Supersports 600

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

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.