Supersports 600

The rivalry among the riders of the SuperSports 600cc has taken up a notch with boosted performance and agility. Significant to the change was Keito Abe of ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team who emerged victoriously at the chequered flag in Race 1 of Round 3, Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship this evening held at Sportsland Sugo International Racing Course. Earlier this morning, Kengo Naga of Team KENKEN boasted an impressive lap time when he emerged fastest in the Qualifying session at 1’30:318s. That was one up for him, having a spot at the pole position. At the second spot was Muhammad Helmi Azman of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team with a lap time of 1’30:370s followed by Sho Nishimuara of ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team at the third spot on the grid at 1’30:382s. It was raining when the race flagged off but Helmi embraced the challenge and raced to the lead position at the first turn shortly before Soichiro took over. At the last turn, Keito Abe moved into P2. Meanwhile, Galang was at P4 while Nakarin took P5. The weather condition was not very helpful but Japanese rider, Keito was confident as he overtook his fellow countrymen at the end of lap 2. Before the lap ended, Helmi took a quick slide ahead of Soichiro and into P2. By then, Nakarin worked on his moves and took over P4. By the end of lap 4, Keito has drawn up a gap of 4.4s from Helmi. The wet circuit situation was a buzz- kill with a number of riders succumbing to falls. Nevertheless, Keito did not seem affected by the rainy day. He went on, picking up speed over the laps. While Helmi tried to catch up, the gap only got wider. With 9 more laps to go, the red flag came up and the riders headed back to their pits. As soon as the race resumed, Keito once again went on to take lead as Helmi trailed on. Soichiro was close by at P3. With the race cut down to 5 laps, it was all about strategizing and Nakarin did not waste a moment when he found the opportunity amidst casualty to move up into P2. Helmi lost focus for a moment and Soichiro took advantage of the situation to get ahead. Keito however was unaffected and went on with speed and stability at P1 with an impressive gap by the end of the lap. With three more laps to go, Nakarin was pressured by Soichiro took a slide ahead but the Thai rider will not be defeated. He quickly found a loop-hole and grabbed P2 back. But Soichiro was relentlessly and struck Nakarin once again. As Keito rode to victory, the battle heated up between Soichiro and Nakarin. The Japanese rider played his cards well and succeeded at second spot. Keito Abe made a stunning finish at 8’44:531s. Commenting on the race, Keito said, “The race was very difficult. Even more so with the wet circuit condition. I was scared but right now, I had a good feeling about the situation. I kept pushing myself until the end. So, I am truly happy with my achievements for the day. There is another race tomorrow and I want to win it!” Soichiro Minamimoto of YAMAHA GEN BLU Racing Team ASEAN clocked in his best at 8’47:313s. Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of Honda Racing Thailand concluded at third with his best at 8’47:770s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

A show that ignites excitement, the SuperSports 600cc race category saw riders making swift circles around the Sportsland Sugo International Racing Course, preparing for yet another milestone. Among them Khairul Idham Pawi of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team stood out most when he emerged fastest for the day at Round 3 of Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Practice session 1 that was held earlier this morning saw Khairul Idham Pawi of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team marking the fastest when he clocked in his best lap time at 1’31:246s. He was followed by Keito Abe of ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team with his best at 1’31:370s. Muhammad Helmi Azman of Boon Siew Honda Racing Team logged in at 1’31:537s. In practice session 2, Keito Abe upped his performance and made a new record at 1’30:568s. Khairul came in second fastest with an improved lap time at 1’30:720s followed by Sho Nishimura of ONEXOX TKKR Racing Team at 1’31:262s. In the practice session 3, Khairul managed to bring himself up the chart once again when he clocked in fastest with a new lap record at 1’30:503s. At second fastest was Soichiro Minamimoto of YAMAHA GEN BLU Racing Team ASEAN, clocking in his best at 1’30:837s. Azroy Hakeem Anuar began picked up speed during this session and emerged third fastest at 1’30:957s. With that, Khairul took the fastest for the day in all three practice sessions, combined. Khairul has certainly paid full attention to the circuit and scaled up well in his performances this season compared to the last one at this circuit. Commenting on the session earlier, Khairul said, “In the practice session 2, I struggled to keep up to my pace. I did not have much grip on the rear which resulted in me losing grip when I accelerate and brake. So, the stability was wearing out. For the third session, we revised our setting for the rear using the electronic device. It seems to have worked well as I was able to manage my pace better than in the morning. That was a positive achievement for me.” At the second fastest was Keito Abe followed by Soichiro Minamimoto at the third fastest place. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

The rebel between riders of the SuperSports 600cc in the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship is endless and their fiery retribution to take lead never fails to create a twist of its own. Soichiro Minamimoto of YAMAHA GEN BLU Racing Team ASEAN may be entangled in the battle but with one mission, to win. With Round 3 just around the corner, what would Sportsland Sugo International Racing Course hold for him? The Japanese rider may have been absent from the ARRC scene last season to be part of the All Japan Championship in the ST1000 race category however he came back sturdy this season with his new team and seeks to realise a much more meaningful goal this year. Riding aboard the Yamaha YZF-R6 machine, Soichiro made it to the podium once after an intense battle in Race 2 at the Chang International Circuit. He said, “Actually, I was thinking of retiring last year but then, Yamaha came along and invited me to participate in ARRC. I was thrilled and am ever grateful for the opportunity once again.” The 23-year-old rider has been in the Asian motorcycle racing domain since 2018 and have showcased gradual improvements in his performances. Soichiro also rode in the Moto 2 race category of MotoGP as a replacement rider this season which adds on to his riding masterpiece. His thoughts on ARRC, “The level of competitiveness has been increasing steadily year-by-year. I noticed a huge difference especially with a strong entry list. The riders performing in the ARRC scenes are the best in their regions hence it is difficult to foresee the end result. It is truly a privilege for me to be racing in the ARRC and I am thrilled to be a part of the much-celebrated Asian motorcycling event.” Commenting on Round 2, Soichiro said, “It was unfortunate that we could not maximise our strengths on the Sepang circuit, even more so with the likes of Malaysian riders who are well-versed with the circuit’s characteristics. Nevertheless, I am still happy with my performances there. I managed to get the 5th position in Race 1 so it is still an amazing achievement for me.” For the upcoming race at Sugo, Soichiro said, “The next race would be on my home-ground. Sugo is one of my all-time favourite circuits and having said that, I think I may have some added advantage on that circuit. It is quite a technical one but having had races there before, I have some understanding of its layout. The team has also worked wonders on my machine and it has been a good match for me since the beginning of the season. So, I’m all out for the upcoming round and if all goes well, I hope to take a win on my home-ground.” Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

Fantastic showmanship by Khairul Idham Pawi of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM when he barged towards the winning line in Race 2, Round 2 of Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship in the SuperSports 600cc race category which was held at Sepang International Circuit this evening. Yesterday was momentous for BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM when Malaysian trio, Azroy, Khairul and Helmi summed up the race with a 1-2-3. It was a team strategy which kept the troop of riders behind at bay with a hug gap in between before the riders worked their strength towards the placement on the podium. It was yet another good start for Khairul from the pole position. Behind him was Helmi Azman and Ratthapong at P3. At the last turn of lap 1, Azroy sneaked into P3 while Nakarin found his pace at P4. Ratthapong dropped two positions down into P5. While the BOON SIEW boys stayed close in the top three positions, Thai riders Nakarin and Ratthapong were having a battle of their own. By the end of the fourth lap, the Malaysian trio have strongly drawn a wide gap with the troop behind and Azroy began working on the moves but Helmi was not about to give in. As Helmi and Azroy battled for a better position, Khairul worked on defending his position, one lap at a time. However, at the last corner of lap 7, Azroy took a slide from the inside and moved ahead of Khairul but the latter is not about to be defeated. He came back into lead position before the end of lap 8. At P4, Nakarin was facing his own battle with fellow countryman, Ratthapong before Japanese lad, Keito claimed P5. With one more lap to go, Khairul has drawn a gap of 0.230s with Helmi. Azroy unfortunately was left out of the scene when his tires gave way leaving the two BOON SIEW boys to fend for themselves. By then, Khairul was in a strong position. At the last corner, he went on a blistering speed towards victory at 21’47:715s. Commenting on the race, Khairul said, “It has been an incredible race today. From the very beginning, I had a good pace so I kept pushing all the way. Yesterday, my father sent me a message telling me to stay behind to save the tires but I had a better idea which is to stay in front and find the right rhythm. Of course, I also managed the front and the rear to avoid losing it. Azroy did manage to overtake me but I was confident with my pace and managed to take back the position in turn one. Overall, it was an awesome ride today!” Md Helmi Azman made it second on the podium at 21’47:937s. Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND grabbed the opportunity for third place at 21’56:36s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

Scorching up the Sepang International Circuit with their speed, the SuperSports 600cc tickled the nerves as riders went on a feat to win. After a much intense battle, Azroy Hakeem Anuar of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM claimed victory in Race 1, Round 2 of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. In the qualifying session earlier this morning, Malaysian trio of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM raked the top three fastest spots with Khairul Idham Pawi clocking in at 2’08:888s, followed by Muhammad Helmi Azman at 2’09:360s and Azroy Hakeem Anuar at 2’09:602s. That definitely was an added advantage for the team. It was excellent speed when Khairul superbly took lead with Helmi and Azroy calmly trailing behind. As the trio embarked on an exciting feat, slowly distancing themselves from the relentless troop behind, Azroy was inching closer to Khairul in a bid to overtake and by the end of lap 4, he did. Meanwhile, in P2, Nakarin struggled to keep up with his pace and he was soon superseded by Soichiro. By mid-race, Azroy began flexing his muscles, picking up speed as Khairul went on an attempt to steal the limelight. By the seventh lap, the blue and red riders drew up a huge gap between the troop behind. In that wild chase, Helmi began taking charge and took his chance to slip ahead of Khairul. Nakarin emerged back at P4 while Adenanta took P5. Among the leading trio, Helmi began to work on his moves. At the last corner of lap 8, he took a slide past Azroy and made it to the lead position. But Azroy recovered his position once again. In the last lap, the trio presented an entertaining performance as they switched positions rapidly to secure the winning title. At the last turn, Azroy took lead as Khairul and Helmi raced behind. Azroy clocked in fastest at 21’53:231s. Commenting on the race, Azroy said, “It was an incredible battle between the boys and I. It was our target to be on the podium together this time around. In the beginning, I provided a pathway for Pawi to create a gap. By the fourth or sixth lap, I noticed there has already been a huge gap between P3 and P4. That’s where I started to attack KIP. No doubt, the last two laps, the battle was quite intense however I kept going. Perhaps, today is my day. Tomorrow, we will do it again!” Khairul made it second at 21’53:311s while Helmi marked his fastest at 21’53:313s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

The SuperSports 600cc is one of the most anticipated races among Asian fans and it has once again set a rhythm at the Sepang International Circuit in Round 2 of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. The battle gained quite a traction as Malaysia’s Khairul Idham Pawi of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM and Thailand’s Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND engaged in a heated feat in Round 1. Khairul didn’t seem to waste any time. Familiarity definitely gave him an advantage on the circuit. In Practice Session 1 earlier this morning, he made fastest at 2’10:439s followed by his teammate Md Helmi Azman who clocked in his fastest at 2’10:660s. Nakarin was close behind, third fastest at 2’10:804s. In Practice 2, Khairul went on at an enhanced speed and clocked in fastest at 2’09:864s while teammate Helmi and Azroy managed their fastest lap time at 2’10:652s and 2’10:764s respectively. BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM is definitely powered up for this round and is on a positive roll for the day. As Practice 3 went on, Khairul was completely in control and once again made it fastest. He clocked in at 2’09:894s. His teammates however switched position with Azroy logging in faster at 2’10:359s than Helmi who made his fastest at 2’10:424s. As a result, Khairul made it fastest for day followed by Azroy and Helmi. Commenting on the session, Khairul said, “To be honest, I did not have a very good feeling with the rear as I did not find the grip that I wanted. So, tomorrow, we will have to figure out a lot more on the rear and front to see where we can fine tune further. As for the circuit, it is pretty much the same as in Buriram. I am quite familiar with Sepang for sure especially with the mileage that I have obtained. I am well aware of the corners and the racing line, the braking point to name a few. So, I have a little more advantage here. The weather has been good and I am hoping that it would not rain tomorrow. If it does, it will impact my riding abilities but I will still do my best.” Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

The battle between Malaysia’s Super KIP and Thailand’s Chip Nakarin was evident in Round 1 of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Taking their turns to flex their muscles and dominate the circuit with their well-rounded expertise, the season foresees exciting scenes as they go on full- throttle to conquer. Circumstances may not have been favourable to KIP in last season but this year is all about making up for the loss, and he flew to a great start. His flawless lap time consequently his win in Race 1 may not have come as a surprise but for Chip, it was about learning his contender’s moves and using his home- ground circuit to his advantage to strike back in Race 2. With HONDA RACING THAILAND and BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM gloating upon equal points, the next challenge would be the drive to dominate the chart. Commenting on the Round 1, Chip said, “There are differences in our riding styles and tactics. Riding alongside my rivals help me understand that better and be more aware. That is important as it helps me adapt to the situation throughout the race. Round 1 was an incredible race. Of course, apart from the rivalry, it was also the heat however that’s the challenge we have to overcome.” As for KIP, he said, “Last year was a struggle for me as I was out of the racing scene for about a year prior to that. So, while I took time to gain back the confidence and pick up on my riding abilities, it helped me project the possibilities clearer. Race 1 was an ultimate boost to get back into the momentum. Now, it is all about being ahead and fighting from here on.” Sepang circuit will definitely be an added advantage for Khairul however Nakarin seemed to have upped his game this season and is in to take up the forthcoming hurdles ahead. The Honda riders may have the machines for speed but what fuels excitement into the game is the amalgamation of engine capacities with manoeuvring techniques. Khairul said, “I love Sepang circuit. It is my home-ground and I have celebrated many success stories there. Nevertheless, key to the success is also the condition of the machine. As such, team work is crucial as they are the backbone to the development of a machine that is near perfect for the race.” As for Nakarin, he said, “The motivation in Sepang would be to have Thailand flag on the podium, preferably on the top spot which is not going to be easy. Riding there would require the skill in braking at the corners and a proper riding plan. I lack skills when cornering hence need more work on that. Furthermore, with Malaysian riders on the circuit ground, it is bound to get fiery!” Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

The SuperSports 600cc was fired up this afternoon with the rush to victory at Chang International Circuit. Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND emerged winner in Race 2 of Round 1, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC). Time waits for no man and Super KIP knew that phrase all too well when he dove into motion as the race was flagged off yesterday. Nakarin however was not about to bow defeat on his home-ground and went on a chase before taking lead. Unfortunately, SS600 seeks perfection and one wrong move was another man’s advantage. Helmi on the other hand took a calmer approach and braved through confidently for the third spot. In today’s race, Nakarin beat Khairul to the punch at turn 1 but down to the second sector, Khairul was quick to overtake Nakarin before completing lap 1. At P3 and P4, Keito Abe and Soichiro were bracing the challenge but the latter was quicker. Three laps down, Nakarin was chasing Khairul furiously. By the 3rd turn of lap 5, Khairul managed to form a slight gap while Soichiro inched closer to Nakarin. By mid-race, Khairul was 0.446s apart but Nakarin was picking up speed. Meanwhile, Keito Abe was fighting to close up the gap with Soichiro. By the 10th lap, Nakarin made his way closer to Khairul with approximately, 0.239s gap. The Thai lad was determined to close the gap and make his up way into P1. One more lap to go and Nakarin is getting closer towards Khairul and at turn 4, he made it pass the Malaysian. Nakarin broke away from Khairul at 0.105s gap and succeeded victoriously at 20’02:187s. Commenting on the race, Nakarin said, “Last night I couldn’t sleep as I kept thinking about the race and how to do differently today. The game was pretty similar to yesterday but I tried my best to manage to tires till the last lap. Personally, KIP is very strong. But I tried overtake him at the last lap and close the gap at the last corner and I made it.” Khairul Idham Pawi of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM took second at 20’02:292s. At the third spot, it was Soichiro Ninamimoto of YAMAHA GEN BLU RACING TEAM ASEAN at 20’05:717s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

The SuperSports 600cc race category captivated fans as riders went on an awe-inspiring ride this evening in Race 1 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) held at Chang International Circuit. Khairul Idham Pawi of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM appeared steady and strong aboard the Honda CBR600RR as he strode swiftly ahead to the finish line. During the qualifying session, Khairul Idham Pawi of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM once again topped the chart with the best lap time at 1’39:000s. Thai lad Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND recorded second fastest at 1’39:015s while Malaysian, Muhammad Helmi Azman of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM made third fastest at 1’39:061s. The riders were off to a flying start as the race flagged off. Nakarin immediately made a swift move on the inside and took lead at turn 1 however, Khairul was quick to recover his position. At P3, Soichiro stayed calm which Helmi trailed him closely. With the riders aligned quite comfortably in their positions, it was a matter of closing the gaps between Khairul and Nakarin however the former was steadily leading the race. At P4 on the other hand, Helmi upped his pace and switched places with Soichiro at the end of lap 4. At the end of lap 6, the trio in front was keeping it consistent. Behind them, Ratthapong inched his way into P4 while Soichiro slowly began losing his momentum. Gerry Salim was moving upwards with Keito Abe close by. Super KIP was on his best in a long time and was fired up by the chase. He kept his contender at bay and steered away from even a minor slip. With 3 more laps to go, Helmi was playing catch up with Nakarin but the latter pushed himself further towards Khairul. During the last lap, Nakarin placed intense pressure on Khairul, trying his best to overtake and he did it at turn 5. The heated battle continued as Khairul strategized to make his comeback. At the last turn, Khairul worked his magic and grabbed the opportunity from the inside before bolting ahead towards victory at 20’03:796s. Commenting on the race, Khairul said, “My team worked really hard for this weekend. In the beginning of the race, I tried to pull away with about 0.5s gap however by the sixth and seventh lap, I did not have much grip on the tires so I calmed down a little and tried to manage the rider behind me. However, Cip managed to overtake me and I followed him closely. Unfortunately, he braked a little too late and that was my shot to victory.” Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND succumbed to the second spot on the podium at 20’04:082s. Muhammad Helmi Azman of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM clocked in third at 20’04:186s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

The blazing scene of the SuperSports 600cc came into action today with practice session throughout  the day. The day ended when Khairul Idham Pawi of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM emerged  fastest in the combined practice, clocking in his best at 1’39:204s.  In Practice 1 this morning, Khairul made his best lap time for the day followed by Thai duo Nakarin  Atiratphuvapat of HONDA RACING THAILAND at 1’39:230s and Ratthapong Wilairot of YAMAHA  RACING THAILAND at 1’39:406s. At noon, as the heat picked up, Khairul was relentless and once again went ahead with brave speed, clocking in fastest at 1’39:717s in Practice 2. This time around, Keito  Abe of ONEXOX TKKR RACING TEAM flexed his muscles, marking his fastest at 1’39:993s followed by  Azroy Hakeem Anuar of BOON SIEW HONDA RACING TEAM at 1’40:068s.  In Practice 3, the Malaysian lad, fondly known as Super Kip did not give up despite the steaming  temperature and made it again, while his teammate Muhammad Helmi Azman emerged third fastest  at 1’39:824s. Pannasorn Kaewsonthi of HONDA RACING THAILAND made it in between at 1’39:66s.  The combined result at the end of the three sessions marked Khairul as fastest for the day while  Nakarin and Ratthapong took the third and second fastest spots.   Commenting on the practice session, Khairul said, “Honestly, this was a huge improvement for me  compared to last year. I wondered why I could not perform last year and based on my analysis and  performances, I realised that I needed to change my direction and this year has been good. I recognised the changes in me and I am better-able to fine tune my riding techniques. I made many  mistakes with my riding style and of course with the fact that I did not race for two years prior to that,  it was difficult for me to find my momentum back then. But that gave me the real push to do better  this time around and I am calmer now, too.”  “In the morning, it was not too hot and it was a good ride. But as the temperature increased further,  I noticed that it was difficult to find my pace, the braking system did not work that well and speeding  only increased the risk with the rear tires. But, it gave me good insights as to how it would work for  tomorrow’s race and I am ready to race tomorrow.” Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com