The Asia Production 250cc race category of the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will once again colour the circuit ground of PERTAMINA Mandalika International Circuit this weekend for its Round 4. Ready to flex their muscles and flaunt their mastery are teammates Md Kiandra Ramadhipa and Herjun Atna Firdaus of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM who are equally charged up to make their country proud.
It was a colourful start this season for Herjun who has been in the game for some time now and after making it to the podium five times, he fell short with a “DNF” in round three. His teammate, Kiandra who is a debutante in the race category as a full-season rider, ironically had a less accelerated momentum but with his double-win in Round 3, he rocketed to the top of the chart, toppling his teammate by four points. The question here is, “Who would excel on the Indonesian soil this time around?”
Rewinding to last season, the crowd applauded as Herjun went on the fast and fury to conquer the circuit ground. He battled intensely to defeat his teammate with calculated and risky moves before celebrating not only a double-win but also a hat-trick. Ramadhipa on the other hand made his appearance as a wild-card rider but of course, it was rough play and despite the pressure from seasoned riders, he made 7th in Race 1 and jumped two notches up to 5th in Race 2. Evidently, it is tough to place the bets considering the pros and cons of the highly capable riders but one thing’s for sure is that Herjun has his fingers wrapped around the circuit while Ramadhipa is just around the corner, catching up very quickly.
Commenting on the race, Herjun said, “The season with the new regulations makes the competition tough and it is not easy for me to be competitive especially with the RPM regulations. Due to the lower RPM, it requires us to use a smaller final ratio compared to last year. The weight of the riders is very important and in comparison to the other riders, I have a heavier body due to my tall body structure. I have also gained weight compared to last season. Besides that, the opponent’s machines especially the Yamaha R3 has a stronger torque when exiting the corners. That makes it challenging for me in catching up with them, more so with my heavier weight. I prepare myself as usual but after the crash in Motegi, it is more of being prepared mentally. The racing conditions are certainly very different for me this season but of course, I always give my best in each race. The goal remains the same though. I aim to be the best and I want to be the champion!”
As for Ramadhipa, he said, “The fight in ARRC is tough but I am able to utilise the experience from last year as a wild card rider to make the most of this season. The motivation within me has definitely increased after my win in Motegi and I am more confident now in tackling the opponents, more so for the upcoming Mandalika races. For now, I am ignoring all the pressure so that I can stay focused on my home-ground circuit. My competitors and of course, our fellow Indonesian riders will be strong on the Mandalika ground but my job is to pay attention to my own riding techniques to ensure no mistakes are made. The preparations are as usual. Of course, along with the team, we do both physical and technical preparations to achieve the best results. For the coming round on my home circuit, there are not two ways about it. I want to win and for that to happen, it is 100% all the way.”