Round 1 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 kicked off today at the Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia, where Thailand’s very own Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM delivered a commanding performance to finish fastest in the AP250 combined practice sessions.
The opening session immediately showcased strong pace across the field, but it was Krittapat who led the way with a solid 2’24.786s, placing him at the top of Practice 1. Behind him, the ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM duo of Muh. Badly Ayatullah M and Rheza Danica Ahrens posted 2’25.406s and 2’25.512s respectively, while Candra H of YAMAHA RACING INDONESIA and Aiki Iyoshi of TEAM SDG WITH HARC-PRO rounded out the top five in a tightly matched session.
In Practice 2, Krittapat maintained his sharp form with another strong lap at 2’25.005s, keeping his position at the top of the standings. Fahmi Basam of YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM closed in with 2’25.191s, while Galang Hendra Pratama of YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA posted a competitive 2’25.586s to remain among the lead group. Md Danial Syahmi Ahmad Shahril of UMA RACING YAMAHA MAJU MOTOR ASIA TEAM and Spain’s Unai Calatayud Pascual of Pro Power Antares MT Kawasaki completed the top five.
But it was during Practice 3 that Krittapat delivered his strongest statement of the day. The Thai rider unleashed a blistering lap of 2’24.292s, the fastest of all three sessions, showcasing both refinement in setup and growing confidence heading into Qualifying. Fahmi remained close behind with 2’24.465s, followed by Rheza with 2’24.545s, while Galang and Aldiaz Aqsal Ismaya ensured the YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA squad placed both riders inside the session’s top five.
With combined times taken from all sessions, Krittapat Keankum emerged as the fastest rider overall, marking a strong start to his 2026 AP250 campaign. Fahmi secured second, with Rheza completing the top three for the day.
Krittapat expressed, “Today we finished P1 and kept everything consistent. We tried a new setup, explored new racing lines, and tested some techniques, and everything felt very good. I will do my best in tomorrow’s Race 1.”
TOP 5 FASTEST – COMBINED PRACTICE
1. KRITTAPAT KEANKUM – YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM (2’24.292s)
2. FAHMI BASAM – YAMAHA LFN HP969 INDONESIA RACING TEAM (2’24.465s)
3. RHEZA DANICA AHRENS – ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM (2’24.545s)
4. GALANG HENDRA PRATAMA – YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA (2’24.751s)
5. ALDIAZ AQSAL ISMAYA – YAMAHA BAF YAMALUBE AKAI JAYA (2’24.791s)