TVS Asia One Make

The TVS ASIA One Make Championship kicked off Round 1 in exhilarating fashion at Chang  International Circuit at Buriram, Thailand today treating spectators to a mesmerizing display of talent  and tenacity during the practice session of IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship.  In Practice 1, the competition was intense as Mohd Ramdan Rosli set the early pace with a blistering  lap time of 1:50.130, closely followed by Sarthak Chavan and Md Muzakkir Mohamed, who  demonstrated their determination and talent with lap times of 1:50.134 and 1:50.322 respectively. The  competition was fierce, with each rider pushing themselves to the limit in pursuit of perfection.  As the day progressed into Practice 2, the excitement only intensified. Hiroki Ono seized the spotlight,  storming to the top of the leaderboard with an electrifying lap time of 1:49.539. Sarthak Chavan  continued to impress, securing the second spot with a time of 1:49.702, while Md Muzakkir Mohamed  displayed unwavering consistency with a time of 1:50.293.  The combined practice results painted a picture of intense rivalry and razor-thin margins. Hiroki Ono  appeared as the fastest overall, his stellar performance cementing his status as a formidable contender.  Sarthak Chavan and Mohd Ramdan Rosli closely trailed behind, their determination evident in every  lap.  Hiroki said “Today in Practice 1, my engine broke and I had a big crash at turn 4. My bike was badly  damaged and my body hurts. I rode more carefully in Practice 2. It was positive to finish at the top on  the first day, and I was able to set a faster time than last year. I want to improve my time even further in  tomorrow’s qualifying. But for now, I will try to recover my body as much as possible for the qualifying  round.” Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

Marking its third year in the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, the notable TVS Asia One Make Championship will once again adorn the paddock with the livery of blue, white and red alongside its noteworthy players for another season of competence and competition. Standing tall in the art of mastery within the race category was Hiroki Ono of Japan who made his entry from round three onwards. The Japanese lad got himself the DNF status in Race 2 but that was all the defeat needed before he went with blazing guns to conquer the race category in the remaining rounds. He ended the season on the second spot after scoring a flat 25-point in seven races. With such a strong positioning last season, Hiroki certainly is a threat to the many well-established riders however it is a game yet to unveil. Commenting on the season, Hiroki said, “This year will be my first full-season participation and of course, whatever said and done, the goal remains the same which is to win the championship for this season. Part of my preparation, apart from the usual training and routine is to get a hair-cut before race week. I think the races would be highly competitive but I don’t know the riders yet. All I know is that TVS has many great riders every season. I definitely hope to gain more experience this season alongside bagging the most points. So far, I have excelled well in the race category and I have to maintain that kind of achievements. I like Chang circuit and there is of course the technical part of it in the second half section which makes it quite an interesting circuit. The great part about racing in the one-make series is that it is done on an equal ground which I think is important and necessary in the improvement of riders’ skills.” Despite the scorching heat from his countrymen, Malaysian rider, Md Muzakkir survived the burn and emerged champion in his debut season after finishing podium six times including one win on his home- ground. Muzakkir and Ramdan may share many things in common however their distinguishing riding techniques is what makes up for a lasting impression. Unfortunately, while Ramdan may have claimed more victories last season, his double DNF status at Chang was the gate to Muzakkir’s gold mine. At the finale, Muzakkir trumped the troop of TVS Asia when he went on to mark his territory after a fiery battle his lead contender. Muzakkir said, “Just like last year, body weight is always an important thing in racing especially in this lightweight category so I focus on my diet this time around. I want to be in shape and fit so that I can maximise speed and manage the machine better. This year, I foresee more challenges than last season. Looking at the rider line-up, this year we will be racing with some pretty strong riders and I have a feeling that we will see Indian rider on the podium. They have really good preparation for this season. Of course, Hiroki, Ramdan and Vorapong will be there to continue injecting the pressure. Some of them are in their third year while some of us as in second year. They are also fast and experienced. TVS R&D crew and all staff really know how to build a racing bike. They take a listen to every detail and feedback from the rider and always give the riders the best machine each round. As a defending champion, of course, I want to win but realistically, taking the top three positions would already be good enough for me. Most importantly, I want to be competitive in each race. Buriram is like my second home, I like the environment and the circuit has always be an awesome playground with a dramatic effect.” Vorapong on the other hand had a colourful start when he took a double win on his home-ground however, as the competition became stiffer progressively throughout the season and as the riders gained their momentum, he began to face his own fair share of struggles. In Round 5 particularly, he went on a down spiral with a DNF status in race 1 before scraping 4-points in race 2. Nevertheless, Vorapong determined to take the overall stage quickly bounced back up on his home-ground circuit where he went on to cash in a triple third. Commenting on the season, Vorapong said, “Last year, so many dramas for me. I had a wonderful feeling in Round 1 and Round 2 but Japan and China were disastrous for me. I lost the championship because of that. This year, it is all about making a comeback. Chang circuit is home for me. I have an added advantage in sector two and three. So, I am feeling good for Round 1. Nevertheless, the line-up is quite intimidating especially with top three riders who were really strong. Also, this year we have Sarthak from India who will be joining us for the season. All I know is that I have to work very hard and I have been especially doing training in the programme with the AVRP racing riders, running, cycling and motocross. Of course, I also have to be mentally prepared and am doing my best to make sure that I am all set for the coming race. TVS Team has made many huge improvements in the TVS Apache RR310 since 2019 and I hope that I can come back stronger this time around for the championship title.” Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

Second year in the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, the TVS Asia One Make Championship made impressive milestones this season with the participation of highly driven riders. Standing exceedingly tall among all of them today in Race 2 of Round 6 was Hiroki Ono of Japan who made the winning statement at Chang International Circuit. In Race 1 yesterday, the fight between Hiroki and Muzakkir made up for an exciting feat before Vorapong and Sarthak, a newbie in the race category inched closer to inject more pressure on the duo. As the race heated up over the last few laps, Sarthak lost control consequently the momentum to keep up with the trio ahead of him. While Vorapong maintained at P3, Muzakkir went all out to give Hiroki a good chase before the Japanese concluded with a win. When the race started, Hiroki Ono was quick to step up and take lead of the troop followed by Muzakkir and Ramdan at P3. Seconds into the race, Muzakkir overtook but Hiroki struck back. Ramdan was not bad himself this time around, trying his best to remain among the top three positions. Meanwhile, Vorapong challenged from P4. The battle heated up as Sarthak began making his moves into P2. Hiroki tried his best to remove the pressure from behind but the riders were in full form as they went at him. With four more laps to go, Sarthak and Muzakkir was seen gliding side-by-side to stay ahead. Hiroki managed his pace well. By then, Singaporean rider, Arsyad was seen at P3 before Muzakkir swiped places with him. The TVS Asia race witnessed a highly competitive feat today as riders kept close to each other. On the 5th lap, Sarthak took lead but Hiroki was not ready to be defeated. On the final lap, Hiroki tried to make a gap but Muzakkir was adamant. He chased Hiroki furiously and as the duo picked up speed, they disengaged from the troop behind. At the last corner, it was either Hiroki or Muzakkir but the Japanese was fast and clocked in at 14’55:386s. Commenting on the race, Hiroki said, “I managed to control the race well throughout the race. This would have been a great result if I got to be the champion. I started in Japan during Round 3. I lost one race there. Overall, I raced in 8 races, lost one and won seven. So, to me, this has been an amazing result overall. I would like to express my gratitude and thank you to all my sponsors and team members, my Japanese fans and supporters for all that I have achieved.” Md Muzakkir of Malaysia who finished podium second at 14’55:457s an hailed Champion in the TVS Asia One Make Championship, Season 2023. Vorapong Malahuan of Thailand made it third at 14’56:697s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

Quite the show with the TVS Asia One Make Championship today at the Chang International Circuit with riders committed to meet their goals. One who stood significantly tall was Hiroki Ono of Japan when he bagged the win in Race 1, Round 6 of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Earlier today in the qualifying session, Hiroki Ono went on a flying start and clocked in fastest at 1’49:534s, instantly rewarding him with the best position on the grid. Malaysian duo, Ramdan and Muzakkir were not bad themselves when they scored the second and third spot on the grid at 1’49:842s and 1’49:879s respectively. The riders were off to a great start, particularly Hiroki Ono who immediately took lead from the first turn. Behind him, Muzakkir maintained his distance, not too far away instead close enough to make his move. Before the lap ended, Muzakkir took a slide from the inside ahead but seconds into the next lap, Hiroki was fast to overtake him on the long straight. Muzakkir was not about to give up. Behind them, Sarthak got closer. The Indian rider was equally competitive as the trio went on to stir the circuit ground up. Meanwhile, Vorapong took P4 with Ramdan at P5 after the third lap. As Vorapong inched closer, pressure mounted among the front troop. Vorapong managed to pick up speed and slide past Sarthak. With four laps to go, Hiroki Ono who was well aware of the intensity trailing him began picking up speed but Muzakkir and Vorapong went on to chase him down. Hiroki Ono stayed perfectly in his racing which gave Muzakkir no opportunity to strike. Sarthak who lost his pace for a moment began picking up. Into the last two laps, Muzakkir made his move and overtook Hiroki Ono but the Japanese was quick to recover his position from the inside. Muzakkir tried slip-streaming and failed. On the final lap, the battle became fiery. On the long straight, both Vorapong and Muzakkir tried their luck again to supersede Hiroki Ono but the Japanese was dominant and relentless on the circuit. Hiroki Ono went on to take one last turn before dashing towards victory at 14’46:399s. Commenting on the race, Hiroki Ono said, “I am truly happy with this win. I enjoyed the race throughout. It was fantastic one with so many extremely great riders. It was an amazing challenge. This is my firsts time on this circuit. In the beginning, it was really tough but I think I gained confidence over each lap. I am so happy with my victory. Thank you.” Md Muzakkir Mohamed of Malaysia made it second, clocking in at 14’46:433s. Vorapong Malahuan of Thailand made it third at 14’46:660s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

The TVS Asia One Make Championship embarked on its final mission for the season today in Round 6 of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Hiroki Ono of Japan made an impressive lap time, emerging as the fastest for the day in the practice sessions, combined held at Chang International Circuit. In FP1 earlier today, Muzakkir Mohamed of Malaysia marked fastest when he clocked in at 1’50:792s. Vorapong of Thailand made it second fastest with his best lap time at 1’50:852s followed by Ramdan Rosli of Malaysia at third fastest with his best lap time at 1’51:202s. In FP2, Hiroki Ono of Japan emerged fastest at 1’50:013s. At second fastest was Muzakkir with his best and improved lap time at 1’50:695s. Sarthak Chavan of India, new to the championship for the season clocked in third fastest with his best lap time at 1’50:905s. With that, Hiroki concluded today’s session as the fastest. Hiroki may not have had prior experience at Chang but his experience as a rider on the international front speaks volume as he went on to showcase extraordinary achievements since Japan. The rider had one DNF in Race 2 on his home- ground but that was all the lesson it took for him to claim five consecutive wins and a total of 125 points. Commenting on the session today, Hiroki said, “This is my first time on this circuit ground but I find it easy compared to Japan. My first impression when I rode, I noticed wide safety areas within the circuit which gives me the additional confidence and boost. Between FP1 and FP2, I did not change anything on the machine except for my riding styles. FP1 was more of familiarising and FP2 was trying out what works best on this circuit. It worked for me. I will try to improve my lap time further for tomorrow during the qualifying and of course, for the race, I will put on a good show to keep up with home- ground boy Vorapong and Muzakkir.” Taking the second fastest spot was Md Muzakkir Mohamed of Malaysia with his best lap time at 1’50:695s. Third fastest was Vorapong Malahuan of Thailand with his best lap time at 1’50:862s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

Quite a ride it has been in the TVS Asia One Make Championship throughout five rounds of this season. With the participation of highly competitive riders coupled with a powerful machine, the show has become increasingly compelling. Raking it high on the charts and in contention of the championship title are Malaysian duo, Mohamed Muzakkir and Md Ramdan Rosli as well as defending champion, Vorapong Malahuan of Thailand who will be gearing up for the season finale at the Chang International Circuit. Round 6 of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will be the final call. Vorapong Malahuan returned this season after carving history last year as the very first champion in the debut season of the race category. He had a flying start when he took the double-win at his home- ground circuit but his capacities were tested instantly with the presence of Malaysian duo, Muzakkir and Ramdan who took him down in their home circuit. The battle continued as they charged at each other for the most sought-after spot. Vorapong went on to lead the chart for the following two rounds but in a twist of fate, a casualty between him and Ramdan gave Muzakkir a lucky break to take a leap up the leaderboard. Vorapong commented, “Frankly speaking, this season has been quite a show especially with at least five to six highly capable riders. Especially Hiroki who made his entry since Round 3. He has been really strong in all sectors and he is capable of riding using slick tires. That is something that I have to learn from him. There are definitely some major differences compared to last season especially in terms of the lap time. The lap time are comparatively similar to that of the AP250. So, it is challenging. For the upcoming round, I will have to up my performances for sure. Top five competitors are really strong therefore I can’t afford to take a much-relaxed approach. I won twice in Round 1 but I had technical issues in Japan and in Zhuhai, I lost the championship points. It was a tough time, this season. In terms of the machine, in my professional views, it was developed for international circuits and second-year running, it has made quite a significant impact. The information provided by our fifteen riders have been crucial in their development for each round. For the coming round, I will do my best. I am still highly motivated to ride but at the same time, I also want to coach. So, next season maybe a different scene entirely for me.” Ramdan on the other hand said, “So far, this season has been good for me. I have truly enjoyed this category and it has given me a different perspective overall in terms of riding techniques and handling. Honestly, I thought I could win the championship title but to be fair, it has been tough especially with four riders fighting for the same spot. I am focused though to have a good race in Round 6 and to finish on the podium for both races. I did have some issues at Chang circuit in Round 1 but I would like to leave that behind and move forward with the overall experience that I gained this season to ensure that the mistakes are not repeated. The pressure is definitely there. No doubt! Any rider would feel a certain kind of anxiety but the goal is to give my best and minimise errors where possible. The level of competitiveness in the TVS Asia race category has definitely improved. Some of them with prior experiences from the debut season and some who are new. We have the likes of Hiroki who has been able to inject a different kind of thrill which makes it even more compelling. At the moment, I just want to finish the season with a good note and get an awesome result. For the coming season, I do hope that I can race in ARRC again!” As for Muzakkir, he said, “It is a season of ups and downs for me but understandably, this is motorsports. I have experienced this many times so I am able to manage my expectations will this time around. TVS has done an awesome job with the championship – the professionalism of the crew members and the machine’s capacities are exceptional. It has been a happy moment for me each time we raced. Being in contention for championship is solely a one-man’s job. As it is a one-make series, there are no teammates. Everyone has the same goal which is to win. My strategy has been the same throughout the season which is to stand tall on the podium and complete the race with maximum points. One of the challenges would be the machine in each round. We get different machines and sometimes, it is a fantastic one and sometimes we get the ones that has crashed before. Having said that, the mechanics of TVS Asia always did a great job to ensure optimisation of the machines. Racing at Buriram, which is like my second home and one of my favourite circuits, I have a better confidence. Sector 2 is my strong point and with a perfect setup, I think I can make it. Of course, we have the likes of Ramdan and Hiroki who are both world championship riders, Vorapong who is the defending champion and not forgetting Piyawat and Decky who are all great riders. But again, we all have our own set of skills, equally competitive. Sometimes, what matters more is plain luck.” Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

It was yet another exciting feat among the TVS Asia One Make Championship riders as they glided for a better spot. Hiroki Ono of Japan was unbeatable today as he went on with the much-anticipated moves to bag the best spot on the podium in Race 2 of Round 5, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship held at Zhuhai International Circuit. It was Hiroki as usual at the lead position in Race 1. Different this time around was Muzakkir who kept his pace close to the Japanese, placing intense pressure. Ramdan and Vorapong trailed behind. Mid- race, it was game over for Ramdan and Vorapong when they collided, opening a wide pathway for Taiyo a P3. With no threats from behind, Muzakkir went all out to attack Hiroki. Hiroki however was not about to be defeated. He broke free from that intensity and fled towards victory. During the race earlier, Hiroki was quick to take his spot ahead of the others followed by Muzakkir at P2. Mid-lap, Vorapong swerved ahead for a moment before Malaysian duo took a slide ahead with Muzakkir at P2 and Ramdan at P3. On lap 2, Ramdan picked up speed and made it past Muzakkir. Hiroki remained strong in the lead position. The battle was evident between Ramdan and Muzakkir and by the third lap, the latter made it back into P2. Meanwhile, Piyawat was at P4 and Taiyo at P5. The Malaysian duo went on to pressure Hiroki. As they exchanged positions multiple times, Hiroki did not engage in the threats. By mid-race, Hiroki drew a gap of 0.613s while Muzakkir and Ramdan battled furiously. With another two laps to go, Hiroki was getting faster and further away from pressure at 2.826s gap. Muzakkir remained steadily at P2 with Ramdan attempting to close the gap. At the final lap, Hiroki was already on his way towards yet another double victory while Ramdan looked out to strike. Hiroki clocked in at 14’28:690s. Commenting on the race, Hiroki said, “Today was great. I kept to my lap time well. I have made five wins in total out of the six races since my entry into this race category. I thank my Japanese sponsors for that and I thank TVS Asia team for the wonderful opportunity given to me. My ultimate goal and drive every round were to take a win, nothing more and nothing less. That’s how I motivate myself to push beyond the limits. It is not so much of the championship title. This weekend has definitely been a wonderful one!” Md Muzakkir Mohamed of Malaysia was consistent as he concluded the game second at 14’31:751s. Taking third was Md Ramdan Rosli of Malaysia, logging in at 14’31:814s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

TVS Asia One Make Championship has been a boost to the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship since its debut season. Featuring some of the best names in its class, the race category has never ceased to make an impression in each round. Today, standing tall once again among the troop was Hiroki Ono of Japan who bagged the winning spot in Race 1 of Round 5 at Zhuhai International Circuit. During the qualifying session earlier today, Malaysian boy, Muzakkir made it fastest with his best lap time at 1’48:053s. That qualified him as a pole-man for the weekend. At second spot on the grid was Hiroki Ono of Japan with his best lap time at 1’48:149s. Taking the third spot on the grid was Taiyo Saito of Japan with his best lap time at 1’48:492s. The race started with Hiroki Ono speeding up to take lead at the first turn followed by Taiyo Saito at P2 and Muzakkir at P3. Meanwhile, Ramdan was at P4 with Vorapong chasing furiously. Into lap 2, Malaysian duo Muzakkir and Ramdan overtook Taiyo Saito and went on to close the gap with Hiroki however, the latter went on at the pole position with a gap of 0.936s. By the end of lap 3, Muzakkir was seen picking up on his speed. Vorapong on the other hand made it into P4. Muzakkir seemed to match the pace of Hiroki as he maintained his position, close to the Japanese. By mid-race, he was only 0.130s away from Hiroki. While Ramdan tried to catch up with the duo ahead, Muzakkir was on a lookout to strike. Hiroki was careful not to slip. Vorapong was trying his best to inch closer to Ramdan before the two crashed out. At the final lap, Muzakkir found his way to slide from the inside at turn one and take lead for a moment before the latter snatched his position back. Towards the finish line, Hiroki took speed and went on to hit it first at 14’23:448s. Commenting on the race, Hiroki said, “The race today was not easy at all. I had to push 100% on each lap. The other guy behind me was extremely good too. I had to keep watch. But the last lap, it was easy because I have a lot of experience and I managed to make it. I am very happy for the win today. There is another race tomorrow, so, we shall see!” Md Muzakkir Mohamed of Malaysia made it second at 14’23:748s. With that, Muzakkir topped the overall chart with a total of 128 points. Taiyo Saito of Japan made a lucky finish at the third spot on the podium at 14’33.093s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com

Since its presence in the FIM Asia One Make Championship, TVS Asia One Make Championship has been injecting excitement and fun for its riders as they stride the alongside for the champion title sweep. Marking the fastest lap time combined in the free practice sessions was Hiroki Ono of Japan. During FP1 that happened earlier today, Ramdan of Malaysia charted the fastest lap time with his best at 1’48:175s. Hiroko Ono of Japan made it second fastest with his best lap time at 1’48:574s. Muzakkir of Malaysia scored third fastest when he logged in with his best lap time at 1’49:226s. In FP2, Hiroki no upped his performances and marked an enhanced lap time at 1’47:750s. Malaysian duo, Ramdan and Muzakkir made it second and third fastest with their best lap time at 1’48:991s and 1’48:597s respectively. Hiroki currently sits at the 7th spot overall with a total of 75 points. The Japanese rider made his entry this season during Round 3 in Japan. He made an impressive win in Race 1 but was “DNF” in Race 2. His participation in Round 4 at Mandalika awarded him with a double-win. Ever since, Hiroki has been relentless in his pursuit to make it up the charts. Last season, Hiroki took part as a wildcard rider and earned a spot on the podium in both races. Commenting on the FP sessions, Hiroki said, “I thought the practice sessions were quite good, easy to accomplish. The asphalt condition is not that great. It is a little bumpy compared to the other circuits. The tires were also in good condition. Therefore, I was able to manage my machine well. There were some changes to the settings between FP1 and FP2. So, the lap time is better in FP2 and the settings seem to have worked. This is not my first time actually. I have raced here a long time ago, back in 2012. But I really have no memories of that situation which was 11 years ago. I am quite confident for the weekend. I have to work a little bit more on the braking. The front brakes have been giving some trouble. If I could work on that, then I can get better lap time. Of course, we don’t know about the weather condition as well. So, we shall see.” Taking the second fastest spot combined was Md Ramdan Rosli at 1’48:175s. At third fastest was Md Muzakkir Mohamed at 1’48:597s. Connect with Us! Latest news at asiaroadracing.com