The summer breeze swept through the pine-lined slopes of Mobility Resort Motegi, carrying with it a familiar and exciting presence. Soichiro Minamimoto is back on the ARRC grid as a wildcard, ready to add on to the heated rivalries where it all began. It’s the kind of spirit we’ve all been waiting for, and the stage is set for an exciting return!
This time, the stakes are different. Once a front-runner in the ARRC’s premier ASB1000 class, Soichiro returns not to chase a title but to reconnect with his craft. HONG LEONG YAMAHA RACING may have withdrawn from the ASB1000 grid this season, but for one round he is back to showcase his wit and grit on home soil.
“I’m very sad that the team withdrew from ASB1000 this year,” Minamimoto said. “So I’ve shifted my focus to the MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship Series ST600. Next month, the All Japan will be held at Motegi, so I decided to participate in the SS600.”
His wildcard entry serves as a recalibration and a chance to reevaluate his prowess. It is a test not just of machinery but of self. And there is no better place for that than Mobility Resort Motegi, a circuit carved into his racing identity where every corner holds memory and meaning.
“I’m happy to be back in ARRC again. The purpose of this race is to review my 600cc riding in preparation for next month’s All Japan.”
In the SS600 class, Minamimoto finds familiar rivals: Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin, Anupab Sarmoon, and Muhammad Helmi Azman, riders he once fought alongside in a title chase. But this time, the approach is different: no pressure, just a pure fun return to racing.
“I have some good rivals. I’m looking forward to racing with them purely for the fun of it,” he said, before adding with conviction, “Of course, I’ll be aiming to win.”