Supersports 600

Race 1 of the Round 4 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship in the SS600 category delivered a dramatic spectacle as Muhammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM triumphed after an intense 12-lap battle, taking the chequered flag with tears of joy. The race began with young Indonesian rider, Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA storming into the lead, chased closely by Herjun Atna Firdaus of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM and Malaysia’s Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING. Early drama struck as Md Syarifuddin Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA crashed out, while his teammate, Md Helmi Azman and Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM also went down but managed to rejoin. By Lap 4, Adenanta launched his first attack, overtaking Wahyu to take command, though the lead continued to change hands with Wahyu reclaiming P1 on Lap 6. The ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM duo of Herjun and Adenanta worked together by Lap 8 to seize the top two positions, raising hopes of a double podium celebration. However, heartbreak followed when Herjun crashed, leaving Adenanta to fend off relentless pressure from Yamaha’s Wahyu and Kasma. The closing stages saw Wahyu briefly retake the lead on Lap 10, with Khairul Idham Pawi of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM climbing into podium contention. But the final lap brought even more drama with Khairul crashed out, and as Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND attempted a move, Mohammad Faerozi Toreqottullah of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA capitalised to snatch third. Adenanta crossed the finish line first at 19’47.821s, claiming a hard-fought home victory. Wahyu followed just 0.143s behind at 19’47.964s, while Faerozi secured the final podium spot at 19’48.430s. Adenanta said, “It was an incredible race and I am very happy. Thank you to my family, my father and mother, my girlfriend, and everyone who supported me this weekend. Also, a big thanks to my team and mechanics for helping me a lot, because I struggled yesterday and even crashed in Practice 2. This morning in Qualifying was still difficult, and during the race the setting was not perfect as I had many slides and almost crashed. But finally, I am the winner today. I am very happy because this victory is also very important for my championship points. After this, I will discuss with my team and push even harder for Race 2 tomorrow.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1

The SS600 class lit up the opening day of Round 4 in the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Mandalika International Circuit, Indonesia, as the region’s top contenders traded blows across three practice sessions. At the end of the combined times, it was Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM who emerged as the fastest rider of the day. The Thai ace stamped his authority in Practice 2 with a blistering 1’37.885s, edging out the rest of the highly competitive field. Close behind was Rocco Sessler of ONE FOR ALL, who set a strong 1’37.901s in Practice 3 before he crashed. Indonesia’s home favourite, Herjun Atna Firdaus of the ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM, delighted the local fans by slotting into third with 1’37.941s. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING trailed narrowly in fourth at 1’37.962s, while Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA ensured the home crowd had more to cheer by completing the top five with 1’37.979s. Anupab said, “Today I felt good with my bike because my team, my mechanic, and my crew made some changes to the setting. This is only my second time in Mandalika with the R6, but now with different tyres. I felt comfortable with the front setting, though the rear gave me a little problem when I first opened the throttle in the smaller corners.I also tried to pick up some new skills from the Indonesian riders. For today, the main homework is to fine-tune the bike setup. Tomorrow, I will focus on finding a better racing line to improve my lap time, because in some corners I still feel the front losing grip. My goal is to make the best out of tomorrow with the new settings and push hard in qualifying. I want to start from the first row, so I can fight strongly in the race.” With less than a tenth separating the leading pack, the stage is set for a fiercely contested battle in tomorrow’s qualifying session. TOP 5 FASTEST – PRACTICE (COMBINED)

Mohammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM delivered a spectacular performance to secure a commanding victory in Race 2 of the SS600 category at Round 3 of the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan.As the lights went out, Adenanta made a lightning start to seize the lead, with Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING slotting into second, Khairul Idham Pawi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA close behind in third, and Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA in fourth. By lap 3, Adenanta stamped his authority on the race by setting the fastest lap at 1’54.680s, opening up a 0.762s gap to Khairul in second. Wahyu Nugroho, showing strong pace, overtook Kasma and Khairul to move into second and began closing in on the race leader. Meanwhile, McKinley Kyle Paz of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING held steady in fifth, biding his time. While Adenanta controlled the pace at the front, Wahyu relentlessly hunted him down, cutting the gap to just 0.291s and setting up a tense duel in the closing stages. Drama unfolded on lap 8 when Khairul crashed out, promoting McKinley to third as he led the chasing pack. He soon came under heavy pressure from Muhammad Helmi Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA, who smelled a podium finish and closed in fast. On the final lap, Helmi made his move and overtook McKinley, but his push ended in heartbreak when he crashed out, losing not only a podium place but also valuable points. Up front, Adenanta kept his composure under intense pressure to power across the line first at 23’02.586s. Wahyu crossed just behind to claim a hard-fought second at 23’03.082s, while McKinley capitalised to complete the podium in third at 23’06.430s. Adenanta said, “Today’s race was really tough, but it played out exactly how I planned. Push hard from the start, keep up the pace, and build good momentum. It wasn’t easy, because in the last four or five laps my tyre wear was almost gone, so I just focused on maintaining my rhythm. In the end, I’m really happy to stand on the top step of the podium.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2

Race 1 of Round 3 in the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship’s SS600 category delivered a breathtaking finish, with Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM pulling off a stunning late-race charge to seal victory at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan. Earlier in qualifying, Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING stormed to pole position with a blistering lap of 1’53.037s. Hot on his heels was ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM’s Mohammad Adenanta Putra with 1’53.233s, while Khairul Idham Pawi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA locked in third with 1’53.292s. At the start, Kasma led the field away cleanly with Khairul in close pursuit and Adenanta holding third. The early laps brought drama when Md Syarifuddin Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA crashed out on lap 2, ending his race prematurely. By lap 3, Kasma continued to control the pace with Adenanta shadowing him closely and Khairul still holding third, but the real charge came from Anupab, who clocked the fastest lap of 1’54.406s as he powered his way through the pack. Anupab set another blistering time on lap 4 with a 1’54.241s, steadily reeling in the leaders. By lap 7, Kasma still held the front, with Adenanta just 0.237s behind, while Anupab had successfully overtaken Khairul to move into third and join the lead battle. On lap 8, Anupab made a decisive move to overtake Adenanta for second and continued hunting down Kasma. Lap 10 saw dramatic action when Adenanta boldly overtook both Anupab and Kasma, but an error saw him run wide, allowing Anupab to seize the lead while Kasma slipped to third. On the final lap, Kasma closed back in and launched an overtake attempt, but Anupab who’s known for his racecraft and fearless riding,defended brilliantly and powered to the finish line, taking the win at 23’00.808s. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin settled for second at 23’00.985s, with Mohammad Adenanta Putra completing the podium at 23’01.225s. “This race was really tough for me because I started from P10, so I knew I had to fight hard right from the start. I had good confidence in my bike, so I focused on overtaking the riders one by one. From the first lap, I could see my lap times were strong. I tried to stick with Kasma and Adenanta and learn from them, especially how they braked so hard into the corners. In the last two laps, I pushed even more because I saw some riders struggling with tyre grip as the temperature went up. Luckily, my bike’s setup was perfect and in the end, the victory is mine!” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1

Round 3 of the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship got underway today at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, where Malaysia’s Muhammad Helmi Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA asserted his dominance as the fastest rider in the SS600 combined practice sessions. Helmi made an early impact in Practice 1, setting the pace with a 1’54.825s lap. Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA was close behind at 1’54.844s, while Helmi’s teammate, Khairul Idham Pawi, clocked 1’54.931s for third. In Practice 2, Helmi remained untouchable, again leading the field with a 1’54.938s. Mckinley Kyle Paz of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING was second at 1’55.070s, followed by Mohammad Adenanta Putra with 1’55.082s. Helmi sealed the day with an electrifying lap of 1’54.236s in Practice 3—his fastest yet. Kasma Daniel took second with a 1’54.416s, while Mckinley stayed consistent with 1’54.574s for third. With unmatched consistency and pace across all sessions, Helmi ended the day atop the combined standings. Kasma and Mckinley rounded out the top three, as the field gears up for a high-stakes qualifying round. Helmi said, “Overall, I’m very happy with my performance today. I had a good rhythm on the bike and felt strong especially in cornering. Unfortunately, I crashed twice in the last practice session. I understand the issues—the first crash was my mistake, and the second was due to the cold track temperature. But everything is fine, and I’m okay too. I want to maintain this momentum and performance. Hopefully, tomorrow and Race 2 on Sunday will be even better.” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE

The pressure was pumped and the fight was furious but the duo of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA, Md Helmi Azman and Khairul Idham Pawi danced the rhythm of power before taking the troop down with a 1-2 in Race 2 of the SuperSports 600cc on their home-ground. Despite their calibre and prowess, the road to stardom is long and windy especially with the likes of Indonesian, Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM and Thai, Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM in the picture, marking their territories from the top two spots. What’s it going to be like in Round 3 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Mobility Resort Motegi? While records have it that Adenanta has a better hand at the game on Japanese soil, it is superficial to say that Helmi is not on par especially with his ability to stir up the battlefield and tackle the opponents. More so with the fact that he has been doing that for a long time in the SS600 race category. As motorcycle racing has it – one may be brilliant and robust in their manoeuvring but it all ends as planned only with a little luck on their side. Helmi definitely had his fair share of luck turning its back on him but that doesn’t add up to his capacities to compete competitively and while Motegi circuit may be an overwhelmingly challenging ground, Helmi is probably covering all bases to ensure a better outcome than before. Commenting on the upcoming race, Helmi said, “Adenanta is undoubtedly strong however, I would say that last year’s challenge for me was not so much from the opponent but predominantly due to the machine setting. I am quite positive that this time around will be better since we are better aware of certain aspects. We need to improvise further on the corners especially with the opponents having a better hand on the long-straights. We also need better speed especially on the exits to catch up with the competitors. But of course, it would be ideal if we have better speed on the long-straights too. Compared to last season, the competition is stronger now so we have to remain consistent to achieve our target every round. The championship title is still open for now therefore, it’s all about maximising the points and keeping up with the momentum in the coming races. Luck is one but more importantly, having the right mindset is crucial to stay focused. The racing scene is a cruel one – there are times when we smile and then the days when we are sad but the only thing left to do is stay focused and move along to the next game.” As for Khairul, Motegi circuit is not new and for Anupab, it’s quite the opposite. One thing that is common for both riders though is their ride on the circuit ground in ARRC which will be the first. It’s not a major issue for them though considering their exposure and experience on the world front that gives them the upper hand in understanding the nitty-gritty of racing. Although there may be a slight difference for Yamaha rider, Anupab who has been racing aboard a 1000cc prior to his entry this season in the SS600 race category, it could nevertheless serve as an added plus for him to accelerate further in his game. Since the season opener, the rider has checked out each race on the podium except for one when his machine failed. Anupab said, “I am 4-points away from the leader but the goal is to fine-tune my performance and work on areas where I am weak to keep up with the competitor. The goal is to be ahead of the leader in the coming two races. I have never raced in Motegi grounds but I have been working hard to learn from those who have raced there. Surely, there is nothing less than the best that I would do. For me, the current chart-topper is a young kid who rides very well and is equally strong in terms of competence which makes it a motivating factor for me to supersede the current expectations and outcome. The ARRC is a unique championship that provides a pedestal for the best of Asia and having said that, the competitive stride is inevitable. In the other classes as well, we can see that the riders are improving as they go. I have been riding aboard the 600cc machine on the world front for two years now and I think I have settled into racing well for now. I like the 600cc race category and for me, it doesn’t justify if I don’t make it champion this season! So, that’s the ultimate goal.”

In front of his home crowd at the Sepang International Circuit, Muhammad Helmi Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA delivered a spectacular performance to secure a hard-fought and emotional victory in Race 2 of the SS600 category at Round 2 of the 2025 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. It was more than just a race. It was a powerful comeback story for Helmi, who had missed the podium in Race 1 due to a long lap penalty. Today, he proved exactly why he’s still called one of the “Princes of Sepang.” As the race got underway, it was Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING who shot into the early lead, chased closely by Khairul Idham Pawi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA and Mohammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM. Unfortunately, the race claimed its first victim early, as Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND crashed out on the opening lap. By Lap 2, five riders broke away from the pack, Khairul, Kasma, Adenanta, Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA, and Helmi, creating a two second gap from the second group. The lead continued to shuffle as Adenanta surged to the front on Lap 3, Helmi who had been quietly observing, launched his charge on Lap 4, moving from P5 to take the lead in stunning fashion. Lap 5 saw Khairul clock the fastest time at 2’10.607s to briefly overtake his teammate, but Helmi fought back, refusing to let go of the top spot. Then, heartbreak struck on Lap 6 when championship leader Adenanta was forced to retire due to a technical issue, visibly devastated as his race came to an abrupt end. With his eyes firmly on redemption, Helmi pushed even harder. On Lap 8, he recorded the fastest lap of the race, a blistering 2’10.211s, extended his lead to 2.300s over Khairul. Kasma tried to close the gap but crashed out, leaving Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM, Wahyu, and Syarifuddin scrambling for the final podium spot. Helmi crossed the finish line in dominant style, completing a personal comeback story and reaffirming his place among Sepang’s elite at 21:54.507s. Khairul secured second place with a time of 21’56.835s, while Anupab claimed third at 21’57.045s. Helmi said, “For this race, my main goal was to finish on top because yesterday’s long lap penalty ruined my chances. I gave more than 100% of what I had out there. So yeah, Alhamdulillah, this win gives me full motivation for the upcoming races.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2

Race 1 of Round 2 in the 2025 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship’s SS600 category delivered a heart-stopping finish, with Mohammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM clinching a stunning victory at the Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia. Earlier in qualifying, Malaysian ace Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING stormed to pole position with a blistering lap of 2’08.709s. Close behind was IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA’s Muhammad Helmi Azman, just 0.011s adrift with 2’08.720s, followed by teammate Khairul Idham Pawi in third with 2’08.918s. At lights out, Kasma made a perfect start to lead the pack, followed closely by Khairul, Helmi, and Adenanta. However, a mistake at the final turn of the opening lap saw Kasma lose momentum, allowing Helmi and Khairul to surge ahead. Despite the setback, Kasma regrouped and clocked the fastest lap of the race on Lap 4 with a 2’09.882s, quickly rejoining the battle for the lead. But drama unfolded on Lap 5 when Helmi, who was leading by 0.287s, served a long lap penalty he had received during Qualifying session. Kasma swiftly retook the lead, while Adenanta, Khairul, Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA, and Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND capitalised on the reshuffle to move up the order. Helmi rejoined deep in the pack and found himself in a tight battle with Thailand’s Anupab Sarmoon. Anupab eventually got past Helmi and began a brilliant charge through the field, picking off rivals one by one to climb into podium contention. The final lap set the stage for a breathtaking showdown between Kasma and Adenanta. At the critical last corner,Adenanta launched a daring move around the outside to overtake Kasma and power across the line, sealing a hard-earned victory with a time of 21’52.467s. Kasma finished a close second at 21’52.639s, while Anupab’s remarkable recovery was rewarded with third place at 21’52.811s. Adenanta said, “Race 1 was quite tough for me. Kasma and Helmi had really good pace, but I focused on improving step by step, lap by lap. I tried to stay calm and conserve my energy until I got closer to Kasma. In the last two or three laps, he was still very strong, and it was hard to find a way through. I just waited for the right chance. On the final lap at the final turn, I used the slipstream and went around the outside and it worked. I’m very happy and will give my best again tomorrow.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1

Round 2 of the 2025 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship got underway today at the Sepang International Circuit, where Malaysia’s Muhammad Helmi Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA emerged as the fastest rider in the SS600 combined practice sessions. In Practice 1, Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING topped the timesheets with a strong lap of 2’10.502s. Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM followed closely behind with a 2’10.719s, while Helmi clocked a 2’10.965s to secure third. Practice 2 saw Helmi respond with authority, setting the fastest lap of the session at 2’11.035s. His teammate, Khairul Idham Pawi, finished second with a 2’11.070s, while Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA placed third with a 2’11.219s.Helmi’s momentum continued in Practice 3, where he shaved off even more time to post a session best of 2’10.204s. Kasma stayed competitive with a 2’10.435s to take second, while Khairul improved to third with a lap of 2’10.574s. With consistent pace across all sessions, Helmi topped the combined practice results, sending a clear message of intent ahead of qualifying. Kasma secured second overall, while Khairul rounded out the top three, making it a strong showing for the Malaysian contingent. Helmi said, “Practice sessions are done for today, and I’m happy to have finished P1 overall. I always aim to maintain my momentum at the top, but I did struggle a bit in FP1 and FP2. I made a few setup changes, knowing I have good mileage on this track, and focused on improving my comfort on the bike at higher speeds. Thankfully, everything worked out well, and I hope to carry this momentum through the rest of the weekend. Wish me luck!” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE