Rheza Danica will never forget 2018. Crowned champion of the Asia Production 250cc series, he enjoyed a brilliant season with Astra Honda. Rheza took 6 victories, 3 podiums and 3 pole positions in twelve races, sealing the title in Sentul in front of the Indonesian fans. The AHRT rider now looks to the future, with a desire to continue taking steps forward in the coming years to achieve his dream: Representing Indonesia in the MotoGP World Championship.
What is your assessment of the 2018 season?
“Despite it being my second year in the Asia Production 250cc class, this season was very demanding for me. The positive thing is that I already knew all the circuits except Australia, and I had a better idea of how the competition works. Finally, with the effort of the entire team, we were able to win the title. That makes me very happy.”
How do you remember the moment when you were crowned champion in Sentul?
“As soon as I crossed the finish line and I found out that we had won the title, I exploded with happiness. The fact that we did it in Indonesia, in front of our fans and family, was incredible. Our objective was to give our all during the weekend, because to be a champion in that series there were many factors that had to come through, but in the end we were able to achieve it with two races to spare.”
What does it mean to you to be Asian champion?
“It means a lot to me. Since I started competing for Astra Honda, one of my goals was to be champion of Asia and I have achieved it, so it is a dream come true. This victory is vital for the future of my sporting career.”
What has been the most difficult part of winning the title?
“With it being such a competitive class, the most difficult thing has been keeping consistent during the season, since staying at a high level race after race is not easy. Luckily, with the support of the team, we have always found the way to be among the fastest riders and to be competitive.”
Gerry Salim won the title last year. Was he useful as a reference?
“Yes, we were lucky enough to share a team last year and I could see from the inside what it was like for him to win the title. I looked closely at his development in each race and I studied him thoroughly to be able to apply that knowledge during this season.”
How important has the support of Astra Honda been during the season?
“It has been vital to me winning the title and I am very grateful for them giving me this opportunity to compete in the AP250 series. This competition is the best in Asia and all this experience that I have gained has been great for my development as a rider. I think that we have formed a very solid and competitive team that has allowed us to win the title.”
What are your goals for the future?
“My dream is to continue moving up through the competitions, to be able to represent Indonesia in the MotoGP World Championship someday.”
What plans do you have for the break until next season?
“I’m going to give myself a few days off to disconnect and to spend time with my family and friends. I can’t wait to spend time with them. Then I will start to train hard and prepare for next season.”