Supersports 600

The SS600 category delivered another closely contested race at the Chang International Circuit, Buriram, Thailandas Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND fought back from a Long Lap Penalty to secure victory in Race 2 of Round 2 in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026. The race got underway with Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING making a good launch, but a slight wheelie off the start slowed him down, allowing Anupab Sarmoon of HONDA RACING THAILAND to move into the lead. Kasma quickly settled into second, followed by Thanat in third, McKinley Kyle Paz of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING in fourth and Muhammad Helmi Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA in fifth. By Lap 2, Kasma had taken over at the front, leading ahead of Thanat and Anupab. However, the race took an unexpected turn when Thanat was handed a Long Lap Penalty, dropping the Thai rider down to 11th position after rejoining the race. At the front, the battle remained intense between Kasma and Anupab, with both riders exchanging positions while keeping the pace high. Anupab set the fastest lap time of 1’39.841s on Lap 3 as he continued to pressure Kasma. Behind them, McKinley, Helmi and Muhammad Faerozi Toreqottullah of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA remained in contention. Thanat meanwhile began his recovery ride. The Thai rider steadily worked his way back through the field, setting the fastest lap time of 1’39.604s on Lap 4 before improving further with a 1’39.586s on Lap 7 and a 1’39.529s on Lap 8. By Lap 9, Thanat had rejoined the leading group and quickly moved into third position before overtaking Kasma for second on Lap 10. With two laps remaining, Anupab and Thanat pulled slightly clear of the chasing riders, setting up a close battle for victory. On the final lap, Thanat made his move at the final corner, going around the outside of Anupab before racing to the finish line to complete an impressive comeback win. Thanat crossed the line first in 20’02.096s to secure victory on home soil, with Anupab finishing just 0.130s behind in second at 20’02.226s. Behind them, McKinley made a bold final-corner move on Kasma to secure third place in 20’02.673s, relegating the Malaysian rider to fourth. Thanat expressed, “When I first found out that I had to take the long lap penalty, honestly, I lost some confidence and felt a bit discouraged. In a race like this, every second matters, so naturally I was worried about how much it would affect my chances. But my team kept encouraging me and telling me that I can do it and their belief gave me the confidence to keep fighting. In the end, I told myself to stay calm and focus on the race, and thankfully, the long lap was not a problem for me. I managed to recover, keep pushing, and achieve this result. I’m really happy and emotional because it has been such a long time since I last won here, and to finally do it again means so much to me. Honestly, it’s difficult to even describe how I feel right now. I just want to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, my team, supporters, and everyone who kept believing in me. This moment means a lot, and I’m truly grateful.”   Top 5 Fastest – Race 2 1. THANAT LAOONGPLIO – HONDA RACING THAILAND (20’02.096s) 2. ANUPAB SARMOON – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (20’02.226s) 3. MCKINLEY KYLE PAZ – HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING (20’02.673s) 4. KASMA DANIEL KASMAYUDIN – HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING (20’02.865s) 5. MUHAMMAD FAEROZI TOREQOTTULLAH – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (20’06.674s)

The Race 1 of the SS600 category at Round 2 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 delivered breathtaking drama at Chang International Circuit, Buriram, Thailand, as Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING snatched an extraordinary victory by the slimmest of margins after a nail-biting final-corner showdown. Kasma emerged victorious in spectacular fashion, edging out Thailand’s Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND by a mere 0.003s after a photo-finish sprint to the chequered flag. Kasma crossed the line in 20’06.403s, with Thanat heartbreakingly close at 20’06.406s, while Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM completed the podium in 20’06.544s, capping off a fiercely contested all-out battle. Drama unfolded from the very beginning as Thanat stormed into the lead at lights out before hometown hero Anupab seizing control of the race. Starting from the second row, Kasma quickly settled into the leading pack, while poleman Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA, despite starting from the back of the grid following a penalty, carved through the field impressively in the opening laps. The pace at the front was relentless. Lap after lap, the top contenders traded positions in a relentless chess match at over 250km/h. Anupab led early proceedings before McKinley Kyle Paz of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING surged into contention midway through the race, briefly taking control as the front five remained separated by mere tenths of a second. By Lap 8, tension reached boiling point as McKinley launched repeated attacks on Thanat, eventually muscling his way through, only for the order to shuffle again moments later. Entering the closing laps, it became a four-rider battle involving Thanat, Anupab, Kasma and McKinley, with every braking zone turning into an overtaking opportunity. On Lap 11, McKinley suffered a costly slide at the final turn while fighting at the sharp end, leaving the battle for victory wide open heading into the final lap. Thanat looked destined for a memorable home triumph, leading into the final corner with Anupab and Kasma right behind. But Kasma had one final gamble left. Diving aggressively to the inside on a tighter line, the Malaysian rider powered side-by-side with Thanat in a breathtaking drag race to the finish line, winning by the tiniest of margins in one of the closest finishes. Kasma said: “Honestly, it was a really tough race for me today. We were battling hard from the beginning, and at one point I even dropped to fourth and fifth position as we kept overtaking each other lap after lap. It was a crazy and demanding race. In the first two or three laps, I focused on managing my tyres because I knew if I pushed too hard too early, I would lose performance near the end. So I stayed patient and waited for the right moment to attack. Alhamdulillah, there was a bit of luck for me again in the final corner, just like last year when I won the championship title. At that moment, I told myself, ‘This is the time to attack,’ and thankfully everything worked out. I’m very grateful for today’s result, and tomorrow we will push for even more.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1 1. KASMA DANIEL KASMAYUDIN – HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING (20’06.403s) 2. THANAT LAOONGPLIO – HONDA RACING THAILAND (20’06.406s) 3. ANUPAB SARMOON – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (20’06.544s) 4. HERJUN ATNA FIRDAUS – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (20’06.743s) 5. WAHYU NUGROHO – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (20’07.853s)

Home hero Anupab Sarmoon stamped his authority on the opening day of Round 2 in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 after delivering a commanding performance in the SS600cc category at Chang International Circuit, Buriram, Thailand. The YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM rider emerged as the benchmark across all three practice sessions, steadily raising the pace each time he hit the track before eventually setting the fastest combined lap of 1’39.402s in Practice 3. More impressively, Anupab consistently looked in control around the fast and technical circuit, combining blistering corner speed with remarkable straight-line performance, reaching a top speed of 257.80km/h in Practice 2. While the Thai rider led the charge, the battle behind him was anything but settled. Indonesia’s Herjun Atna Firdaus of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM stayed firmly in contention throughout the day and closed the gap significantly in the final outing. Herjun posted a strong 1’39.568s in Practice 3, just 0.166s adrift of Anupab, signaling that the fight for pole position and race victory is far from over. Malaysia’s Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin also reasserted himself as a serious contender after bouncing back strongly in Practice 3. The HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING rider improved his pace to 1’39.598s, ending the day third overall and only 0.196s behind the leader in an incredibly tight top three battle. Thailand’s Thanat Laoongplio ensured local riders remained firmly in the spotlight as the HONDA RACING THAILAND rider consistently featured among the front-runners in every session. Thanat wrapped up the day fourth overall with a best lap of 1’39.726s, further highlighting the growing strength of the Thai contingent on home soil. Not far behind was Malaysia’s Khairul Idham Pawi from IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA, who steadily built momentum throughout the sessions before climbing into the top five in Practice 3 with a time of 1’39.749s. Khairul looked increasingly comfortable as conditions evolved, adding another experienced challenger into an already stacked field. Earlier in Practice 1, the pace had already hinted at the intensity to come, with the top five separated by less than half a second. Anupab drew first blood with a 1’40.162s effort, narrowly edging Kasma and McKinley Kyle Paz of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING, while Thanat and Muhammad Helmi Azman completed a fiercely contested top five. Anupab expressed, “We had a really positive day today and managed to perform well in all three practice sessions. Session by session, we kept improving the bike and understanding the track better, so that gives us a lot of confidence moving forward. Racing at home always brings a special feeling because we can feel the support from the local fans and everyone cheering for us. That motivation gives us extra energy and determination every time we go out on track. We know the expectations are high, but we are ready to give everything we have. Tomorrow will be another important challenge, and we will fight as hard as possible in qualifying and the race. We’ll continue pushing together as a team and hopefully make our home supporters proud with a strong result.” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE 1. ANUPAB SARMOON – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (1’39.402s) 2. HERJUN ATNA FIRDAUS – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (1’39.568s) 3. KASMA DANIEL KASMAYUDIN – HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING (1’39.598s) 4. THANAT LAOONGPLIO – HONDA RACING THAILAND (1’39.726s) 5. KHAIRUL IDHAM PAWI – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (1’39.749s)

Thailand’s Anupab Sarmoon returns to familiar ground at Chang International Circuit for Round 2 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026, determined to turn disappointment into momentum in the SS600 category. Representing YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM, Anupab enters the weekend with unfinished business, both from the opening round of the season and from the heartbreak of 2025, where he narrowly missed out on the championship despite finishing level on points with the eventual title winner. His 2026 campaign began with promise at Sepang International Circuit, securing an impressive second-place finish in Race 1. However, Race 2 brought misfortune, as a crash derailed what could have been another strong result. Although he managed to remount and salvage four points, it was a costly setback in the early stages of the title fight. Despite carrying a minor injury into Round 2, Anupab remains confident in his physical condition and ready to push. “I’m feeling okay overall. I picked up a minor injury on my left shoulder, but it’s nothing that will hold me back. Physically, I’m in good shape, and mentally I feel ready to get back on the bike and fight again.” Reflecting on the missed opportunity in Sepang International Circuit, Anupab does not hide his disappointment, but it has only strengthened his resolve. “Of course I’m disappointed with the result in Race 2. Only coming away with four points is not what we were aiming for. But in racing, these things happen. What matters now is how I respond. I’m determined to come back stronger and fight even harder in this round.” The crash itself, he explained, was a reminder of how quickly conditions can change at the highest level. “From what I felt, the surface was a bit damp in that section, and it caught me out. It’s one of those moments you learn from. I’ve taken it positively, and I’m coming into this round with a much more focused and optimistic mindset.” As the championship moves to Chang International Circuit, Anupab’s approach is no hesitation, only forward momentum. “When I line up on the grid, there’s only one thing in my mind, to move forward as quickly as possible and fight with everything I have. I want to be aggressive, but also smart, and make every lap count.” The return to Chang International Circuit also brings back memories of last season’s dramatic finale, where the title slipped away by the narrowest of margins. Yet for Anupab, that chapter has already been closed. “Last year was difficult to accept, especially missing out on the championship like that. But that’s racing, anything can happen. I’ve learned to move on from it, and now my full focus is on this season. I’m here to give my best and fight for every opportunity.” With motivation running high, home support behind him, and a point to prove, Anupab arrives in Chang International Circuit not just looking for results, but redemption.

Round 1 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 delivered a gripping Race 1 in the SS600 class at the Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia, where home hero Muhammad Helmi Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA rose above early setbacks to secure a hard-fought victory in front of the home crowd. The drama began even before lights out, as Muhammad Faerozi Toreqottullah of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA was forced to retire during the warm-up lap due to a technical issue. Once the race got underway, Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND made a lightning start to lead the pack, followed by Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA and Malaysia’s Khairul Idham Pawi. However, Khairul wasted no time asserting himself, quickly surging into the lead. By Lap 2, Khairul led the charge, with Anupab Sarmoon just 0’141s behind, followed by Wahyu and Thanat, while Helmi had worked his way into fifth ahead of 2025 champion Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING. The battle intensified on Lap 3 when Anupab clocked the fastest lap of 2’11.198s to take over the lead, only for Khairul to respond immediately and reclaim the position. The relentless exchanges continued into Lap 4, where Helmi made a decisive move up the order, overtaking Wahyu to place himself firmly in podium contention behind Khairul and Anupab. Lap 5 marked a turning point in the race. While Anupab made another move on Khairul, Helmi capitalised brilliantly, slipping through unnoticed to seize the lead. From there, the Malaysian began to dictate the pace, with Anupab and Khairul in pursuit and Herjun Atna Firdaus of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM joining the leading group. Helmi maintained control on Lap 6, as Herjun posted the fastest lap of 2’11.120s to close in, while the top five remained tightly packed. On Lap 7, Helmi responded emphatically with a fastest lap of 2’10.828s, holding off relentless pressure from Anupab, Khairul, Wahyu, and Herjun. The pace intensified further on Lap 8, with Anupab hitting top speeds of 250 km/h and setting the fastest lap of 2’10.728s, but Helmi remained composed at the front. The race took another dramatic twist on Lap 9 when Khairul crashed out at Turn 4 while chasing second, promoting Wahyu and Herjun up the order. Heading into the final lap, Helmi led the charge ahead of Anupab, with Herjun moving past Wahyu into third. McKinley Kyle Paz of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING joined the top five as the battle reached its climax. Despite immense pressure from Anupab throughout the final sector, Helmi held his nerve and crossed the line in 21’58.392s, sealing a sensational victory and reaffirming his reputation as the “King of Sepang.” Anupab finished just 0.293s behind at 21’58.685s, while Herjun completed the podium at 22’02.372s after a consistent and determined ride. Helmi said, “From the test day, I struggled a lot with my bike because this year we are using a new ECU, so we had to start from zero and couldn’t rely on last year’s data. Even in qualifying, the bike had no power due to an issue with the ECU. But for the race, we worked hard to improve, and Alhamdulillah, we managed to fix it. I also crashed this morning at the beginning of qualifying, which affected my confidence, but I told myself to stay focused and calm. In the end, I achieved this result, and it means a lot because this is my dream when I come here. I want to thank my team for their hard work, and also ask everyone to pray for my chief mechanic, Fahmi. He couldn’t be here, I miss him, and I hope he recovers and returns for the next round.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1 1. MUHAMMAD HELMI AZMAN – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (21’58.392s) 2. ANUPAB SARMOON – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (21’58.685s) 3. HERJUN ATNA FIRDAUS – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (22’02.372s) 4. WAHYU NUGROHO – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (22’02.594s) 5. MCKINLEY KYLE PAZ – HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING (22’04.564s)

Round 1 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 officially came alive today at the Sepang International Circuit, where Malaysia’s Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING delivered a powerful statement by topping the SS600 combined practice times. Kasma wasted no time asserting his presence in Practice 1, where he set the pace with a rapid 2’10.523s, putting him 0.365 seconds ahead of Khairul Idham Pawi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA, who posted 2’10.888s. Herjun Atna Firdaus of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM held third with 2’11.098s, while Muhammad Helmi Azman and Thailand’s Anupab Sarmoon completed the top five in a closely matched opening session. Practice 2 saw Khairul respond with a strong lap of 2’10.834s, placing him at the top of the session, ahead of Kasma, who registered 2’11.042s. Helmi maintained his upward trajectory in third with 2’11.293s, followed by Herjun and Anupab, both displaying consistent and competitive form as the temperatures rose on track. But it was Practice 3 where Kasma delivered his strongest punch of the day. He clocked a blistering 2’10.498s, the fastest time across all sessions. Khairul kept the pressure on with 2’10.794s, and Helmi made it another strong outing for the Malaysian contingent with his 2’11.183s lap. Herjun remained steady in fourth, and Fadillah Arbi Aditama made his way into the top five with a 2’11.732s run. With all sessions results combined, Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin emerged firmly as the fastest rider of the day, an important morale boost as he returns to his home circuit with high expectations. Kasma stated, “Everything went well today. The practice sessions were positive and we managed to set good lap times, although it is still not quite as strong as last year. We still need to make some adjustments to the setup. I hope tomorrow in Qualifying we can improve further and achieve a better lap time. I will stay positive, and I hope to secure a front-row position, insyaallah everything will go well.” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE 1. KASMA DANIEL KASMAYUDIN – HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING (2’10.498s) 2. KHAIRUL IDHAM PAWI – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (2’10.794s) 3. HERJUN ATNA FIRDAUS – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (2’11.098s) 4. MUHAMMAD HELMI AZMAN – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (2’11.152s) 5. ANUPAB SARMOON – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (2’11.257s)