Supersports 600

Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin delivered on his promise of a final gift to team Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia prior to his departure from the Asian scene for his Moto2 debut in 2020. Race 2 of the SuperSports 600cc at the season finale in Thailand was Kasma’s last chance to bring home a win for the team that had nurtured his transition from underbone to full-frame racing.   The 19-year old traded opening-lap overtakes with polesitter Adam Norrodin (SIC Junior ZK Racing Team) before losing the top spot to 2019 SuperSports 600cc champion, Peerapong Boonlert (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team). Having wrapped up the SS600 Asian title the last time out in Sepang, Peerapong was intent on finishing the 2019 season in style.   Behind Peerapong, Kasma was made to sweat over his second place y persistent attacks from Adam. The intensity of their battle narrowed the gap to Peerapong and Kasma managed to pull ahead of Adam on Lap 7. By Lap 8, Kasma was literally breathing down Peerapong’s neck, 0.2 seconds behind. The Malaysian rider made a successful pass on Lap 9, but Peerapong responded by pushing Kasma down to second on Lap 10.   While Peerapong was preoccupied by Kasma, Adam had arrived to make it a 3-way battle. The three riders were neck to neck as they began the final lap of the race. Adam took the lead on Turn 3 but Kasma got onto the inside of Turn 4 and muscled his way into the front. A smart move by Kasma checked Adam’s advances into Turn 12 and Malaysia’s latest Moto2 debutant stormed into the win with 19’53.494s.   Adam pipped Peerapong to the finish line in second place while Ahmad Afif Amran completed a solo race in fourth. Astra Honda Racing Team’s Andi Farid Izdihar, was next to see the chequered flag in fifth.   While Peerapong did not manage to create a new championship record by taking the highest number of wins in a season, he did break the three-century point by scoring an even 300 at the top of the championship table. Kasma Daniel cemented his second overall position with 224 points while Adam settled for third with 170 points.   The Yamaha Thailand Racing Team was also confirmed as the team winner with 300 points.

Adam Norrodin (SIC Junior ZK Racing Team) foiled Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin’s plans for a big finish in the SuperSports 600cc Race 1 at the final leg of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship in Buriram.   Kasma who took pole position following a dramatic qualifying session had earlier expressed his wish to gift a double win to the Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia team before he leaves for the Moto2 World Championships in 2020.   However, Kasma’s pole advantage did not last for long. Once the 12-lap race got underway, Peerapong was quick to wrest control at the front of the leading group. The Yamaha Thailand Racing Team rider put up a superb show of defensive racing against Kasma and Adam Norrodin. Despite numerous attempts, the two Malaysians found it almost impossible to overtake the imperious Thai rider. Yet at the same time, Peerapong found it equally impossible to shake the two Malaysians off his tail.   Two laps before the end of the race, Adam began his campaign in earnest by forcing Kasma wide at the last corner to take P2. A lap later, Kasma responded in kind. As the two Malaysians dueled for P2, Peerapong at the front, was given a brief reprieve from the relentless pressure.   However, Peerapong’s smooth riding style suffered a hiccup when he almost locked out his front wheel in the closing corners of the final lap. Sensing an opportunity, Adam put the hammer down on Turn 9 and fought his way into the lead. The SIC Junior ZK Racing Team rider kept the position for the remainder of the race to take the win with 19’58.355s, a magnificent swansong as the SIC Junior ZK Racing Team bows out of the Asian series. Peerapong raced home in second place with Kasma Daniel close behind him in third.

The SuperSports 600cc title chase may be over and done with, but Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin (Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia) still has a point to prove in his final appearance in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship before he heads off to the Moto2 World Championships in 2020.   Kasma, confirmed in second place on the championship leader, along with newly minted SuperSports 600cc FIM Asian champion Peerapong Boonlert (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team), could afford to take it easy at the season finale in Thailand this weekend.   Instead, the two riders turned the 30-minute 600cc qualifier into an intense battle for pole position as they displaced each other at the top of the timesheets in the closing minutes.   Peerapong gained an early upper hand early in the session when he clocked 1’39.681s. 18 minutes into the qualifier, Adam Norrodin (SIC Junior ZK Racing Team) popped up to the front with 1’39.449s. Adam’s time held for the duration of the 10-minute lull until Peerapong clocked 1’39.245s at four minutes to go. Almost immediately, Kasma responded by going under the 1’39 barrier with 1’38.992s.   Not to be outdone, Peerapong pushed Kasma down to P2 with 1’38.801s, only to lose his grip on pole position when Kasma clocked 1’38.756s with a mere 45 seconds left on the clock.   Kasma’s brilliant qualifying strategy has earned him the right to start both final races from pole position. Peerapong and Adam are also set to start from front row.

Adam Norrodin (SIC Junior ZK Racing Team) picked up provisional pole on Friday after setting 1’38.981s in the third practice session at the final leg of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship in Buriram, Thailand.   The first day of practice in the SuperSports 600cc class was a tame affair with both Peerapong Boonlert and Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin already confirmed on the top rungs of the championship ladder.   Kasma was 0.134s behind Adam in second while Peerapong Boonlert was uncharacteristically slow, picking up only 1’39.151s to place third on the combined timesheets.   Behind the top three riders, Ahmad Afif Amran had been making great strides in the SuperSports 600cc class. The Malaysian rider bettered his personal best time by almost a second, to land provisional P4 on Friday. Boon Siew Honda Racing Team’s Azroy Hakeem Anuar posted fifth fastest with 1’40.407s.   Word in the paddock is that Peerapong Boonlert is busy planning an elaborate victory celebration to commemorate the fact that he is the second in his family to win the FIM Asian title. Catch the live telecast this Sunday to find out what Peerapong is really up to.

While Peerapong Boonlert will be enjoying a celebratory race during the season finale at the Chang International Circuit, for two other riders, the final round will be one of fond farewells. It will be the final SuperSports 600cc race for Indonesian rider Andi Farid Izdihar and Malaysian Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin. Both riders will be heading to the Moto2 class of the MotoGP for the 2020 season. Honda rider Andi Farid Izdihar has been called up to replace Dimas Ekky Pratama in the Idemitsu Honda Team Asia Moto2 line up. Kasma Daniel will fill the Moto2 slot left vacant by Tetsuta Nagashima in the ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team. We wish both riders all the best in the next chapter of their careers.

The final round of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will be a celebratory race for newly minted SuperSports 600cc champion Peerapong Boonlert and the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team. A season of unparalleled racing has netted 12 consecutive podium finishes. Peerapong and his team reached the pinnacle of the 600cc class with one round to spare.  Peerapong also equaled Katsuaki Fujiwara’s 2011 8-win achievement. Come the final round, the Thai rider will be looking to surpass that number and create a new record of his own. Peerapong credits his father, Surapong Boonlert as the person who had moulded his career to date. Unknown to many, Surapong Boonlert was himself a two-times Asian Champion during the 2-stroke era. Surapong won the Underbone 110cc title in 1999 and the Underbone 125cc title in 2000. At that time, Peerapong was only a year old but as the old saying goes, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Even with the 2019 FIM Asian SuperSports 600cc title firmly in hand, there was no slacking off for Yamaha Thailand Racing Team’s Peerapong Boonlert. Just a day after lifting the 600cc crown, Peerapong was back in dominating form as he clinched his eighth win of the season with 21’50.449s Race 2 flagged off with poleman Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin in the lead. But Peerapong quickly showed that he was not about to sit back and relax. Kasma lost the lead to Peerapong within a lap and came under pressure from Mohd Ramdan Rosli. As Lap 4 came around, the three riders quickly settled into race formation. The battle between Ahmad Afif Amran, Rheza Danica Ahrens and Passawit Thitivararak for P7 was the highlight until the final lap. Kasma finally made his move on Peerapong on Lap 9, but had left it too late even though he was able to close in on his Thai rival. The two Yamaha riders were neck-to-neck down the back straight but a smart bit of racing from Peerapong saw the Thai rider diving into the last corner first, held his line and pipped Kasma to the finish line by 0.032s. Peerapong’s latest feat also earned him bragging rights for the highest number of wins in a season, equaling the record set by Katsuaki Fujiwara in 2011 when the Japanese ace rider won the 600cc title. Should Peerapong pick up more wins in the final round, he will set a new record for the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Kasma confirmed his second overall position on the 600cc standings when he finished second in the race with 21’50.481s. Ramdan Rosli nabbed another podium in third place with 21’50.925s.