Supersports 600

Round 6 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2025 delivered a thrilling Race 1 in the SS600 class at Chang International Circuit, Buriram, Thailand, where Thailand’s Apiwath Wongthananon of YAMAHA TNP stormed to a commanding victory in front of his home crowd. At the start, Indonesia’s Aldi Satya Mahendra of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA launched strongly to lead the field, only to be overtaken by Apiwath and Thailand’s Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM. The race took an early twist as championship contender Mohammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM crashed out of contention. By Lap 2, Anupab led the pack with Apiwath close behind, followed by Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND, Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING, and Kitsada Tanachot of HONDA RACING THAILAND. Early incidents saw Rheza Danica Ahrens of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM and Kitsada crash, narrowing the competition. Anupab set the fastest lap time 1’40.180s on Lap 3, but the lead continued to change hands. By Lap 5, Apiwath recorded a blistering lap time 1’39.761s to claim the front position, closely pursued by Kasma and Thanat, while Anupab temporarily dropped to fifth. The intensity escalated as Aldi boldly surged to the lead, with Thanat second, Apiwath third, and Anupab fourth. Multiple overtaking attempts reshuffled the front group, but Apiwath remained relentless, timing his decisive attack to perfection. On Lap 11, he powered past the leaders, setting a pace no one could match, with Anupab in hot pursuit until the finish. Crossing the line first, Apiwath clocked a winning time of 20’06.029s, followed by Anupab at 20’06.295s and Aldi in third at 20’06.618s. Apiwath said, “It was a crazy race, so many overtakes from the beginning until the end. Big battles everywhere. For me, it was very exciting to return to SS600 and race again. I felt confident with the bike, and I want to thank my team for all their support.” Updated standings after Race 1, Kasma leads with 154 points, Adenanta is second with 152 points, and Anupab is third with 151 points. With just three points separating these three riders, Race 2 promises to be intense and a race to watch. TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1 1. APIWATH WONGTHANANON – YAMAHA TNP (20’06.029s) 2. ANUPAB SARMOON – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (20’06.295s) 3. ALDI SATYA MAHENDRA – YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA (20’06.618s) 4. THANAT LAOONGPLIO – HONDA RACING THAILAND (20’06.744s) 5. KHAIRUL IDHAM PAWI – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (20’06.977s)

Round 6 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2025 ignited today at the Chang International Circuit, Buriram, Thailand, where the SS600 class saw riders push the limits during three competitive practice sessions. Khairul Idham Pawi of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA set the pace for the weekend, topping the combined practice results with a fastest lap of 1’39.587s in Practice 3. Despite a minor setback earlier in the day, Khairul demonstrated resilience and precision to secure the benchmark lap ahead of tomorrow’s Qualifying session. Close behind, Thailand’s Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM posted 1’39.625s for second overall, while Malaysia’s Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING completed the top three with 1’39.684s. Fourth place went to Khairul’s teammate, Muhammad Helmi Azman (1’39.709s), and Thailand’s Apiwath Wongthananon rounded out the top five with 1’39.756s. Khairul stated, “In this morning’s Practice 1, I felt better compared to the previous round. During Practice 2, I crashed at Turn 4, but thanks to my mechanics who worked tirelessly to get my bike ready for Practice 3, I was able to set the fastest lap time. I hope tomorrow will be even better than today.” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE RESULT 1. KHAIRUL IDHAM PAWI – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (1’39.587s) 2. ANUPAB SARMOON – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (1’39.625s) 3. KASMA DANIEL KASMAYUDIN – HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING (1’39.684s) 4. MUHAMMAD HELMI AZMAN – IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA (1’39.709s) 5. APIWATH WONGTHANANON – YAMAHA TNP (1’39.756s)

  SuperSports 600cc race category of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship certainly unveiled a twist and the unexpected side of home-boy Syarifuddin Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA in Round 5 who emerged with a flawless strategy to swipe a victorious double-win, instantly defeating chart topper Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM and fellow countryman, Kasma Daniel of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING. While his chances of making the top three cut are slim, the odds have definitely been a valuable lesson that nothing is impossible in motorsports. With an 8-point difference between Adenanta and Kasma, it boils down to the implementation of strategies including taking calculated risks, managing expectations and moving swiftly against the motion of pressure in the season finale. Both the riders from the neighbouring countries have stamped an exceptional track record in the race category throughout the season with Adenanta holding superiority after marking seven podium-finish including four wins however the challenges inevitably lie in the unexpected nature of the sports and with that, it is a matter of luck and time when a twist of fate could potentially redirect the course. As for Kasma who has withdrawn from the limelight of the premier race category this season, his strategy in SS600 has certainly created waves while simultaneously adding on to the already mounted pressure among the rivals and right now, evidently on Adenanta who will be facing the brunt of rivalry directly from Kasma. Who will withstand the challenges of the circuit? In Round 1, Adenanta celebrated his first victory for the season in Race 1 but he was defeated by Kasma in Race 2. While their level of competencies match, the minor differences is all that matters. Commenting on the upcoming race, Adenanta said, “The coming race is about to get heated for sure. But of course, I want to do my best and avoid mistakes as much as I can although it’s not an easy task considering the close contention from Kasma and Anupab. Let’s see how it goes. The goal is to make it and I hope that while I am at that, luck will also be on my side. It’s just two races but the weekend will surely be a long one – a lot of hard work not only on my side but also on the crew and mechanic’s side. We will look for the best settings for the machine which will help me optimise my performance and with the strategies in place, we hope to make the best and most of the weekend.” “Chang circuit can be tough depending on our riding styles and techniques. It has many stop-and-go corners and exiting the corners is key during racing. The strategies have to align with this and fine tuning my riding techniques are crucial for this. I am 100% compatible with the machine and I think I have found my comfort spot while riding it so I have no issues in that aspect. This season has been a wonderful one for me – almost perfect with its ups and down and the successes and achievements are definitely attributed to my team who has always supported me through good times and bad times. If I own this championship title, this would be the best motivation for my future career.”

Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship saw an exhilarating Race 2 in the SS600 class at the Sepang International Circuit, as Malaysia’s Muhammad Syarifuddin Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA secured his first double win on home soil.At the start, Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING got off to a strong launch, followed by Muhammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM and Syarifuddin in third. By Lap 2, Kasma continued to lead, while Syarifuddin overtook Adenanta to move into second, keeping close to the front runner. Adenanta settled in third, followed by Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA and his teammate Muhammad Faerozi Toreqottullah. On Lap 3, Syarifuddin clocked the fastest lap of 2’09.936s, keeping Kasma under pressure as the top two riders pulled a one-second gap from the chasing group. Lap 4 saw Syarifuddin close in on Kasma by 0.147s, with the gap to the second group gradually extending to two seconds by Lap 7. Adenanta held third, while Wahyu and Faerozi rounded out the top five. The decisive moment arrived on the final lap when Syarifuddin seized a daring opportunity on Turn 8 to overtake Kasma. He accelerated decisively and pulled away, crossing the finish line first at 21’50.647s, securing his second victory of the weekend. Kasma took second place at 21’51.524s, while Adenanta completed the podium at 21’53.088s. Syarifuddin said, “I would like to say a big thank you to my team for giving me so much confidence on the bike. During the race, I really enjoyed the opening lap, and then I set the fastest lap time of 2’09.697s. At the end, I tried to find a way to overtake Kasma on the final lap. Kasma blocked the line very tightly, but I saw a small space to pass him, and finally I got through and secured a double win. This is the first time I’ve achieved a double win here on home soil. I can’t even describe how happy I am. Thank you so much to all the supporters who came to cheer for all the Malaysian riders. I love you all!” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2

Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2025 delivered an intense Race 1 in the SS600 class at the Sepang International Circuit, with Malaysian Muhammad Syarifuddin Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA claiming a thrilling home victory under sweltering 41°C conditions. At the start, Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING surged into the lead, followed closely by Mohammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM, Muhammad Syarifuddin Azman in third, Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA fourth, and Muhammad Helmi Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA fifth. By Lap 2, Kasma maintained the lead while Syarifuddin and Wahyu moved into second and third, with Adenanta and Helmi in pursuit. On Lap 3, Kasma set the fastest lap at 2’10.307s and steadily led the race, pulling nearly a three-second gap from the chasing group alongside Syarifuddin. Lap 4 saw further shuffles as Adenanta overtook Helmi to claim third, but Wahyu crashed out, narrowing the top contenders. The hot conditions tested the riders’ tyre management as Kasma remained in front, closely shadowed by Syarifuddin. Helmi and Adenanta exchanged positions multiple times, showcasing a thrilling Malaysian trio at the front. By Lap 8, Syarifuddin sensed his opportunity as riders began losing grip under the searing heat. He overtook Kasma and gradually pulled away, demonstrating exceptional control and strategy. On the final lap, Syarifuddin maintained composure, crossing the line first in 21’57.501s. Kasma finished second at 21’59.192s, while Thailand’s Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM executed a daring final-turn move to snatch third at 22’04.769s, just ahead of Helmi. Syarifuddin expressed, “We knew that in the hot conditions we had better pace, but at the start I focused on following Kasma because he also has a solid pace here. Towards the end, I noticed Kasma struggling a bit with the rear, so I knew it was my moment to attack. I really enjoyed the race and want to thank everyone who supported me, especially my wife. Her support at home means a lot. If she were here today, it would have made this victory even more special.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1

Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2025 fired into action today at the Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia, SS600 class saw riders faced demanding track with temperatures peaking at 40°C across the practice sessions. Malaysia’s Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING emerged as the fastest rider overall, topping the combined practice results with a blistering 2’09.864s lap in Practice 3. His commanding pace set the benchmark for the weekend, putting him in a strong position heading into tomorrow’s qualifying session. Close on his heels, Indonesia’s Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA secured second overall with 2’10.303s, while Malaysia’s Mohammad Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM claimed third at 2’10.548s. KHAIRUL IDHAM PAWI of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA posted 2’10.612s for fourth, and teammate Muhammad Helmi Azman finished fifth at 2’10.659s, completing a tightly packed top five. Kasma said, “Syukur Alhamdulillah. For my bike, the team did a great job, and I hope we can continue like this tomorrow. I will try to find some setup improvements to reduce lap times, and I hope I can also have a good race, InsyaAllah.” TOP 5 FASTEST – PRACTICE (COMBINED)

The Indonesian flag raised at the podium post SuperSports 600cc of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship was a testament to the wit and grit of Indonesian riders, Md Adenanta Putra and Herjun Atna Firdaus of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM who graced the top spot in Race 1 and 2 respectively at their home-ground. The real question is though, while Adenanta has tamed his machine on various circuit grounds, can Herjun trail his footsteps and ward off the pressure from home-boys in Round 5 that will be held at Sepang International Circuit? It was unfortunate that Adenanta slipped and fell in Race 2 at Mandalika before savouring the sweet success of a double-win but his teammate, Herjun was quick to fill in his space to ensure the 25-points remain intact within their team. The heat of rivalry is bound to get hotter for the Indonesian lad who has just found his fame, especially on a circuit ground more familiar to aggressive players such as Kasma Daniel of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING and Md Helmi Azman of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA who have clocked not only impressive lap times but also marked victorious in their pursuit. In Round 2, Kasma bagged the second spot in Race 1 and Helmi took the winning prize in Race 2. The capacities of the riders are clearly undeniable especially in a game where mileage adds up to their advantage. Between the duo, Kasma has whipped up a storm throughout the season and sits pretty at the third spot overall with only a 1-point difference with his closest contender, Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM. Helmi, although his light has dimmed a little this season, his competitive stride is nevertheless evident in all races and is expected to fire up once again on his home-soil. Commenting on the race, Helmi said, “This year would be considered the toughest season for me because as we have observed, there are many competitors who are closing in really fast in terms of machine performance. We definitely have more to improve on the capacities of the machine so that we can remain competitive among the top scorers. As for myself, hard work is always a must and that is what I will be doing to be on par with the counterparts. Sepang being my home-ground does not make it easier for me but I am for a double-win. I have to take advantage of the home-ground factor if I want to see better results, more so after the struggles we have faced in the last couple of rounds. I believe that we can make a comeback.” “Having said that, I know it will require some new strategies. Although Sepang is my home-ground, other riders are also quite familiar with the track layout. Most importantly, the goal is not to over-pressure myself. I hope to remain calm and composed throughout the weekend and ride through the familiarity, without any major issues with the machine. There are also added value for me here. I will surely have the support of my fans and family members so, with that in mind, I hope to draw some courage and do better. Preparations are as usual – the workouts to build my physique and my mental capacities. The team has also given us some mileage through bike trainings. So, let’s see how it goes. Since on paper, I can still fight for the top three positions, that will be aim for now and I will do my best to ensure I’ve given my all.”

Race 2 of Round 4 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship delivered drama at the Mandalika International Circuit today, as Indonesian debutant Herjun Atna Firdaus of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM stormed to his maiden SS600 victory in front of the home crowd.The showdown unfolded with Wahyu Nugroho of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA launching strongly from the start, while Herjun slotted in behind in P2. But just seconds into the opening lap, Herjun’s teammate Mohammad Adenanta Putra slipped past to seize second place, igniting a fierce battle at the sharp end. By Lap 2, Thailand’s Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM began his charge, overtaking Herjun to go after Adenanta. Wahyu continued to set the pace, clocking a fastest lap of 1’38.829s on Lap 5, though he struggled to break away as Adenanta piled on the pressure. The intensity soared on Lap 6 when Thanat Laoongplio of HONDA RACING THAILAND set the race’s fastest time of 1’38.388s at 244.3km/h, muscling past Herjun for fourth and joining the leading group. As the laps wound down, the front pack of Wahyu, Adenanta, Anupab, and Thanat looked set for a thrilling finish until Lap 10 produced heartbreak. A dramatic crash saw Wahyu, Adenanta, Anupab, Thanat, and Muhammad Faerozi Toreqottullah of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA all tumbled out, leaving the battle wide open. Sensing his moment, Kitsada Tanachot of HONDA RACING THAILAND surged into the lead on the final lap. But the Mandalika crowd erupted when Herjun launched a daring move at the last corner, snatching victory at the line with a time of 19’51.767s, just 0.141s clear of Kitsada. Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin of HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING completed the podium at 19’51.987s. Herjun said, “I’m super happy today to take this victory. Yesterday was tough after the crash. It was unlucky, but my team kept supporting me mentally, and I refused to give up. In Race 2, I gave it everything again and it paid off. This win is for Indonesia and for everyone who has supported me.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2

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)