate pressure in second place with a 2’11.409s, while Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM secured third with a 2’11.781s. Muhammad Helmi Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA and Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA rounded out the top five. In Practice 2, lap times dropped across the entire field. Thanat once again took charge, finding remarkable rhythm and carrying substantial corner speed to become the only rider to break below the 2’11 mark. His lap of 2’10.197s on his 8th lap, coupled with a top speed of 252.3kph, cemented his position at the top of the combined timesheets. Kasma lowered his own benchmark to a 2’10.729s on lap 9 to secure second place overall, finishing roughly half a second behind the leader. Anupab retained his third position overall, lowering his mark to a 2’11.147s while registering the session’s fastest top speed at 255.9kph. Behind the top three, Wahyu mounted a stronger charge in Practice 2, improving to a 2’11.219s on lap 6 to edge into fourth overall. Helmi capped off the combined top five by posting a 2’12.178s. Thanat shared, “To finish today as the fastest rider is an incredible feeling, and I am truly so happy with what we achieved. A lot of credit goes to our prior preparation when we raced here for MSBK. Having all that data to cross-reference gave us a massive head start, allowing the team to build a virtually perfect baseline setup for me right from the opening laps.” “After today’s sessions, my confidence on the bike grew so much. In Practice 2, everything came together, which allowed us to push harder, find extra pace, and lower our lap times significantly. For tomorrow, the bike is already in a great place, so the main focus will be on myself. I want to refine my riding style just a little bit to squeeze out that extra edge. I really hope we can maintain this strong form overall tomorrow and turn this Friday pace into the exact qualifying and race targets we set out to achieve.” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE 1. THANAT LAOONGPLIO – HONDA RACING THAILAND (2’10.197s) 2. KASMA DANIEL KASMAYUDIN – HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING (2’10.729s) 3. ANUPAB SARMOON – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (2’11.147s) 4. WAHUYU NUGROHO – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (2’11.219s) 5. MUHAMMAD HELMI AZMAN – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (2’12.178s)

SS600 is often dominated by young riders eager to push to the absolute limit, but 33-year-old Anupab Sarmoon is quietly dismantling the competition with pure tactical patience. The YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM veteran arrives at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia for Round 5 of FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 this weekend as a key contender, carrying strong momentum after a crucial breakthrough. Anupab’s championship campaign gained serious traction during the previous round at the Mandalika International Circuit, Indonesia. While his rivals fought hard at the front, Anupab delivered a masterclass in race management, ultimately securing his first victory of the season in Race 2. That win has tightened the title landscape. Heading into this weekend’s Malaysian double-header, he sits third in the rider standings, tied on points for second place, and trailing the overall championship leader by a mere nine points. Rather than feeling the pressure of the championship race, the Thai rider is thriving on the positive atmosphere within his camp. “The team is working exceptionally well right now. My crew and I understand each other on a profound level, and we are completely aligned in our approach to this title fight. That mutual trust breeds confidence, and I firmly believe things will go very well for us at Sepang.” His recent success highlights the value of staying calm when the racing gets chaotic. “Age brings a different kind of advantage in this class. Instead of getting caught up in the frantic early laps, I rely on a steady, highly measured approach. I deliberately avoid reckless skirmishes, preserving my tires and energy. I just wait, observe, and look for the exact right moment at the end to seal the deal.” Translating his winning Mandalika pace to the wide layout and long straights of Sepang will be the team’s primary technical hurdle. “The base setup we built in Indonesia is excellent, but Sepang has its own unique character. The demands aren’t radically different, but we definitely need to tweak a few things to handle the track. I’ll get a true feel for the adjustments during Friday’s first practice session. Honestly, I love riding this circuit, our historical data here is good, and I think we are absolutely ready.” Even with the championship standings so close, there is no secret strategy for Anupab this weekend. He is keeping his game plan incredibly simple, relying on nothing but a straightforward push for the top spot across both races. “My focus is just to score as many points as possible. I am going to fight hard for them out on the track. I want to be ranked first after this round.”

The SS600 category provided a spectacular finish to Race 2 at the Mandalika International Circuit, Indonesia, with Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM taking a brilliant victory in Round 4 of LFN FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 after a last-lap incident completely altered the top three. Race 2 in SS600 category at the Mandalika International Circuit during Round 4 of the LFN FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026. Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM secured a brilliant victory after a dramatic final-lap incident completely reshaped the podium. At the start, Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA took the early lead, but Mckinley Kyle Paz of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING quickly stole the spotlight. Launching from seventh on the grid, Mckinley surged forward to claim the top spot by the end of Lap 1. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING and Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND followed closely behind to keep the pressure high. The lead changed hands frequently in the early stages. Wahyu reclaimed the front on Lap 4, setting a fast lap of 1’38.658s. However, Thanat responded immediately on Lap 5 with a 1’38.205s, taking the lead on Lap 6. Meanwhile, Anupab began his quiet but steady charge. After dropping to fifth early on, Anupab found his rhythm, dropping back-to-back fastest laps 1’38.074s and 1’37.929s to pull himself into second place behind Thanat by Lap 8. On Lap 11, As Kasma made a decisive move to overtake Thanat for the lead, Thanat aggressively defended his line. Seizing the perfect opportunity, Anupab capitalized on their duel, slipping past both riders to take control of the race. Disaster struck on the final lap when Kasma and Thanat crashed out together, shaking up the championship standings. Anupab crossed the finish line to take the win at 19’44.949s. Mckinley held steady to finish second at 19’45.242s, while Herjun Atna Firdaus of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM completed the podium in third at 19’46.586s. Anupab shared, “I want to express my deepest gratitude to my team and everyone who has supported me through the highs and lows. Today’s race was incredibly challenging right from the beginning of race. I didn’t get the best launch and ended up losing ground early on, slipping back into fifth. It was frustrating, but instead of panicking, I decided to stay calm, and study the situation.” “I was in a leading group filled with exceptionally fast riders. The pace at the front was absolutely relentless, so I used the bulk of the race to learn their lines and adapt my own riding with every passing lap. When it came down to the final laps, I knew it was time to put everything on the line. The biggest takeaway from today is just how fantastic our overall package is. I am genuinely so happy, relieved, and proud of how everything came together. I cannot thank my team enough for making this unforgettable result possible.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2 1. ANUPAB SARMOON – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (19’44.949s) 2. MCKINLEY KYLE PAZ – HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING (19’45.242s) 3. HERJUN ATNA FIRDAUS – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (19’46.586s) 4. WAHYU NUGROHO – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (19’46.638s) 5. MUHAMMAD HELMI AZMAN – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (19’46.939s)

Race 1 in Round 4 of LFN FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 at the Mandalika International Circuit in Indonesia saw hometown hero Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA secure a brilliant and composed victory, marking his maiden win in the SS600 category right in front of his local fans. Following the Qualifying session, Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING claimed pole position with a time of 1’37.091s. He narrowly edged out Herjun Atna Firdaus of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM and Wahyu Nugroho, with the three riders successfully locking out the front row. As the race started, Kasma made a strong initial start, but Herjun executed a precise move at Turn 1 to take the early lead. Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM slotted into third, closely followed by Muhammad Faerozi Toreqottullah of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA. By lap 2, Wahyu found his optimal racing line and made a decisive move to take over the lead. Herjun dropped to second, while Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND began an incredibly impressive charge, moving up to fourth after starting from the eighth position on the grid. Wahyu maintained his lead through lap 3 to 5, carefully managing his pace ahead of Anupab and Thanat. The chasing pack continually pushed the limits, resulting in a continuous exchange of fastest lap times. Herjun clocked a 1’37.706s on lap six, only for Thanatvto respond with a 1’37.680s on lap 7. The pace continued to quicken as Herjun posted a 1’37.635s on lap eight. The immense pressure at the front finally took its toll during the closing stages of the race. On lap ten, while Anupab set the fastest lap of the race at 1’37.458s in pursuit of the leader, Herjun suffered a sudden crash, abruptly ending his podium hopes. The drama escalated further on lap eleven when Anupab running in a strong second place, also fell from contention. These late-stage incidents cleared the path for Wahyu. Navigating the final lap with total composure, he crossed the finish line to claim his first SS600 victory with a total time of 19’35.596s. Kasma capitalized on the late-race attrition to take second place at 19’35.971s, while Thanat’s excellent recovery ride earned him third place at 19’36.308s. The top three riders had established a massive seven-second gap over the second group. Further back, a final-lap crash for Faerozi promoted McKinley Kyle Paz of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING to fourth place, with Arai Agaska Dibani Laksana of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA rounding out the top five. Wahyu expressed, “Alhamdulillah, I am so incredibly grateful to Allah for blessing me with this beautiful result today. Crossing that finish line and hearing the home crowd cheering, I honestly felt overwhelmed with emotion. This achievement is truly the reward of a massive collective effort. My team has worked relentlessly behind the scenes, pouring their hearts out, staying up late, and giving absolutely everything to provide me with a perfectly set-up machine. I simply could not have achieved this without their dedication and hard work in the garage.” “On a personal note, this weekend is exceptionally special for me and my family. I want to dedicate this performance to my sister and wish her a very happy birthday! Even more exciting, I can officially share that I am now a very proud uncle! Being able to bring this maiden victory home to celebrate these beautiful family milestones makes this moment even sweeter and more meaningful than I could have ever imagined.” “As for the race itself, I managed to get a fantastic launch off the line, which gave me a very strong start and positioned me perfectly with the front group right away. From that moment on, I just kept my head down, focused on maintaining my rhythm, and made sure to ride smartly while managing my tires. It was a tough and demanding race mentally, especially seeing the crashes happening closely behind me in the final laps. My heart rate spiked, but my confidence in the bike was high, and I kept telling myself to stay calm. Everything just clicked for us today.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1 1. WAHYU NUGROHO – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (19:35.596s) 2. KASMA DANIEL KASMAYUDIN – HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING (19’35.971ss) 3. THANAT LAOONGPLIO – HONDA RACING THAILAND (19’36.308s) 4. MCKINLEY KYLE PAZ – HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING (19’48.829s) 5. ARAI AGASKA DIBANI LAKSANA – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (19’51.586s)

The LFN FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 continued its action at the Mandalika International Circuit in Indonesia for Round 4, bringing the SS600 category action back to the track on Friday. The three practice sessions saw the leading competitors continuously traded the top spot on the timing sheets. By the end of the day, the Combined Practice standings revealed that Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM secured the fastest overall time, besting home favourite Wahyu Nugroho by a 0.005s gap. The day began with local riders utilizing their deep knowledge of the circuit to set an early and definitive benchmark. Practice 1 saw Wahyu Nugroho from YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA navigating the flowing layout smoothly to log a session-best time of 1’37.644s. Fellow Indonesian Herjun Atna Firdaus of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM, closely followed in second with a 1’37.934s. Malaysia’s Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING claimed third, while Anupab and Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND used the morning session strictly to dial in their initial setups, finishing fourth and fifth respectively. In Practice 2, the competitive dynamic changed. Anupab found significant improvements in his machine and delivered a smooth lap to record a 1’37.433s. This impressive effort moved the Thai rider to the top of the leaderboard. While Wahyu remained consistent by posting a 1’37.646s to finish second in the session. Herjun also improved his overall pace, clocking a 1’37.769s to maintain third. The final session of the day, Practice 3, saw Wahyu pushed his machine to the absolute limit in a bid to reclaim the top overall spot. The YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA rider successfully topped the final session with a brilliant 1’37.438s. However, when the times were compiled across all three sessions, Wahyu’s best effort fell just five-thousandths of a second short of Anupab’s Practice 2 benchmark. Consequently, Anupab’s 1’37.433s stood as the fastest time of the Combined Practice. Wahyu safely secured second overall. Herjun’s Practice 2 time earned him third place in the combined standings, ensuring two Indonesian riders finished the day in the top three. A late surge in Practice 3 from Thanat at 1’37.932s and Kasma at 1’38.092s secured them fourth and fifth respectively. Anupab commented, “Securing the top spot in the combined results today is a fantastic feeling. From the moment I went out on track, I had a really strong and comfortable connection with the bike. Honestly, everything aligned perfectly for us today, the track conditions were ideal, our base setup was solid, and the tire grip was exactly where I needed it to be to push for that lap time.” “However, we know how tight the competition is, so we cannot just sit still and be satisfied. My team and I have been analyzing the data, and we already have some fresh ideas and strategies for Qualifying and Race 1. We are looking forward to introducing a new suspension specification tomorrow morning. If it works the way we expect it to, I am confident we can find even more pace and be even better. It is a great start to the weekend, but we are fully focused on keeping this momentum going.” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE 1. ANUPAB SARMOON – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (1’37.433s) 2. WAHYU NUGROHO – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (1’37.438s) 3. HERJUN ATNA FIRDAUS – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (1’37.769s) 4. THANAT LAOONGPLIO – HONDA RACING THAILAND (1’37.932s) 5. KASMA DANIEL KASMAYUDIN – HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING (1’38.092s)

Familiar territory awaits Indonesia’s top riders as the LFN FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 arrives at the Mandalika International Circuit, Indonesia for a pivotal Round 4. Prominent among them is YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA’s Wahyu Nugroho, who is gearing up for a crucial weekend in the SS600 category. Currently sitting 6th in the overall championship standings, Wahyu is determined to leverage his home circuit advantage to secure a long-awaited maiden victory in his third demanding season in the class. “It has certainly been a long journey for me in this class. Securing that first win is something I have been striving for relentlessly. Being back on home soil gives me extra motivation, and I am putting absolutely everything into finally achieving that breakthrough.” The Mandalika circuit holds strong memories for the Indonesian rider. During Round 4 last season, he showcased exceptional speed, ultimately securing a solid pole position. Replicating that pace this year comes with its own technical hurdles. “Last year, everything just clicked perfectly. I had the ideal setup and timing. This season has presented some unexpected challenges with the bike’s behavior that we are still working to fully understand. However, my dedicated team and I are working tirelessly to resolve these issues, and I am confident we can find that strong pace again.” Last season’s visit yielded very mixed emotions for Wahyu. A strong P2 finish in Race 1 was followed by a deeply frustrating DNF in Race 2 after a rear-end collision. Looking ahead, Wahyu remains optimistic. “It was tough to end last year’s weekend with an incident after such a strong start. But that disappointment only fuels my determination. We are taking all the hard work and lessons from the past and applying them now to ensure we finish even stronger.” He arrives with fresh momentum, having recently claimed victory in Race 1 at the Mandalika Racing Series in the 600cc class. “I am incredibly grateful for the result at the MRS a few weeks ago. It was an unforgettable weekend. Standing on the top step of the podium here gave me a massive boost, and I am using that positive energy as ammunition for this upcoming ARRC weekend.” The SS600 class remains intensely competitive, with riders like Kasma, Herjun, and teammate Faerozi consistently pushing the pace. Wahyu’s stated, “The grid is packed with incredibly fast riders. Rather than getting distracted, my focus remains entirely on my own performance. I am concentrating on improving my own limits.” When asked about the pressure of racing in front of expectant home fans, Wahyu said, “Regardless of where we are racing, I keep my mindset consistent. I focus my energy on my own preparation, my team, my family, and drawing from all the positive support around me. The home crowd is wonderful, and I choose to channel that energy into focus rather than letting it become pressure.”