Round 6December 6, 2015  Asia Production 250

Thai YZF-R25 Rider Prevails in 11-Bike Dice to Take 3rd in Race 1!
Kasma Daniel Bin Kasmayudin Takes Best Yamaha Finish in Race 2 with 4th Place

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RACE DATA

Circuit

Thailand/Chang International Circuit

Condition

Dry

PP

Apiwat Wongthananon(1'56.981/Honda)

Race 1 FL

Passawit Thitivararaka(1'57.321/Honda)

Race 2 FL

Anupab Sarmoon (1'57.947/Yamaha)

REPORT

Contesting the 2015 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) was a completely new challenge for Yamaha. Seeing the recently formed Asia Production 250 class as a way for upcoming riders to transition from racing underbones to motorcycles, Yamaha saw the opportunity to develop race bikes based on the YZF-R25, have local subsidiaries and other organizations manage the teams, and give young talented riders from all over Asia aiming to open the door to a future on the world stage of racing the chance to show their skills. At the same time, another goal of these efforts is to provide a training ground for both riders and mechanics in order to bring up riders and teams from Asia who will eventually inherit the Yamaha Racing Spirit.
At the start of the season, the Yamaha teams’ lack of experience in the class and a fiercely competitive field of riders meant that things did not go as smoothly as hoped. But as the season progressed, the teams were gradually able to start bringing out the potential of the R25. Then at Round 5 in Qatar, Kasma Daniel Bin Kasmayudin (#127)—the youngest Yamaha rider—finished in 2nd position to put the YZF-R25 on the podium for the first time. The riders’ hard work and Yamaha’s personnel development initiatives were beginning to produce solid results.
Furthermore, as part of the personnel development program, Shinichi Nakatomi, who rode a Yamaha in the premier JSB1000 class of the 2015 All Japan Road Race Championship this year and is a former World Superbike Championship competitor, was brought in as an advisor for the final round of the season. He spent the three-day race weekend holding technical meetings and providing moral support for the teams with a focus on not only the final race of the season but also for further improvement in the future. The R25 riders got off to a slow start in the free practice and qualifying sessions, and gave up a bit of ground to their rivals in the process. But when it came time to race, they put on a forceful display as they took the fight directly to those rivals on the track.

Race 1
Yamaha riders were on the offensive right from the start of Race 1. Jostling for position in the leading group was Kasma (#127), the youngest Yamaha up-and-comer, Ayumu Tanaka (#82), who finished 2nd in Race 1 at Qatar, and Yamaha Thailand Racing Team’s wildcard rider Anupab Sarmoon (#500). Kasma (#127) was especially quick as he utilized the R25’s straight-line speed to rocket to the front several times and shake up the order.
Meanwhile, roughly two seconds behind the leading group, the local Thai R25 riders were showing their speed. With a race pace faster than the leaders, they chiseled away at the gap by tenths of a second. By the middle of the race, they had finally caught up as the two groups joined together to form a massive 11-bike train. Among the leaders were six R25 riders, each using their strengths to the fullest as the order changed with every sector of the track.
On the final lap, while the riders of the other brands expertly guarded their positions heading toward the all-decisive final corner, the less experienced R25 riders threw caution to the wind and got hard on the gas. This relative lack of experience would prove to be the key in ensuring victory or defeat. Anupab (#500) would be the one to finish in a podium position, while Kasma (#127), who had led the race several times and a speedy Peerapong Loiboonpeng (#14) and Peerapong Boonlert (#45) narrowly missed out. But even so, the R25 was on the podium for the third race in a row since Qatar while the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team took its first podium in the class. The R25 riders were able to show their toughness yet again, and put themselves in a strong position for Race 2.

Race 2
Race 2 the following day (Dec. 6) would be the season’s last. Just as in Race 1, the riders all battled hard for the lead. Kasma (#127) took the fight to the top three championship leaders right from the beginning. But no matter how many times he made passes to get himself among them, he wasn’t able to hold onto his position. In the middle stages of the race, Race 1’s 3rd-place finisher Anupab (#500) mixed it with his teammate Peerapong Loiboonpeng (#14) and his countrymen on YZF-R25s as they had a fierce battle for position.
The R25 dominated on the straights and could move to the front, but in the corners, Yamaha’s more experienced rivals had the advantage. Positions changed at nearly every corner as the race unfolded. In the midst of this, Peerapong Loiboonpeng (#14) stood out above the rest. He was the highest placed R25 rider by qualifying in 5th and had battled in the top group for podium positions in Race 1. Along with Kasma (#127), Peerapong (#14) was locked in with the front group and pushing toward securing a long-sought maiden victory.
As it was in Race 1, victory or defeat came down to the final corner of the final lap, but Peerapong (#14) was prepared. The fierce battle during the last lap saw the riders in 1st and 2nd contact each other right before the final corner, causing them to suddenly drop their pace and Peerapong (#14) was able to get ahead of them for an instant. But at the final corner, the rivals behind him sprung a counter attack that forced him very wide, running him off the circuit. He was able to hold on without falling and returned to the circuit to finish 3rd, but he was later handed a penalty for running off track which changed his final position to 5th. This made Kasma (#127) the highest placed R25 rider with 4th.
And thus the 2015 ARRC season came to a close. If you exclude the penalty handed out in the final race, four R25 riders finished within reach of the podium over the season. Though they haven’t yet become leaders of the class, the Yamaha riders have improved markedly and demonstrated the strong potential of the R25 in the process. Yamaha and these riders’ challenge has only just begun. Next season, they will return to Asia’s top series and show how much more progress they have made!
For Race 2 in the SuperSports 600 class, the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team again had a positive race. This time it was Thai Yamaha star Kraisart and Race 1’s 2nd-place finisher Anucha who finished in 2nd and 3rd, respectively. However, a post-race inspection revealed a technical infringement and both were disqualified. In the Underbone 130cc class, it was an all-Yamaha podium, wrapping up another excellent season of racing with a top result.

Also, an exhibition race for the Yamaha R3 Thailand Challenge Cup was held alongside the final ARRC event. The Challenge Cup is a one-make championship using the YZF-R3 and organized by Thai Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. It consists of 12 races held at three circuits in Thailand over the year. This year has 14 dealer-sponsored and privateer teams fielding 17 riders in total, each vying for the title. Those who produce results and are seen as having promise could be asked to join the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team and compete in the ARRC’s Asia Production 250 or SuperSports 600 classes, or take on even bigger challenges like entering the All Japan Road Race Championship. It is a great opportunity for the young participants while also serving to showcase the R3 and popularize road racing throughout Thailand.
As an exhibition event, the Cup race wasn’t scored as part of the main championship and 14 riders lined up on the grid for two races. When the lights went out, the R3’s higher engine displacement meant that lap times were close to those of the Asia Production 250 class and two intense races unfolded. Paitoon Chaowait, a 24-year-old rider with experience racing in the YAMAHA ASEAN CUP RACE and currently racing the YZF-R15 and R3 in local Thai races, took a double victory.

RIDER RANKING

COMMENT

AP250

• Yamaha Factory Racing Indonesia
  #99 Galang Hendra Pratama (13th/15th)
  “At this round, in both qualifying and the races, I wasn’t able to produce positive results at all. I started near the back of the grid and wasn’t able to move forward through the free-for-all battle in both races. This being the last race of the season, I really gave my all, so I’m really disappointed with how it ended. Until last year I raced underbones so this season was my first try at motorcycle racing. The two being so different gave me some trouble at first, but it was a very valuable experience that will help me in the future. I don’t think my results befit a YIMM rider, and both on a personal and technical level I really felt my lack of experience this season. I let the team down in a big way, but next season I’d like to take it in stride and change for the better. That’s all I’m focused on right now.”
• #34 Imanuel Putra Pratna (17th/10th)
  “To get good results in the ARRC, it’s really important to grasp the different characteristics of each circuit we visit, and then fine-tune the machine accordingly. This is something I constantly had in mind this season, and I’ve improved my skills at finding a good setup as well. But I finished the year still lacking some speed and precision. At this final round, I made a mistake at the start and in Race 2, it took all I had just to catch up to the lead group. I wasn’t able to really perform my best here, and my lack of experience leaves me with a lot of regret. But I was in a very positive environment and raced on a competitive machine, so it’s been a fantastic experience for me as a rider this year.”
• Yamaha Factory Racing Indonesia
  #630 Sigit Purno Harjono (14th/DNF)
  “I was really disappointed that I couldn’t participate at the beginning of the season due to an injury. Despite having an excellent machine, I just wasn’t able to master it and struggled to get the maximum out of the bike. It was a reminder that I still lack enough skills. That fact was apparent at this event too. I pushed too hard and crashed out. However, I noticed the improvement our machine has made through the course of the season and that made me feel like I could catch the lead group. So this result leaves me very, very disappointed. As for results, I was aiming much higher than where I finished so I’m not satisfied at all. Now I have an even stronger desire to take on this challenge again.”
• Team Managing Director Yusuke Koizumi
  “Of course, we at YIMM wanted to win this season, but alongside that we also had the goal of fundamental training and education for our riders and mechanics. Our mechanics came into the season with zero experience but were able to acquire professional-level skills and had no major mechanical issues; they really improved a lot throughout the season. They worked above and beyond expectations and I’m really grateful for that. Our riders didn’t make quite enough progress with their riding skills or control, which is also my own responsibility. We couldn’t bring out the fullest of their potential. But, as far as pushing to get the best out of themselves and their machines in a limited span of time, I feel they did show growth. These aren’t the results we thought we’d have, but I’d like the whole team to use what we’ve learned this season to step up to a higher level.”
• Yamaha Thailand Racing Team
  #45 Peerapong Boonlert (6th/9th)
  “This season was my first to race with this bike, so my initial plan was to learn as much as I could from our more experienced rivals. Though it wasn’t enough, I think I was able to absorb a lot of information. On the other hand, I would make plans of attack before each race, but I wasn’t able to fully carry them out. So as a whole, I didn’t get the results that I wanted. This was my home race so I was really fired up, but I became really nervous before the race to the point my arms and legs were shaking and I couldn’t ride as well as I wanted. But I’m pleased that I was able to run with the leaders. I’m still not quite at the level needed for podiums, but this race has shown me how much I’ve improved.”
• #14 Peerapong Loiboonpeng (5th/5th)
  “With this being my home race and because I knew the course well, the podium was my goal. Though I later received a penalty that dropped me from the podium in Race 2, it was a very emotional moment when I achieved what I’d set out to do and it gave me a lot of confidence. Over this season, I’ve improved my skills and mental conditioning a lot. I’ve also gotten in the habit of thinking hard about my setup and riding style before races, which is a big improvement. I didn’t have the best concentration through the race weekend; I wasn’t able to focus totally on the races and skipped some important processes beforehand, so maintaining my focus is one area I think will be key for me to improve. Next year I’ll be back aiming for the podium once again!”
• #500 Anupab Sarmoon (3rd/8th)
  “I normally race in Thailand’s Supersport class so I had confidence for the race and made the podium my goal. But the two classes’ machines have such different characteristics that it took me some time to adjust. But I was able to focus on the race. Race 1 was hectic, but in the approach to the final corner I planned out where I would attack and how I would do it, and I think that led to my podium finish. I’m quite pleased, but I think I still have room to improve. My goal moving forward is to be able to fight at the world level. I think this race served as a great experience towards achieving that goal.”
• #44 Rathapong Boonlert (DNF/19th)
  “I usually race in the Supersport class in Thailand, but I was given the opportunity to make a second wildcard appearance following my previous entry at Round 4 at this same circuit. I put in a lot of practice in preparation for this event so I was hoping to be able to run with the lead group, but I had some trouble in qualifying and ended up starting near the back of the grid, and that contributed to a lackluster result. But I picked up a lot of information that will aid me in the future. Both my teammate and I, along with the ARRC and Thai Yamaha Motor, received a lot of exposure with the spectators that came to watch, which I think is great.”
• Theerapong Opaskornkul (Senior General Manager Sales & Marketing Support)
  “Our team fielded two riders this season with very high expectations for both of them, but from the beginning to the middle stages of the season, our situation was tough. Things began to turn around for us in Qatar where Peerapong Boonlert finished 4th, and he took two excellent 3rd places this weekend, which were great results for our team (he was later demoted to 5th in Race 2 by penalty). For us, participation in motorsports is a direct link to our sales. We brought many customers a taste of motorsports in rounds 4 and 6 here in Thailand. This served to increase Yamaha’s brand recognition, and in the long run we hope it will increase customers’ faith in the brand and boost sales. In that aspect too, the riders have done a great job for our team.”
• Yamaha Finson Racing
  #127 Kasma Daniel Bin Kasmayudin (10th/4th)
  “The beginning of the season was really hard for me. But from the Japan round onward, both the machine and I made big strides and I was able to take the podium in Qatar. I battled at the front here in Thailand as well. My best race of the season was definitely Qatar though. I could hardly believe I was actually standing on the podium; it was a race that made me realize how far along I’ve come. My bike was also extremely fast and worked so well, and that made a big difference. This season I think I had some really good experiences and took a big step forward as a rider. It has been a year that I won’t soon forget. Next season I’d like to constantly be on the podium and try for even better results.”
• Team Manager Eddy Saputra
  “First of all I’d like to thank Yamaha and all the fans who supported us this season. Our riders, particularly Kasma, have grown a tremendous amount compared to the beginning of the year. But even so, there are still many areas in which we need to improve. We didn’t meet our goal of finishing the season in 5th overall so we can’t be satisfied with the result. We still need to aim higher. Brandon took points in Malaysia and made a good start, but I still haven’t fully grasped why he had a run of difficult races after that. However, there is no doubt that we’re improving as a team. We’re really looking forward to the challenge next year.”
• Yamaha Yamalube KYT Tunggal Jaya Racing
  #27 Rusman Fadhil (23rd/24th)
  “I finished 7th last time here in Thailand, so I was out to finish higher than that this time out, but I couldn’t get a good direction for the setup of the bike and went into the races in a state of disarray. It was a really disappointing way to end the season. But this year was a great learning experience for me. I raced at a lot of different circuits and learned how to plan out my setup and riding techniques for each one and put that into practice. This helped me grow a lot this season. However, when I ask myself if everything was perfect the answer is still ‘no,’ so I need to improve further. It wasn’t an easy season, but I feel like I’ve really changed as a rider and I’d like to give it a shot again next season.”
• #32 Muhamad Hasyim Zaki Adil (21st/DNF)
  “I used my setup from Qatar, where I finished well, as a base, but because the corner speeds here are different, that base setup didn’t fit this track and I had trouble in the race. I was the one who made the decision to use it, so the results are completely my responsibility. Though the season is over, this race really made me feel my lack of experience. This was my first season racing motorcycles, and I did so mostly on circuits that I had never seen before, so it was a real challenge. Many times I just couldn’t ride as well as I wanted to and I had many frustrating experiences. But that’s also why I want to get faster. That’s all I’m thinking about at this point; I want to keep learning more and gain more experience as I go.”
• Team Manager Rudynanto Widjaya
  “Our goal for this season was to finish in the top five, but we ended up quite a bit lower than that. We’d had our hopes up so we’re disappointed but it might be that this is just the level of our team right now. Both of our riders showed improvement in several areas but they aren’t at the level they need to be yet. They need to learn more about motorcycles, machine setup and riding techniques as they lack knowledge and experience in all of them. That goes for the team as well. It’s our first year in the class so maybe it can’t be helped, but even so I feel like we could have done more this season, which leaves me feeling unfulfilled.”
• YAMAHA MLT RACING YEAM
  #26 Li Zheng Pang (21st/28th)
  “First of all I’d like to thank Yamaha and my team for the amazing support I’ve received this season in the ARRC. Also at this round, Nakatomi-san gave me some great tips on my riding and race starts, which helped improve my skills. Next season I plan to utilize this experience to push for better results.”
• #28 Meng Xing Bin (20th/26th)
  “This was my first season racing motorcycles and I’m really grateful for the opportunity. Over the weekend, Nakatomi-san taught me a lot about riding skills, corner speed, how to control the machine and more. Even during the race, I could tell how it had helped me a great deal. I’m extremely thankful to him for his coaching. To be honest, this season didn’t go so well for me, but I plan to do my best and keep improving.”
• Team Manager Louis Mok
  “We’ve had tremendous support from Yamaha and a lot of people in our ARRC project, and we’re all really thankful. However, because there is no 250cc racing class in our country, our riders weren’t able to practice and our mechanics weren’t able to learn a lot about the bike’s performance. So this has been a difficult season for us. We’ll try our best to use the experience we gained this season to improve next season.”
• TEAM YSK Korea
  #52 Lim Hogon (22nd/27th)
  “Nakatomi-san gave me a lot of great advice this weekend. Based on that, I tried changing my riding position and tried a lot of new techniques in free practice, qualifying and the race. I think his advice will be beneficial and connect to results for me even after I head home to South Korea.”
• #88 Minseok Baik (25th/29th)
  “I learned a lot from Nakatomi-san. I’m a big guy so 250s are difficult for me, which is why I ride a 600cc machine back home in South Korea. I’ll take advantage of all the advice he gave me in the future.”
• Team Manager Kibok Ku
  “First I’d like to say that I’m glad that our riders had no major accidents up to this point and could come into the final round injury-free. We wanted to finish inside the top 15 and get some points this season, but in the end, we weren’t able to do that, so I’m pretty disappointed. We’ll try our best to get better results next season in the ARRC.”
• Koji Kobayashi (Asia Support Representative, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.)
  “At the start of the season, we thought we would get good results right from the opening round, but with this being Yamaha’s first foray into the category, both we and the riders and teams had a distinct lack of experience, and things didn’t go like we imagined. But in the last two rounds, we stood on the podium and our riders were able to demonstrate how much they’ve grown this season. I think it’s easy to see that growth if you compare rounds 4 and 6, both held here in Thailand. Standing on the podium isn’t the same as winning however, so I feel that Yamaha and the riders and teams need to work together on tackling the issues facing us to accomplish that task. Specifically, we can match our rivals in speed, but we need to work on our tactics in battling for the lead. We’ll try our utmost to take it step by step and work as a team to get there.”

SS600

• Yamaha Thailand Racing Team
  #46 Decha Kraisart (20th/EX)
  “This was my first ARRC race since 2011 and the regulations have changed since then, so my first task was to get used to the new format. With this being my home race, of course it was my aim to finish on the podium and it was also my mission to give Thai Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. plenty of exposure in the process. However, Yuki Takahashi was really fast, so I unfortunately couldn’t take the win. At this event, I also had the chance to observe the many young Yamaha riders that are my ‘underclassmen’ as they pushed hard to achieve their dreams. They were really enthusiastic which raised my expectations but at the same time made me think that they need to study more proactively, and increase the speed with which they pick up new techniques. But that being said, I think they all have a lot of potential. At some point I expect them to surpass me and break out onto the world stage.”

Yamaha Thailand Challenge Cup

• Yamaha IRC D.I.D. YSS Lion King Ning Nin
  #81 Paitoon Chaowait (1st/1st)
  “I’m really happy that I was able to win this event. I usually race an R15 and R3 and I typically manage to finish within in reach of the podium, for better or worse. Thai Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is very active in racing, but they also give riders a lot of chances and for that I’m extremely grateful. Because the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team is active not only in local Thai racing, but also in the ARRC and All Japan Road Race Championship, it’s where I feel like I need to be and that gives me a lot of motivation. My goal is to someday join the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team and compete full-time in the ARRC.”
• K-Sport Yamalube
  #46 Keminth Kubo (4th/3rd)
  “My goal is to race in MotoGP in the future. That’s why we have the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team and it’s with Yamaha that I feel like I can make steady progress on my way to that goal. I still have very little experience racing motorcycles, but racing mainly in the R3 Cup this year, I’ve been able to finish consistently near the top. So from now on I’d like to focus on making a case for my continued participation so I can fulfill my dream.”