Supersports 600

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.

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