TVS Asia One Make

TAPPING INTO FAMILIARITY

It was not a surprise when Hiroki Ono of Japan bagged a double-victory on home-soil in the recent TVS Asia One Make Championship races and it is definitely not new that he still graces the top spot. However, intriguing in the season’s updates are the competitive stride and the upgraded performances of duo Ramdan Rosli of Malaysia and Sartak Chavan of India who now share the same scores on the board. Which one of them would take lead in Round 4 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Mandalika International Circuit? Last season, Hiroki lost his winning streak to Ramdan on the grounds of Mandalika when the Malaysian pulled a stunner in Race 2 to bag his first win for the season. Sartak on the other hand concluded the round third, twice after the massive tug of war among the trio. This season, while Hiroki maintains his superiority in the racing series with an advantage of 16 points, Ramdan and Sartak on the other hand have some scores to settle especially with the growing rivalry between them at 108 points each. Commenting on the race, Hiroki said, “Round 1 and Round 2 of this season was really but Round 3 on my home-ground was a fantastic race for me. It is definitely not an easy season but that is what that makes the race not just interesting but also a motivational factor for me. As long as my machine is in a good condition and with a perfect setup, I have the potential to win once again this season. So, I am actually not that worried. For Mandalika, I am gearing up as usual. The circuit layout comprises a long-straight so it’s one of the circuits that can easily pull in strong contention from the rivals. I will draw from my strengths however in braking to ensure that I am in a good space and position during the race. The ultimate goal is to make it championship, for two-consecutive years. To achieve that, I truly have to be focused, win and earn as many points as possible.” Ramdan said, “Last season was really wonderful for me and I have those memories, fresh in my mind. I will continue to do my best and try to emulate the strategies that worked best on the circuit ground, perhaps take another win along the way. The rivalry is as good as it gets which means, the challenges are going to be pretty much the same across the rounds. We have those among the front troop which are the ones to be mindful of as they know their strategies well. I usually don’t compare myself with the other riders but instead, compare my performance on a round-to-round basis to see where I can fix. I know that I have a good pace and I have always enjoyed riding on Mandalika ground. I also like the circuit layout as it is easy to tackle. My goal this season is surely to take the crowning victory but at the same time, it is about re-scaling the benchmarks and marking more wins.” Sartak on the other hand said, “This season comes with many experiences put into good use. I have implemented different riding styles and techniques which have been really effective especially when managing different circuit grounds with different kinds of challenges and layouts. Just 16 points to the leader and tied points for 2 or 3 position but I don’t want to put myself under any kind of pressure at the moment. I would like to think and work more in achieving the results rather than putting a fixed mark on a particular target. Mandalika is a great ground and my favourite part is the fast sectors of the track. The result in Thailand has really been the highlight this season for me and a motivational factor to push harder. So, I will go all out in the coming round and hope to score something more than the usual. Of course, the goal this season and every other season is to be a champion but again, it is not as easy as it sounds. So, keeping my fingers crossed!”

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HIROKI UNBEATABLE AT HOME SOIL

Round 3 at the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, delivered edge-of-the-seat drama in the TVS Asia One Make Championship, as Japan’s Hiroki Ono celebrated his double win after another sensational victory in Race 2. At the start, Malaysia’s Md Ramdan Rosli launched strongly alongside India’s Sarthak Chavan, with local hero Hiroki Ono settling into third. Within seconds, however, Hiroki wasted no time seizing the lead in front of his home crowd. By lap 2, the order saw Hiroki controlling the race ahead of Ramdan, Sarthak, Luis Miguel in fourth, and Japan’s Shingo Iidaka in fifth. Hiroki turned up the pace on lap 3, setting the fastest lap of the race at 2’05.331s, steadily stretching his advantage as Ramdan gave chase.On lap 4, Luis Miguel closed the gap from fourth and made a decisive move past Sarthak to slot into third. By lap 5, Hiroki had sprinted 4.168s clear of Ramdan, who now faced immense pressure from the Spaniard behind. Luis launched an attack and briefly grabbed second place, but Ramdan refused to surrender and reclaimed his position. Sarthak, meanwhile, regrouped and reeled both riders back in, setting up a dramatic final showdown.While the battle for second raged on, Hiroki stayed in a league of his own, crossing the line unchallenged in 16’52.533s to complete a dominant double win on home soil. Behind him, Sarthak’s last-lap charge paid off as he snatched second place in 16’59.356s, just edging Ramdan, who secured a hard-fought third at 16’59.391s. Hiroki Ono stated, “Today was a little difficult for me because the temperature was much higher than yesterday. When it’s hot, managing the tyres is very tricky, but I kept my concentration right until the end. I’m really happy to get the double win this weekend, it feels amazing at my home track. I want to thank everyone who supported me. Arigatou gozaimasu!” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2

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HIROKI, MOTEGI’S HERO

Race 1 of the TVS ASIA One Make Championship, held in conjunction with Round 3 of the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, delivered an electrifying spectacle today at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, with local favourite Hiroki Ono taking a commanding victory on home ground. Earlier in the day, Japan’s Hiroki Ono showcased his speed by seizing pole position with a blistering lap time of 2’04.580s in the combined qualifying session. Malaysia’s Md Ramdan Rosli lined up alongside him in second with 2’05.727s, while India’s Sarthak Chavan secured the final front-row slot with a time of 2’06.062s. As the race got underway, Hiroki Ono made a clean getaway to lead the opening lap ahead of Hunter Corney from Australia, Md Ramdan Rosli from Malaysia, and Sarthak Chavan from India. The opening lap, however, saw early drama as Farish Hafiy from Malaysia suffered a high-side and Rendi from Indonesia crashed out. By lap 2, Hiroki maintained his lead with Ramdan and Sarthak locked in pursuit while Luis Miguel from Spain made a strong push to climb to fourth place ahead of Hunter. On lap 3, Sarthak found a way past Ramdan, who responded with a determined lap of 2’06.083s to fight back for position. As the laps ticked by, Hiroki began to stretch his advantage, clocking the fastest lap of the race with a 2’05.266s on lap 5 and edging a second clear of the chasing group. Behind him, Sarthak and Ramdan continued an intense battle for second place, with Luis and Hunter duelling for fourth. By lap 7, Hiroki had carved out a 3.948s lead over Sarthak in second, with Ramdan close behind and Luis and Hunter still in contention for fourth. On the final lap, Hiroki kept his composure under pressure, pushing hard to the chequered flag and sealing a dominant win at 16’52.484s. Sarthak secured second place at 16’56.870s, just edging out Ramdan in third at 16’56.915s. Hiroki Ono said, “I’m really happy I got the Race 1 victory in Motegi, it means a lot to me. This morning’s qualifying gave me great confidence and in Race 1 I just stayed fully focused, kept my lap times strong, and managed the race well. Everything went smoothly for me today, but I know tomorrow will be tougher. I’ll keep working hard and I hope I can deliver another strong result in Race 2.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1

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SARTHAK CLAIMED TOP SPOT

Round 3 of the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship got underway today at the Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan, where India’s Sarthak made a powerful statement by finishing as the fastest rider in the combined practice sessions of the TVS ASIA One Make Championship. In Practice 1, Japan’s Hiroki Ono immediately made waves, topping the chart with a time of 2’06.916s. Malaysia’s Md Ramdan Rosli followed closely with 2’07.008s, while Sarthak placed third with 2’07.143s. But it was Practice 2 where Sarthak roared back in style—unleashing a scorching lap of 2’06.613s to top the session and ultimately claim the day’s fastest combined time. Hiroki maintained strong form with a 2’06.901s to secure second, while Ramdan stayed consistent in third at 2’07.310s. With Sarthak’s impressive rebound and Hiroki’s consistency, the battle lines are clearly drawn for tomorrow’s qualifying session. Sarthak said, “It was a good session today, finishing on top in the combined practice results. The track didn’t offer the best grip due to earlier rain before our category went out, but I still managed to set a strong lap time and put myself at the top. It’s not a bad way to start the weekend. Tomorrow, I’ll aim to maintain this pace and be even better than today.” TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE

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LUIS GEARS UP FOR MOTEGI

It was a one-up for the Spaniard in TVS Asia One Make Championship when he seized the moment at the right time to bag a win in Race 2 at Sepang, sparking a dramatic rivalry between Malaysian, Ramdan Rosli who was expected to pocket a double win on home-soil and defending champion, Hiroki Ono of Japan who was all about calling the shots in the game. With his first victory in hand, can Luis Miguel take the winning momentum up a notch and fight home-boy at Mobility Resort Motegi in Round 3 of IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship? Luis may be a debutante but he was definitely quick to learn the ropes and unexpectedly, in the midst of rivalry and chaos among the top three contenders in Round 1, he bagged his first podium in Race 1. Although he succumbed to a “DNF” in Race 2, the Spanish rider, known to quietly strike from the back, pulled himself back up and juggled his cards carefully to score fourth in Race 1 of Round 2 before pulling a stunner in Race 2 to close the deal. Consequently, he sits at the fourth spot in the overall charts, 14 points shy from penetrating the top-three goal. But the journey to stardom is a long, windy road and with the top three contenders having experience as an added advantage on the upcoming circuit ground, it’s hard to say if Luis could match up to the rivalry. For Hiroki, it’s his playground that he is extremely well-versed with unless there is an encounter with a troubled machine. Ramdan on the other hand was not bad himself when he bagged a 3-3 last season on the circuit ground. Perhaps, a more realistic approach would be to tackle his closest opponent, Sartak who took sixth in Race 1 before going down with a “DNF” in Race 2. Commenting on the race, Luis said, “It was nothing to do with luck for me. Throughout the race, I have been studying the riders, the moves as well as their strengths and weaknesses. They began faltering towards the last lap and that was an open goal for me. I charged ahead where I knew I had the upper-hand in terms of speed and made it. The coming round will be a new experience for me. I’ve never raced there but I kind of like how it is. I also know that the rivalry will be strong on the circuit ground and one that we all have to be careful with is Hiroki since it’s him home-ground.” “I have trained on various machines but adapting to TVS Apache RR310 has been easy. I was able to do it pretty quickly. This also worked well with the different circuits. That’s one thing I would take credit for, in terms of adapting. But of course, the machine itself gives me a good feeling. It is a very good machine and compared to the bikes I’ve raced on previously, TVS Apache is much bigger. So, it’s a good experience for me, overall. At the moment, I am not too worried about the overall standings but my goal is to remain focused and being able to finish the race in a good position. I would like to avoid making any mistakes, preferably.”

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LUIS’ PERFECT PASS SECURED THRILLING VICTORY

The Race 2 of Round 2 at the 2025 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the Sepang International Circuit saw Luis Miguel from Spain clinched a thrilling victory in the TVS Asia One Make Championship. The race kicked off with Hiroki Ono of Japan taking the early lead, quickly followed by Malaysia’s Md Ramdan Rosli, who was determined to make his move. Meanwhile, Sarthak Chavan from India hovered just 0.3 seconds behind, while Luis Miguel, initially 1 second off the pace, steadily closed the gap, making his way back into contention for a spot in the top four. However, on Lap 3, a red flag was brought out following a crash involving Chiranth Vishwanath from India and Arsyad Rusydi from Singapore. The riders were unharmed, but the incident led to a restart with four laps to go. As the race restarted, Ramdan led the charge, but Hiroki wasted no time reclaiming the top spot after a strong move at Turn 1, with Luis holding firm in third position. The battle for first place was intense, with Ramdan, Hiroki, and Sarthak all fiercely jostling for position, while Luis quietly closed the gap to the front runners. Together, the top four riders managed to pull a significant 5.6-second gap on the chasing pack. In the final lap, the battle for the lead reached its climax. As Ramdan and Hiroki continued swapping positions, disaster struck for Hiroki, who lost control and went wide on the final turn. Seizing the opportunity, Luis made a brilliant pass to take the lead. He held it until the chequered flag, crossing the finish line in 9’34.191s, a mere 0.049 seconds ahead of Ramdan, who completed the race in 9’34.240s. Sarthak rounded out the podium in third place with a time of 9’34.402s. Luis expressed his joy, “It was a great race for me. I had a good start, and by Lap 3, I was about 1 second behind the leaders. On the last lap, I caught up and made my move in the final corner. I passed Ramdan and Hiroki, and the victory was mine. It feels amazing, and I had no worries about the outcome once I saw the opportunity.” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2

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LAST-LAP HEROICS, RAMDAN RULED ON HOME SOIL

Race 1 of the TVS Asia One Make Championship, held in conjunction with Round 2 of the 2025 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, delivered a thrilling showdown today at the Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia, with local favourite Md Ramdan Rosli emerging victorious on home soil. Earlier in the day, Ramdan secured pole position with a blistering lap time of 2’20.784s during qualifying. Japan’s Hiroki Ono followed closely in second with 2’21.858s, while India’s Sarthak Chavan completed the front row in third with 2’22.752s. When the lights went out, Ramdan got off to a strong start, taking control of the race early. He was closely pursued by Sarthak and Hiroki, setting up a fierce battle among the trio, all of whom were part of the 2024 top three in the standings. By lap 2, the leading trio had carved out a 2 second gap from the chasing pack, solidifying their positions at the front. On lap 4, Hiroki Ono momentarily took over the lead but ran wide at turn 14, allowing Ramdan and Sarthak to slip past. However, the experienced Japanese rider responded quickly, regaining the lead on lap 5. As the final lap unfolded, in a sensational final corner move, Ramdan made his move on Hiroki at the final turn, overtaking him and storming across the finish line to seal a memorable win in front of the home crowd at 14’20.495s. Hiroki finished second with a time of 14’20.661s, while Sarthak completed the race in third at 14’21.081s. Ramdan shared, “I am really happy that I could finish on top of the podium today. On Friday, I had a big issue with the bike, but I stayed positive. This morning, I had a really good feeling, I refreshed my mind, and I was focused on winning my home race, and I did it! I proved I can win. I want to thank the crew who worked on my bike over the past two days, this win is for them. I dedicate this victory to my family, my wife, and my son who are watching me from home. I’m really happy today. Thank you!” TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1

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HIROKI RETURNED TO FORM

Round 2 of the 2025 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship got underway today at the Sepang International Circuit, with Japan’s Hiroki Ono laying down the marker as the fastest rider in the combined practice sessions of the TVS ASIA One Make Championship. In Practice 1, India’s Sarthak Chavan made an early impact by topping the session with a best lap of 2’23.266s. Close behind was the defending champion, Hiroki Ono, who posted a 2’23.867s lap, while fellow Indian rider Chiranth Vishwanath secured third with a 2’24.119s effort. Hiroki bounced back in Practice 2, showing his trademark form to top the session with a blistering lap of 2’22.528s to emerged as the the fastest of the day. Korea’s Kim Min Jae also found pace in the afternoon, clocking 2’23.959s to placed second, while Malaysia’s Md Ramdan Rosli delivered a strong performance on home soil, finishing third with a time of 2’24.667s. When both sessions were combined, it was Hiroki’s standout pace in Practice 2 that sealed his spot at the top of the overall standings. Sarthak Chavan’s consistency placed him second overall, while Kim Min Jae completed the top three. Hiroki shared, “On day one in FP1, I focused on learning the track. In FP2, I made some small adjustments to the setup, but we faced light rain, which affected grip compared to FP1. Despite that, I stayed focused, lap by lap, to rebuild my confidence, and in the end, I managed to top the timesheets. We’ll see how things go in tomorrow’s qualifying session. TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE

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HAZIQ THE NEW DAD: TRACKS BY DAY, DIAPERS BY NIGHT

His days are filled with engine roars and racing lines—but his nights now belong to bottle feeds and soft coos. Md Haziq Md Fairues, an IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship rider currently competing in the TVS ASIA One Make Championship, has stepped into a brand new role: fatherhood. Recently, Haziq welcomed the birth of his first child, a moment filled with overwhelming gratitude and joy. For the young rider, holding his newborn for the very first time was a life-defining experience, one that words could barely capture. “Becoming a father for the first time… it’s indescribable,” Haziq shared, visibly moved. “There’s joy, gratitude, and honestly, a bit of fear. But the moment I saw my baby’s face, everything changed. It was deeply emotional. It gave me a whole new perspective on life.” With the arrival of his newborn baby, Haziq admits that his outlook on racing has shifted dramatically. “Now, every time I get on the bike, I’m not racing just for myself anymore. I’m racing for my family, for our future. It pushes me to be more disciplined, more focused, and to think further ahead.” Being a professional athlete in a highly competitive championship demands total commitment and unwavering discipline. Yet, Haziq embraces the challenge of balancing the intense life of a racer with the responsibilities of a new father. “It’s not easy,” he admits, “but I’m truly grateful for the full support of my wife and family. My training schedule is more structured now, and I make sure to carve out quality time with my child and loved ones. Time management has become more crucial than ever.” When asked whether he hopes his child will one day follow in his footsteps on the track, Haziq’s answer is filled with humility and love: “As a father, my only wish is for my child to grow up healthy, happy, and fearless in chasing their dreams. If motorsports is their passion, I’ll support it wholeheartedly. But even if they choose a different path, I’ll still be their biggest cheerleader. What matters most is that they do what they love, with all their heart.” Despite the sleepless nights and new responsibilities, Haziq remains fully committed to his racing career. In fact, fatherhood has fueled him with a fresh surge of motivation. “My training continues as usual, but now with a renewed spirit. Physically and mentally, I’m in a good place. Sure, I’m getting less sleep, but it’s worth every second. I’m racing not just for podium finishes, but to inspire the next generation in my family. I will give my best in every round, for my team, and for my family.”

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DOES SARTAK HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

Topea It was a shocker when Hiroki Ono of Japan bowed defeat to Indians, Sartak and Chiranth in Race 2 of the season opener at Chang International Circuit before landing third on the podium in the TVS Asia One Make Championship. More importantly though, what strategy would Hiroki cook up to go along with his mastery in Round 2 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit in taking down the contenders and rising back up to fame? The Japanese rider, known for his outstanding performance, aced Race 1 with flying colours as expected like a pro would with eyes closed. However, what he may not have expected is the brewing rivalry all along that awaited its moment to strike and topple him down as happened the following day when Sartak played his cards right and hit it out of the park. Chiranth who followed suit to take the second spot on the podium after a rough battle with his countryman added on to the twist which left Hiroki no spot on the top two but to settle for the next in line. While Hiroki stays at the top of the chart for now, his closest contender, Sartak is just 5 points away from taking over. It may not be as easy as it may seem though considering Ramdan Rosli, just 10 points shy from the chart-topper might hold the upper-hand on his home-ground circuit. But again, the possibilities are endless especially with Sartak’s enhanced performance, Hiroki’s relentless pursuit and Ramdan’s desire to mark his territories and is bound to get feisty throughout the season. The question is, does Sartak have what it takes to keep the heat and momentum going? Sartak said, “Round 1 was an exciting moment for me. It was my first win which can be attributed to mental state of mind and the strategies in place. I was calmer which helped me avoid making mistakes. That win is a motivating factor at the moment although I know that Sepang circuit would be tough especially with Malaysian riders having the home-ground advantage. I will however optimise on my performance, first, through the understanding of the track and then refining of my strategies. Of course, being strong mentally is equally important. The plus at Sepang circuit would be my preference for fast corners. I am confident that I can be fast there but being a tall rider, it would be important to get a nice ride out of the turns to minimise time on the long straights. The machine has improved a lot in terms of handling which makes riding abilities better. Riding it now is much comfortable. But let’s see how it goes especially in my goals of becoming champion this season.” Ramdan on the other hand said, “At Chang circuit, my target was to win both race because I had quite a good start on Friday. But unfortunately, I had issues with my machine since Saturday and made it extremely tough for to compete among the top three. Sepang has and always will be my favourite circuit in the calendar. That is my strongest motivation – racing on my home-ground. Of course, having said that, I know it won’t be easy but I am preparing myself physically and mentally to make sure that I give my all. Strategies are also being re-worked at the moment and I will plan ahead to see what would fit best. The machine is in a better condition that it was last season in terms of performance. It also has electronic system now but would still require good measurements in every round. My goal for sure is to win both the races on my home-ground for the upcoming round and my target this season is none other than the championship title.”

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