After a number of near-misses all season long, Malaysian rider Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin has finally claimed his first SuperSports 600cc win in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship.
Following his defeat by the hands of fellow Malaysian Adam Norrodin in Race 1, a very determined Kasma made his way to pole position for a second shot at glory in Race 2. This time, a brilliant start put him in the lead with Adam, Azroy Hakeem, Andi Farid Izdihar, Kritchaporn Kaewsonthi and Peerapong Boonlert hot on his tail.
Championship leader Peerapong looked to have missed a gear at the start of the race and was only in P7 at the end of the first lap. However, the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team rider needed only two laps to put himself back in the top three. Meanwhile, Andi Farid Izdihar had low-sided out of the race.
Peerapong managed to overtake Adam on Lap 8 and briefly got into the lead on Lap 9 and 10. However, Kasma was not about to sit back and allow his Thai rival to claim his eighth win of the season. On Lap 11, Kasma regained the lead, braced against more attacks from his rivals.
Not surprisingly, Adam got the power down in the final lap and succeeded in pushing Peerapong down to P3. Once again, Adam pulled off an overtaking move against Kasma at Turn 13. But this time, Kasma was ready for him. The Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia rider out-braked Adam into the last corner, clung on to the inside line with no quarters given, and claimed his first SuperSports 600cc win with 19’42.945s
SIC Junior ZK Racing’s Adam had to settle for P2 with 19’43.020s
For the first time in the 2019 season, Peerapong Boonlert did not pick up a single win from the Zhuhai weekend. His string of podium finishes, however, remain unbroken. Peerapong takes P3 with 19’43.094s.
The SuperSports 600cc title hunt may end at the penultimate round at the Sepang International Circuit next month. Peerapong, with 223 points in the bag, has an 80-point margin over Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin. Adam Norrodin is third overall with 125 points.