The SuperSports 600cc title chase may be over and done with, but Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin (Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia) still has a point to prove in his final appearance in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship before he heads off to the Moto2 World Championships in 2020.
Kasma, confirmed in second place on the championship leader, along with newly minted SuperSports 600cc FIM Asian champion Peerapong Boonlert (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team), could afford to take it easy at the season finale in Thailand this weekend.
Instead, the two riders turned the 30-minute 600cc qualifier into an intense battle for pole position as they displaced each other at the top of the timesheets in the closing minutes.
Peerapong gained an early upper hand early in the session when he clocked 1’39.681s. 18 minutes into the qualifier, Adam Norrodin (SIC Junior ZK Racing Team) popped up to the front with 1’39.449s. Adam’s time held for the duration of the 10-minute lull until Peerapong clocked 1’39.245s at four minutes to go. Almost immediately, Kasma responded by going under the 1’39 barrier with 1’38.992s.
Not to be outdone, Peerapong pushed Kasma down to P2 with 1’38.801s, only to lose his grip on pole position when Kasma clocked 1’38.756s with a mere 45 seconds left on the clock.
Kasma’s brilliant qualifying strategy has earned him the right to start both final races from pole position. Peerapong and Adam are also set to start from front row.