The pressure was pumped and the fight was furious but the duo of IDEMITSU HONDA RACING MALAYSIA, Md Helmi Azman and Khairul Idham Pawi danced the rhythm of power before taking the troop down with a 1-2 in Race 2 of the SuperSports 600cc on their home-ground. Despite their calibre and prowess, the road to stardom is long and windy especially with the likes of Indonesian, Adenanta Putra of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM and Thai, Anupab Sarmoon of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM in the picture, marking their territories from the top two spots. What’s it going to be like in Round 3 of the IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Mobility Resort Motegi?
While records have it that Adenanta has a better hand at the game on Japanese soil, it is superficial to say that Helmi is not on par especially with his ability to stir up the battlefield and tackle the opponents. More so with the fact that he has been doing that for a long time in the SS600 race category. As motorcycle racing has it – one may be brilliant and robust in their manoeuvring but it all ends as planned only with a little luck on their side. Helmi definitely had his fair share of luck turning its back on him but that doesn’t add up to his capacities to compete competitively and while Motegi circuit may be an overwhelmingly challenging ground, Helmi is probably covering all bases to ensure a better outcome than before.
Commenting on the upcoming race, Helmi said, “Adenanta is undoubtedly strong however, I would say that last year’s challenge for me was not so much from the opponent but predominantly due to the machine setting. I am quite positive that this time around will be better since we are better aware of certain aspects. We need to improvise further on the corners especially with the opponents having a better hand on the long-straights. We also need better speed especially on the exits to catch up with the competitors. But of course, it would be ideal if we have better speed on the long-straights too. Compared to last season, the competition is stronger now so we have to remain consistent to achieve our target every round. The championship title is still open for now therefore, it’s all about maximising the points and keeping up with the momentum in the coming races. Luck is one but more importantly, having the right mindset is crucial to stay focused. The racing scene is a cruel one – there are times when we smile and then the days when we are sad but the only thing left to do is stay focused and move along to the next game.”
As for Khairul, Motegi circuit is not new and for Anupab, it’s quite the opposite. One thing that is common for both riders though is their ride on the circuit ground in ARRC which will be the first. It’s not a major issue for them though considering their exposure and experience on the world front that gives them the upper hand in understanding the nitty-gritty of racing. Although there may be a slight difference for Yamaha rider, Anupab who has been racing aboard a 1000cc prior to his entry this season in the SS600 race category, it could nevertheless serve as an added plus for him to accelerate further in his game. Since the season opener, the rider has checked out each race on the podium except for one when his machine failed.
Anupab said, “I am 4-points away from the leader but the goal is to fine-tune my performance and work on areas where I am weak to keep up with the competitor. The goal is to be ahead of the leader in the coming two races. I have never raced in Motegi grounds but I have been working hard to learn from those who have raced there. Surely, there is nothing less than the best that I would do. For me, the current chart-topper is a young kid who rides very well and is equally strong in terms of competence which makes it a motivating factor for me to supersede the current expectations and outcome. The ARRC is a unique championship that provides a pedestal for the best of Asia and having said that, the competitive stride is inevitable. In the other classes as well, we can see that the riders are improving as they go. I have been riding aboard the 600cc machine on the world front for two years now and I think I have settled into racing well for now. I like the 600cc race category and for me, it doesn’t justify if I don’t make it champion this season! So, that’s the ultimate goal.”