Day 2 of the season opener started in hot and humid weather, but rain hits the circuit right before Race 1 of the SUZUKI ASIAN CHALLENGE (SAC).
Qualifying took place in the morning in hot weather. As the riders took their laps, each started to go faster, as they got used to the track condition. #16 April King Mascardo (Philippines) took the pole position with a super lap of 1’57.660, breaking the course record of last year by close to 2 seconds. #11 Ahmad Saugi Muchtar (Indonesia) ran a 1’57.723 to qualify 2nd, and #22 Eane Jaye S. Sobretodo (Philippines) filled the front row with a lap time of 1’58.053.
Rain started to fall right before start of Race 1, making it a wet race. The riders made a good start, but the rain gradually got stronger as the race progressed. #76 Chepy Armansyah (Indonesia) took the lead at start, and gradually started to made a gap with the others. However, a little mistake on the 2nd lap forced him out of the race.
The race carried on with Muchtar, #27 Nur Al Fath Sam Ahmad (Indonesia), and #46 Aaron Gunawardena (Sri Lanka) running away from the pack. With several lead changes by them, it seemed at one point that one of them would take the win. The surprise came when #29 Mario Borbon Jr. (Philippines) closed in on the leaders in the latter laps of the race. Once Borbon caught up with the group, he took no time to take the lead, and won SAC’s first race of the 2017 season.