Supersports 600

Honda CBR600RR versus Yamaha YZF-R6 – that’s the rhythm of the SuperSports 600cc at the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship scheduled for its first beat this weekend at the Chang International Circuit. Andi Farid Izdihar of ASTRA HONDA Racing Team uplifted the spirit of Honda in its revolution when he hailed champion in Season 2022. Is triumph in the cards for Honda once again? It was flying colours for Andi in the last race, last season when he took the circuit by a storm with his swift moves and blistering speed that placed him at the top of the chart. Although his greatest rival, Muhammad Helmi Azman of Boon Siew HONDA Racing Team put on a brave fight to seize victory, Andi was indomitable especially after the casualty at Sepang International Circuit. Andi said, “My success is attributed to the preparedness of our team. Although the outcome is often unpredictable, sometimes with luck but most important is that we give our best shot all the way. The learning process is never ending with motorcycle racing even more so with so many excellent riders striding for the same goal. I learnt so much not only on my own but from the experiences of other riders too. My word of advice to the riders of SS600 would be to always concentrate during the rider. With the big machine in your hands, you can’t afford to lose concentration otherwise, all effort goes to waste.” Andi has fulfilled his dreams in SS600 race category and now, the Indonesian will pursue the next level of the Asian motorcycle racing championship. Helmi on the other hand will return to make up for his loss. An otherwise rider of great calibre, Helmi lost his chances to Andi when he was knocked down in the final determining race. Nevertheless, Helmi’s performances last season was a feather in a cap, undeniably, which will go a long way in gearing him up for this season. Commenting on the race, Helmi said, “I was disappointed at the end of Season 2022 – second overall? That’s not what I aimed for. But that will not dampen my spirits. I am fuelled further for the new season. There is more work to be done for sure but for me, the endgame is to be at the top. That’s motivation enough for me. Last season was an eye-opener for what I am capable of and this season, it is all about working on my strengths to achieve a better outcome.” It was also a home-ground celebration when Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA Racing Thailand bagged the third place overall last season. Performing consistently throughout the season, Nakarin strode competitively despite the stiff competition among the riders of an extremely powerful domain. It is evident that Nakarin has an upper-hand at his homeland circuit where he bragged the second spot, twice last season. Teaming up with Nakarin this season would be Pannasorn Kaewsonthi. Nakarin commented, “There was a great need for deep concentration in controlling the machine with my body and that was a huge challenge for me. It is not as easy as it may have seemed to be. This season however I would have to be quick in managing the issues while on the ground and manage my pace to avoid losing the riding momentum. My favourite part of the machine is its fantastic behaviour at the corners. It is pretty light-weighted but its power is simply fascinating. Once I am in tune with the machine, my goal is nothing less than being the SS600 Asian Champion.” This season will also see Ahmad Afif Amran, Muhammad Adenanta Putra, Muhammad Andy Fadly, Soichiro Minamimoto, Gerry Salim and Sha Juntong among others taking bold arduous strides in the SuperSports 600cc race category. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

The thrill of the SuperSports 600cc race category, apart from the carefully engineered machine which functions perfectly at full speed is the highly competitive riders who are never complacent. Andi Farid Izdihar of ASTRA HONDA Racing Team today showcased extreme prowess in his domain as he dashed towards victory in Race 2 at Chang International Circuit. As soon as the race begun, Irfan made a strong move into the lead position. Not expecting the move by his rival, Kritchaporn went on to make his chase from P2. Andi Farid who lost his footing in the first lap landed in P4 however he was quick to make his recovery. By the end of the third lap, the winner of Race 1 made his comeback into P1 while Kritchaporn battled with Nakarin who was eager to make his move. Meanwhile, Ratthapong was lurking close behind. By the end of the fifth lap, Ratthapong superseded Kritchaporn and took P3. Meanwhile, leading with a wide gap ahead, Andi was riding fearlessly. Into the seventh lap, Ratthapong managed to slide ahead of Nakarin. Closing in behind the latter, Kritchaporn was waiting to strike. By then, Andi was fully in charge with a gap of 2.3s from his rival who was working very hard to close the gap.  Meanwhile, Helmi Azman who began from the tenth spot on the grid managed to pick up speed and moved into the front troop at P5. The Malaysian rider who was leading in the overall standings seemed to have grappled with his pace however he was determined to make his cut. With one more lap to go, Ratthapong began picking up speed and succeeded in closing the gaps as he swiftly switched places with Andi. However, Andi was not about to give up. The ASTRA HONDA rider was quick to find the opportunity and at the last turn, he grabbed P1. Ratthapong lost control of his machine but made a quick move only to be defeated by Andi who dashed confidently to the finish line. Andi clocked in at 21’49:924s consequently making him the Asian Champion of the SuperSports 600cc for year 2022. Commenting on the race, “I don’t know what to say but first of all, I would like to thank my family for being my pillar and also the Indonesian fans who have supported me endlessly. I am grateful to my team who has been there to lift me up through my ups and downs. This season was challenging but they never gave up. Thank you.” Ratthapong Wilairot of YAMAHA Thailand Racing Team logged in his best at 21’50:474s. Kritchaporn Kaewsonthi of HONDA Racing Thailand took his first podium at the third spot with his best at 21’57:730s.

It was quite an evening for the riders of the SuperSports 600cc at Round 5 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship as they fought their battle for yet another shot of fame. Andi Farid Izdihar of ASTRA HONDA Racing Team took the win in Race 1 when he completed the race with flying colours. The race begun with Kritchaporn at the pole position. Andi Farid took the second spot on the grid while Ratthapong started from the third spot. As soon as the race flagged off, Kritchaporn went on a steady start at the lead position while Ratthapong strode at P2. Irfan slid into P3 but as the race went on, Andi Farid who fell two positions down made it back to P3 by the end of lap 1. Meanwhile, leader of the overall standings, Helmi Azman took a start at the 10th spot on the grid but by the end of third lap, he was seen slowly picking up his momentum at P7. While Kritchaporn was speeding his way ahead of the troop, Andi was inching closer to Ratthapong and by the end of the fourth lap, the former made his move ahead of the latter. Andi was on fire as he went on to pick up speed. Mid of lap four, he succeeded in getting ahead of Kritchaporn who began losing his momentum. Ratthapong then took P2 and engaged in a heated battle with Andi. For a moment Ratthapong exchanged positions with Andi but the red suit rider was adamant in taking back his position. By the end of the sixth lap, Andi made it just to be succeeded by Ratthapong once again. At P3, Nakarin seemed to be closing the gaps little by little. But the highlight remained between the Thai and Indonesian rider who were relentlessly pursuing their ultimate goals before Nakarin took the leap up to P1 at the end of the eighth lap. The pressure went on the rise among the trio as they exchanged positions among themselves.  By the last lap, it was Andi taking lead with Nakarin and Ratthapong on a chase for the top spot. Andi began picking up speed and at the final lap, confidence was boosted as he dashed to the finish line clocking in his fastest at 20’04:379s. Commenting on the race, Andi said, “The race was very tough. I noticed that the gaps were quite close in all the laps. I tried to attack towards the last three laps and I managed to make my move towards the end.” “I thank my crew members, the team who have worked very hard for this victory. I would also like to thank my friends and family members who have been extremely supportive. We will do our best again tomorrow.” Meanwhile, Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA Racing Thailand took the second spot on the podium when he logged in at 20’05:429s. Ratthapong missed it at the last turn and Azroy Hakeem Anuar of Boon Siew HONDA Racing Team grabbed the opportunity to strike. He made it third at 20’05:583s.

After three sessions of free practice, Andi Farid Izdihar of ASTRA HONDA Racing Team emerged fastest for the day in the SuperSports 600cc race category of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Chang International Circuit. It is just the beginning to the grand finale, happening this weekend. Standing strong at the second spot overall with a total of 108 points, Andi has made remarkable achievements throughout this season with four podiums including two wins. With Chang circuit being his favourite, Andi may just strike it again at the circuit as he did in the season opener. During the final practice session earlier, Andi clocked in fastest at 1’39:504s. In the earlier sessions, he made his fastest at 1’39:571 in session one and 1’40:073s in session two. He may have had a tough experience in the final race of Round 4 nevertheless, Andi is a strong character with a will to continue advancing. Commenting on the session earlier, Andi said, “My team has worked wonders with the machine and I know that they will continue to ensure that my machine is in a good condition for the coming races. We are one at Heart and great at teamwork! For the coming races, I will make sure to have a good time performing while giving my best.” “My main strategy is to stay focused all the way as it is key to success. I aim for the podium and with a little bit of luck, I hope to make it there.” At second fastest spot, Ratthapong Wilairot of YAMAHA Thailand Racing TEAM clocked in his fastest in the first practice session at 1’39:770s. In his second session, he marked 1’39:793s while in the third session, he made it at 1’39:958s. Ratthapong currently sits at the tenth spot in the overall standings. Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA Racing Thailand took the third fastest in the practice session, combined when he made his fastest in the first session at 1’39:885s. In the second and third sessions, he marked at 1’39:793s and 1’39:958s respectively.

With another one round to go, the SuperSports 600cc race category anticipates a rush of adrenaline among its riders and a highly competitive strike that would further alleviate their overall standings. Andi Farid Izdihar of ASTRA HONDA Racing Team is determined to make his move impactful in Round 5 of FIM Asia Road Racing Championship which will be held at Chang International Circuit thisweekend. The Indonesian lad may have been unlucky in the final race of Round 4 but he certainly has the in-depth experience and prowess that the race needs to make the cut for the season. Over the course of 4 rounds, Andi made it to the podium four times including two wins. Despite the severity of the unfortunate incident which stripped him of valuable points to be on a competitive chase with hisultimate rival, he sits at the second spot overall with a total of 108 points. Commenting on his race at Sepang, Andi said, “Sepang is one of my favourite circuits as I am very familiar with it. I understand its character very well and with the motivation of my team members, I tried my best to maximise my potentials there. The casualty in Race 2 may have been uncalled for however I must acknowledge the fact that ASTRA HONDA team made excellent improvements to the performances of the CBR600R machine which further strengthened my position.” “The disappointments are there because I was embarking on a positive note after Race 1. But that is the downside of racing. The unexpected hurdles are expected in racing. I do not wish to think further rather I chose to stay focused towards the course. I will not repeat the same mistakes as I did in Race 2 and will expand my wings further to aim for the champion title in the SuperSports 600cc race category.” Andi is an established rider who first found his interest within the ARRC domain in 2017 in the AP250 race category as a wild card rider. He scored the third spot in Race 1 and second spot in Race 2 which immediately marked his potentials as a professional rider. He went on to the SS600 showground in 2018 and made an impressive finish at the fifth spot overall. Year 2019 may have posed more challenges to his performances nevertheless he completed the season once again at the fifth spot overall. In 2020, Andi did not participate in the one-round season but after the two-year hiatus, he came back this year with an enhanced performance which left fans and spectators in awe. With his win in Race 1, Round 1, he said, “It was an important mark of the year for me. With that win, came the confidence that I needed for this year to overcome the highly competitive rush of the race category. My glorious moment though would be my first ever win at the Sentul circuit in this category which has always kept me motivated.” For the coming round, Andi said, “I will definitely give my best shot for the coming race. I am currently working on my physique and mental strength. The rest, I have worked with the team to ensure that everything is in order.”

It was a delightful performance by the SuperSports 600cc riders at Race 2 of Round 4, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship held at the Sepang International Circuit with Malaysian trio battling at the top three position. But it was Azroy Hakeem Anuar of Boon Siew HONDA Racing Team made a significantfinish. Seconds upon the flag off, a casualty occurred which kicked Andi Farid and Ratthapong off the chart. In an instant, the window opened for Azroy to take the lead position with Nakarin at P2 and Kritchaporn at P3. As Azroy picked up on his speed, so did Nakarin and the duo were seen creating a wider gap in between for the riders tailing them. By the end of the second lap, Azroy pumped up on acceleration, creating a 1.274 gap with Nakarin. Three laps down, Helmi Azman who was at the 8th position in lap one succeeded in pulling himself up to P3 and with dexterity and experience in hand, he overtook Nakarin gracefully. By mid-race, Azroy has distanced himself way ahead with approximately 1.739s gap from Helmi. Meanwhile, Ibrahim was making his way closer to Nakarin and in the sixth lap, the gaps closed as the former switched places with the latter. With three Malaysians at the top three positions, the HONDA riders seemed powerfully aligned. In the seventh lap, Helmi attempted to reduce the gap as he went on to fix his speed. Towards the end of the lap, he was 0.236s away from Azroy. At the last lap, it was a heated battle between duo of the same team. For a moment, Helmi took control at P1 only to be knocked back down to P2. At the last turn, Helmi missed out on the window to slide in and with that, Azroy bolted ahead to victory at 21’53:325s. Commenting on the race, Azroy said, “I had to take the win today, no matter what. I knew that Helmi was very close behind me in the last three laps but I went on as usual. At the last lap, Helmi started making his moves and attacked me. But I recognise his riding styles and I went on to overtake him. We were in and out of P1 but at the last corner, I gave my best shot. I am truly happy to have won thisrace.” Md Helmi Azman takes the second spot on the podium at 21’53:451s. Md Ibrahim Md Noroddin of SIC Racing came in third at 21’54:954s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

The SuperSports 600cc was off to a good start this weekend with riders raging ambitiously on the circuit towards victory. Andi Farid Izdihar of ASTRA HONDA Racing Team bagged the winning spot in Round 4 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship held at the Sepang International Circuit. As the pole-man, Andi began with an advantage however his experience and expertise kept him grounded at P1 as he steadily maneuvered his wheels around the circuit. Close behind him were Malaysian teammates Azroy and Helmi who were at P2 and P3 respectively. For the first four laps, the top-three trio paced to the same rhythm before Helmi made his move to overtake Azroy. Andi kept suave to his position way ahead of the duo trailing him. By the fifth lap, Azroy managed to slide back ahead of Helmi. As Andi went on swiftly ahead of the troop, Azroy picked up speed and Helmi battled to stay put in P3. With Nakarin pressuring Helmi from the back,the latter had to find ways to keep up to the momentum. However, in the sixth lap, Nakarin succeeded in taking over Helmi’s position and for two laps, Helmi pushed himself further to get back into the earlier rhythm. By the last lap, Azroy inched closer to Andi and began closing up the gap. At the last turn, the heat turned up as Azroy sled ahead into P1 but Andi was not about to give up. He quickly grabbed P1. Towards the chequered flag, Andi and Azroy were in a nip and tuck before Andi clocked in first at 21’52:823s. Commenting on the race, Andi said, “I was confident during the race especially in the beginning. I was able to create the huge gap between myself and the troop behind me. I tried to keep up to the pace to manage the race better but towards the last three laps, my rear tire began to give way and the grip was slipping away. I am happy that despite the circumstances, I was still able to hold on to P1. Of course, the situation will have to be analysed but I am certainly looking forward to tomorrow’s race.” Second and third spot on the podium belonged to teammates Azroy Hakeem Anuar and Md Helmi Azman of Boon Siew HONDA Racing Team who logged in at 21’52:824s and 21’54:349s respectively. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

The SuperSports 600cc today was brought into an elaborate schedule with their final practice session in the morning and the qualifying session in the noon. Andi Farid Izdihar of ASTRA HONDA Racing Team made the fastest cut today at the Qualifying Session. The task has never been easy for any rider of the SS600 category who have to constantly build up their portfolio considering the robust rivalry between them. After the final practice session for the round, Andi emerged as the fastest in the combined practice result sheet, with his fastest at 2’10:191s. Nakarin Atiratphuvapat of HONDA Racing Thailand made the second fastest at 2’11:002sfollowed by Md Helmi Azman of Boon Siew HONDA Racing Team at 2’11:435s. At the fourth fastest spot, it was Azroy Hakeem Anuar of Boon Siew HONDA Racing Team at 2’11:490s and at the fifth fastest, it was Galang Hendra Pratama of YAMAHA Racing Indonesia at 2’11:559s. In the qualifying session, Andi once again flexed his muscles to obtain the best spot on the grid. Although the competition was stiff with his contenders just seconds away, he managed to complete the session ahead at 2’23:770s. Commenting on the session, Andi said, “I am truly happy with the pole position but our main concern would be to understand the rain condition in this circuit. This would be the first time we are riding in a rainy situation so I want to analyse everything that happens and review the possibilities that could happen.” “In the beginning, it was quite good but towards the end, I found myself struggling with the grip. But I am happy to have managed it well in the last lap. Tomorrow, rain or shine, I would be more prepared for the races. Of course, the target is always to win the race and we have worked really hard for it.” Coming it at the second fastest spot would be Nakarin at 2’23:868s. In the third was Kritchaporn Kaewsonthi of HONDA RACING Thailand, logging in at 2’25:173s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

The SuperSports 600cc is an affair not to be missed at the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. The character of the race category is further defined by the highly rivalrous riders who seek to break the barriers of limitations and surpass the norms. It is not an easy feat but Irfan Ardiansyah of ASTRA HONDA Racing Team is charged up for his next mission at the Sepang International Circuit this weekend. Irfan is no stranger to the grounds of ARRC. In year 2019, he bagged the third spot overall in the AP250 race category with a total of 187 points before embarking on a more prestigious domain within motorsport. With prestige comes a price tag that requires not just physical and mental preparedness but the ability to call the right shots at a fraction of milliseconds. Being a newbie in the SS600 brings with it ideally a learning curve more than the ability to perform on par with the riders but Irfan’s decision to move upstream has definitely showcased his ability to learn and perform quickly. In Round 1, he made it at the fourth spot in both races. In the subsequent rounds, as the seasoned riders warmed up and regained confidence, Irfan seemed to have struggled with his pace. Nevertheless, he kept himself afloat among the top ten riders. Commenting on the race, Irfan said, “Round 3 has come to an end and Round 4 is just around the corner. Not having been able to take the podium even once this season definitely bothers me. It has not been an easy time this season but I never stopped trying and I hope to do better for the remaining rounds.” Irfan who rode aboard the CBR600RR said, “I am very convinced with the competitive performance of the machine. It has been a crucial part of my riding experience that gives me the confidence that I need to perform better in ARRC this year.” Irfan is fond of the Sepang circuit. He said, “I feel excited to race in Sepang. It is one of the circuits outside of Indonesia that has most racing activities. In fact, when I raced in the AP250 category prior to this, I managed to bag the number one spot on the podium in the very same circuit. As such, I am determined to do better for the upcoming round and showcase my potential with more satisfactory results.” Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

The SuperSports 600cc showcased an extraordinary talent when Kota Arakawa of MOTO BUM HONDA bagged the winning title in Race 2, Round 3 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship which was held at Sugo International Racing Course. It was Andi Farid Izdihar who broke into the lead position in the first lap. He then led on for three laps before Kota Arakawa took the speed of his machine one notch up, banking in P1 which he seemed to have accustomed to for the weekend. With Kota steadily charging up lap after lap, Andi was left in P2, waiting to strike. But Kota was relentless as he kept on his fight to maintain his position. Andi did not have a choice but to keep tailing Kota for the next seven laps before he re-strategized and overtook his number one contender in lap 10. But the battle was not over just yet. As there were another five more laps to go, it was then Andi’s turn to keep his speed up with Kota raging up behind him. Andi held on to P1 for the next three laps before being once again over-ridden by Kota. Towards the last lap, the neck-to-neck battle between Kota and Andi came to an end when the latter slipped while trying to switch positions with Kota. With that, the winning title fell into the hands of Kota once again when he clocked in at 22’52:361s. Commenting on the race, Kota said, “I guessed as much that the race would be a highly competitive one. My goal was to simply keep the top position throughout the race. I regret that I couldn’t but winning through tough bidding gave me a chance to progress.” “I’d like to thank my team, sponsors and fans who have given me so much to look forward to with their support.” Azroy Hakeem Anuar of Boon Siew HONDA Racing Team who has been maintaining his composure at P3 for nine laps grabbed the opportunity from Andi’s fall and took the second spot, logging in at 23’02:969s. Azroy’s teammate, Md Helmi Azman took the third place when he crossed the finish line at 23’03:927s Top 5 Winner – Race 2 Kota Arakawa, MOTO BUM HONDA, 22’52:361s Azroy Hakeem Anuar, Boon Siew HONDA Racing Team, 23’02:969s Md Helmi Azman, Boon Siew HONDA Racing Team, 23’03:927s Nakarin Atiratphuvapat, HONDA Racing Team, 23’06:351s Muklada Sarapuech, Astemo SI Racing with Thai HONDA, 23’10:634s Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com