The Race 1 of the TVS Racing International Championship at Round 2 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 delivered exactly what fans had hoped for at the Chang International Circuit, Buriram, fearless overtakes and a breathtaking finish decided by just 0.004s.
After securing pole position earlier in the day with a commanding lap of 1’50.262s, Malaysia’s Mohd Ramdan Rosli looked poised to convert speed into silverware. But Spain’s Luis Miguel had other ideas.
Launching brilliantly from second on the grid, Luis seized the holeshot and immediately stamped his authority on the race. Ramdan tucked closely behind while South Africa’s Oratilwe Phiri quickly established himself as a serious contender, forming an early three-rider fight at the front.
Yet the momentum shifted on Lap 2. Ramdan struck decisively to snatch the lead, igniting what would become a relentless tactical duel. Behind them, the chasing pack refused to let the leaders escape, with India’s Rakshith Shihari Dave joining the fight and constantly reshuffling the order in a tightly packed lead group.
By Lap 3, Luis fired back with intent, setting the fastest lap of the race at 1’51.300s as he shadowed Ramdan’s every move. Colombia’s Jhon A Lopez C also forced his way into podium contention, ensuring there was no breathing room at the front.
As the laps ticked down, the intensity only grew. Lap 4 saw Oratilwe surge back into the picture, producing a strong pace to reconnect with the leading train, while Rakshith’s aggressive charge made it clear the front-runners would not be escaping.
By Lap 6, the front group had swelled into an all-out war featuring Ramdan, Luis, Oratilwe, Sarthak, Portugal’s Pedrinho Matos, and Jhon, six riders separated by almost nothing. Jhon then unleashed the fastest lap of the race at 1’51.023s, hinting at one final charge toward the podium.
But the race ultimately came down to one final lap of courage. Heading into the closing stages, Oratilwe briefly held the advantage, with Luis, Pedrinho and Ramdan all waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Then came the decisive move.
In a fearless final-corner attack, Luis launched a bold overtake, timing his run to perfection before powering past the chequered flag to seal an emotional first victory at Chang in 14’57.220s, just 0.004s ahead of a heartbroken but heroic Ramdan, who crossed the line in 14’57.224s.
Oratilwe completed the podium in third at 14’57.749s, capping off a thrilling international showdown, while Rakshith and Malaysia’s Md Naqib Rifqi rounded out the top five.
Luis said, ““This race was honestly unbelievable for me. From the very beginning, I tried to stay calm and manage everything lap by lap, focusing on being consistent and giving my best in every corner. The pace was really intense, but I kept believing in myself and pushing until the end. I truly feel that this was one of the best races of my career so far, and it means a lot to me emotionally. I want to thank my father for always supporting me through every difficult moment, and also everyone who believed in me and continued trusting me even during the hard times. Without their support, this moment would not have been possible. I’m really happy and proud with this result today. At the same time, I also want to congratulate Ramdan Rosli and Oratilwe Phale because they did an amazing job as well and we shared a great battle on track.”
TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 1
1. LUIS MIGUEL – SPAIN (14’57.220s)
2. MOHD RAMDAN ROSLI – MALAYSIA (14’57.224s)
3. ORATILWE PHIRI – SOUTH AFRICA (14’57.749s)
4. RAKSHITH SHIHARI DAVE – INDONESIA (14’57.990s)
5. MD NAQIB RIFQI – MALAYSIA (14’58.360s)