In the blink of an eye, we find ourselves approaching the penultimate round of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. With that in mind, we can only expect the intensity to rise as riders vie for crucial points to climb the championship rankings.
Nakarin Athiraphuvapat of Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo appears to be one step ahead of his rivals in the ASB1000 category.
Nakarin’s participation in the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia, provides him with a significant advantage for the upcoming Round 5 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, also held on the same track. His victories in both Race 1 and Race 2 during the MSBK further enhanced his edge.
Nakarin shared, “Winning at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit gave me valuable insights into the track and how to effectively overtake and position myself against opponents. This experience will definitely benefit me in the upcoming ARRC Round 5.”
Reflecting on his debut season in the ASB1000 category, Nakarin said, “As the season progressed, I gained a deeper understanding of the bike and the dynamics of the battles in this class. This experience has opened up more strategies for me to aim for victory.”
Currently ranked in the top three of the overall standings, Nakarin expressed, “It’s beyond what I had initially expected for my first year. I’m thrilled to be in the top three and am focused on maintaining this position, as that’s my primary goal. To me, anything is possible. I’ll give it my all to move ahead and challenge for the top two spots as well.”
Additionally, Nakarin has taken valuable lessons from Round 4 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit, Indonesia. “At Mandalika, I was perhaps too reckless with overtaking, which cost me valuable points. I’ve learned the importance of staying calm and measured. The key takeaway is to stick to my plan and avoid mistakes.”
“I’m focusing on self-reflection and meditation to clear my mind. I’m also training rigorously on the bike and at the gym to ensure I’m in peak condition for Round 5,” Nakarin added.
Regarding the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, Nakarin said, “PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit is a challenging track, particularly due to its weather conditions. I’d rate the difficulty of this circuit as an eight out of ten. The remaining two points depend on how the race unfolds.”
Nakarin admitted that one major challenge he faces before the race is managing pre-race nerves, which can impact his performance. “One challenge is managing pre-race nerves, which sometimes disrupts my sleep. I’m working on not overthinking and instead focusing on enjoying the ride.”