AP Honda Racing Thailand’s Vorapong Malahuan took the first provisional pole of his ARRC career at the finale of the 2017 Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. Racing on home ground had boosted Vorapong’s confidence level, resulting in the quickest laptime of the day, 1’54.097s.
The Thai rider had shown early indication that he would be a potential candidate for a podium finish this weekend when he was also second fastest during the first free practice session. Vorapong’s time was 0.353s quicker than the three championship leaders who paced in behind him.
Title contenders Gerry Salim, Tomoyoshi Koyama and Anupab Sarmoon were second, third and fourth fastest after clocking 1’54.450s, 1’54.557s and 1’54.726s respectively in the combined practice timesheets.
However, the Asia Production 250cc lap record at the Chang International Circuit, 1’53.464s currently held by Takehiro Yamamoto, remains unbroken.