Asia Road Racing Championship

RACE DATA

■Race: 2019 Asia Road Racing Championship Rd. 06
■Category: ASB1000/SS600/AP250/UB150
■Location: Sepang International Circuit(5.548km)

Race 1
■Date: September 21, 2019
■Race Condition: Dry

ASB1000 Class
■Laps: 11
■PP: #23 Broc Parkes(2'06.107/Yamaha)
■FL: #100 Thitipong Warokorn(2'06.617/Kawasaki)

SS600 Class
■Laps: 10
■PP: #127 Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin(2'09.712/Yamaha)
■FL: #26 Peerapong Boonlert(2'10.085/Yamaha)

AP250 Class
■Laps: 8
■PP: #44 Muklada Sarapuech(2'25.343/Honda)
■FL: #911 Rafid Topan Sucipto(2'25.850/Honda)

Race 2
■Date: September 22, 2019
■Race Condition: Dry

ASB1000 Class
■Laps: 11
■PP: #23Broc Parkes(2'06.107/Yamaha)
■FL: #25 Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman(2:06.626/BMW)

SS600 Class
■Laps: 10
■PP: #127 Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin(2'09.712/Yamaha)
■FL: #24 Muhammad Izam Ikmal(2'10.072/Yamaha)

AP250 Class
■Laps: 8
■PP: #44 Muklada Sarapuech(2'25.343/Honda)
■FL: #36 Muhammad Faerozi Toreqot(2'25.833/Yamaha)

REPORT

ASB1000

Race 1: Wongthananon on Podium, Parkes 4th, Ito Out

The Yamaha Thailand Racing Team's Apiwat Wongthananon finished 3rd for his first podium since taking one at Round 3 in Thailand.

He started from the front row after qualifying 3rd on the grid, and did well to take the holeshot. He finished the first lap in the lead, but after that the lead changed constantly. On lap 2 Honda's Md Zaqhwan Zaidi (#21) took over at the front with BMW's Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (#25) behind him in 2nd, having relegated Apiwat to 3rd. Soon after, Zaidi crashed and retired from the race, leaving only Kamaruzaman in front. He was then passed by Ducati's Federico Sandi on lap 3.

The Yamaha Factory Racing Team's Broc Parkes (#23) had started from pole position, but finished the first lap in 5th. Zaidi's crash brought him up to 4th, but he was unable to better his pace, falling back to 5th by lap 5. Yamaha rider Ahmad Yudhistira (#33) crashed out of 4th on lap 6 to bring Parkes into 4th once again, but a pass from Kawasaki's Thitipong Warokorn (#100) dropped Parkes back to 5th again. Even after all this, he was still within 2 to 3 seconds of the lead group.

Apiwat held his position in the lead group and was in 2nd behind Sandi after he took the lead. He was then passed by Kamaruzaman on lap 6 leaving him in 3rd. Sandi's pace dropped off while Apiwat and Kamaruzaman got quicker, putting Apiwat in 2nd behind Kamaruzaman. Apiwat pushed to attempt an attack on the BMW rider to try for the win but was unsuccessful. He did finish on the podium however, which was his first since Round 3 and his third overall.

Parkes was having issues with his rear tyre slipping, and in the middle stages of the race could not better his pace as he rode in 5th. However he caught and passed Sandi on the last lap to take a 4th place finish. His teammate Ito (#76) did not have a positive feeling with the machine from the start and was doing his best to stay in around 6th to 7th, but on lap 8 a machine's issue reared its head and forced Ito to retire from the race. Ratthapong Wilairot (#56) finished lap 1 in 9th, and some crashes and retirements in front of him helped him on his way to a 6th place finish.

Race 2: Back-to-Back Podiums for Wongthananon with 3rd. Parkes 5th and Ito 6th

Race 2 began with Kawasaki's Thitipong Warokorn (#100) getting the holeshot. Wongthananon and Parkes were behind him in 2nd and 3rd positions, while a group of high-ranking contenders in Azlan Shah, Zaidi, Sandi and Ito followed. On lap 2 Wongthananon passed Warokorn, and Parkes moved up into 2nd before soon being relegated to 3rd. The first half of the race saw the Thai riders swapping positions at the top in a tight battle. Behind them Parkes, Kamaruzaman and Sandi all swapped amongst themselves while still staying with the lead two.

Events began to unfold in the second half of the race. Kamaruzaman upped the pace on lap 6, and Parkes was passed leaving him in 4th while Wongthananon was also passed to leave him 3rd. Then, Kamaruzaman caught Warokorn and a duel between the two ensued. Parkes and Wongthananon, who had lost positions, were within range of the lead duo, but Parkes was unable to gain pace, resulting in him fading slowly backward until he was passed by Zaidi on lap 9, relegating him to 5th.

Meanwhile Wongthananon was within striking distance of the top two coming into the last lap. He tried as hard as he could to get the most from his machine but could not get close enough to mount an attack and finished 3rd. Parkes finished 5th as he could not catch Zaidi. Ito got involved in s scrap for 7th and 8th with Yamaha rider Ahmad Yudhistira where he lost time. By the time he finally passed Yudhistira the lead group had already gotten away, but Ito did not give up as he chased down 6th placed Sandi, whom he caught and passed on the last lap. Wilairot was behind Ito and finished the race in 8th.

SS600

Race 1: Yamaha Sweeps Podium as Boonlert is Crowned Champion

It was a very strong showing for Yamaha, as an all-Yamaha podium was completed by the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team's Peerapong Boonlert (#26) in 3rd, and with that finish he wrapped up the SS600 title to become the 2019 champion with three races still remaining.

In the race, it was Hong Leong Malaysia's Kasma Daniel bin Kasmayudin (#127) who got the holeshot, followed by Md Ramdan Rosli (#23) and Boonlert, who was racing to try for the title. The three put a gap between themselves and the riders behind to form a lead group at the front. Boonlert sprang into the lead on lap 3, making it Boonlert, Rosli and Kasma Daniel in the podium positions with a narrow gap between them. This stalemate went on until the final few laps.

Major moves in the race were made on the final two laps. There, Kasma Daniel pounced from his position of 3rd to try for the top spot, which he got. By the last lap Boonlert had already lost touch with the two in front which made it a duel for the win between Kasma Daniel and Rosli. Coming into the final corner Rosli was in the lead, but Kasma Daniel got the inside line and got in front. Kasma Daniel then made a small mistake that allowed Rosli to line up alongside him coming onto the straight, and by the finish line Rosli had eked out a small lead to be barely in front and take his first win. Kasma Daniel finished 2nd with Boonlert in 3rd for a Yamaha sweep of the podium. The gap in the championship standings between Kasma Daniel and Boonlert was increased to 76 points, making it mathematically impossible for Kasma Daniel to come back and win with three races remaining. That being the case, Boonlert sealed the 2019 championship title win, making it two in a row following Ratthapong Wilairot's title last year.

Race 2: Boonlert Notches up Eighth Win of Season

Peerapong Boonlert had not taken any wins since his seventh in Race 2 at the Japan round, but he returned to winning ways with his eighth after a close-fought battle with rival Kasma Daniel bin Kasmayudin.

Just as in Race 1, Kasma Daniel started from pole position and got the holeshot. Boonlert slotted into 2nd behind him, while 3rd place was occupied by Race 1 winner Rosli with two other riders behind him. Boonlert did not waste time in taking the lead, getting there on the first lap. He had already locked up the championship title the day before and thus had no pressure weighing him down. Behind him four riders were all in close proximity, but it became essentially a duel between Boonlert and Kasma Daniel.

Their duel was one of endurance. Kasma worked hard to stay with the escaping Boonlert, which was how they ran until the final lap. That was when Kasma Daniel pushed from behind, altering his line and delaying his braking, making all attempts at a pass, but Boonlert held steady to stay in front. Kasma Daniel kept trying harder, and eventually it paid off as he made the pass stick with two corners left in the race.

The deciding factor turned out to be line choice in the final corner. Kasma Daniel chose the outside line while Boonlert chose the inside. Once they began accelerating out of the corner they came very close to touching as they lined up side by side. It was a drag to the finish line in which Boonlert managed to eke out a slight advantage before they came across. It was his first victory since the Japan round and his eighth of the season. Kasma Daniel finished 2nd and Rosli 3rd in another podium sweep for Yamaha. Amran made a mistake at the start which contributed to him finishing 7th.

AP250

Race 1: Faerozi Top Placed Yamaha in 7th

Yamaha riders struggled all the way until qualifying, but in Race 1 Yamaha Racing Indonesia's Muhammad Faerozi (#36) got up to speed. He started from 10th and improved to 7th by the second lap. After that he swapped positions back and forth, but managed to stay with the lead group until the race entered its final stages.

The second half of the race saw Faerozi towards the back of the group but still in contention, and on lap 7 he had a 2.2 second gap to 8th coming into the final lap. His pace however was similar to that of the leaders, which meant that he could not significantly close the gap. The leaders had some battles of their own which resulted in a crash, however the highest finishing Yamaha in the end was 7th.

The Yamaha Thailand Racing Team's Suttipat Patchaeetron (#86) qualified in the second group, but after three laps was in 11th and closing on the lead group. The middle stages of the race saw him lose positions and drop back into that second group once again. He battled hard in the end to take 11th.

Faerozi's teammate Anggi Setiawan (#96) finished 13th as Yamaha Thailand Racing Team rider Sawapol Nillapong came across the line in 18th.

Race 2: Yamaha Rider Rakutore on Podium in 3rd

Faerozi took 3rd in Race 2 at Round 3 in Thailand and Reynaldo Chrisantho Ratukore (#222) finished 3rd in Race 1 at Round 4 in Japan in the two podiums for Yamaha riders so far this season. This race presented another challenge, but veteran rider Rakutore took a 3rd place finish to secure Yamaha's third podium of the season.

After the first lap Rakutore was the highest placed Yamaha in 6th while Faerozi was in 10th. In the opening stages a long line formed behind the leader. Rakutore and Faerozi fought hard amongst the pack, but by lap 3 Faerozi had dropped back to 13th and was in a second overall group. However he set his personal best lap on lap 4 and with some crashes in front of him, he recovered to 9th. He had gotten in touch with the lead group even though he was at the back of it.

At the same time, Rakutore stayed in touch with the lead group and was in 6th coming into the final lap. One of his rivals crashed out in the first corner of that lap, bringing him up to 5th, after which he made another pass for 4th, and on his approach to the final corner yet another rival crashed, bringing Rakutore up to 3rd for the finish. Faerozi also benefited from the crashes as he finished 6th. Setiawan was in 15th off the start before making a steady recovery to latch onto the rear of the leading group, where he finished in 10th. Patchaeetron started from 18th and made up five positions to take 13th, while teammate Nillapong finished 18th.

UB150

Race 1: Filipino Rider Paz Finishes 6th

McKinley Kyle Paz (#123) crashed in qualifying and injured his leg, forcing him to start from near the back of the grid, but the UMA Racing Philippines Team rider began recovering positions one after another, eventually finishing 6th.

On lap 1 Yamaha Racing Indonesia's Wahyu Negroho (#89) was the top placed Yamaha in 4th, and behind him were UMA Racing Philippines Team rider Masato Fernando (#17) in 7th and Aldi Satya Mahendra (#570) in 11th as they came into the second lap. Following that the race developed as it usually does into a free-for-all, but the three stayed in the lead group throughout, at times leading the race.

Also as usual, the race was decided in the final corner of the final lap. The key to victory lies in maintaining a position near the front and seeing how much speed one can gain on acceleration out of the corner.

The final lap had a lead group with over 10 riders, but Paz pushed hard to take a 6th place finish. Elsewhere Indonesian rider Negroho took 9th while his teammate Fernando took 11th. Mahendra finished 12th. The podium was comprised entirely of Yamaha riders.

Race 2: 3rd Place for Mahendra in Race 2

This season Aldi Satya Mahendra has taken one victory and one 3rd place finish. He racked up another third place finish for his third podium of the season.

In the race Fernando was quick off the line and managed to stay in the top positions throughout the race. He was on top coming across the finish line after the first lap with Negroho in 6th and Mahendra in 8th. With this being such a long circuit however, positions changed dramatically throughout a single lap. On lap 2 it was Mahendra who came through to 4th and into the leading group. Lap 3 saw Fernando forced to stop with a mechanical issue and retire from the race.

In the lead group, Mahendra was still holding his ground at around the halfway point of the race. The UB150 class however is known for chaotic racing. By the end of lap 4, the leading group was made up of around 20 machines, in which a crowded free-for-all entailed. By the time the final lap rolled around, Negroho was in 3rd as a battle kicked off while Mahendra was in 16th. In the final corner Negroho was involved in a multi-rider crash while Mahendra took advantage and accelerated out of the corner to make a huge comeback for a 3rd place finish.

ASB1000 RESULT Race.1

ASB1000 RESULT Race.2

ASB1000 RIDERS RANKING

SS600 RESULT Race.1

SS600 RESULT Race.2

SS600 RIDERS RANKING

AP250 RESULT Race.1

AP250 RESULT Race.2

AP250 RIDERS RANKING

COMMENT

Race 1

Yamaha Racing Team ASEAN
#23 Broc Parkes (ASB1000: 4th)

"Basically I couldn't get any rear grip in the race so it was really tough. I could tell it would be like that from the first few laps so I tried several ways to get around it. I almost highsided twice, so I figured the podium would be out of reach. I thought about the championship and tried to ride as best I could without crashing. In the end Azlan Shah won and picked up a lot of points, but on the last lap I tried hard and got 4th so that was good. We'll change tyres for Race 2 and aim to be on the podium."

#76 Yuki Ito (ASB1000: DNF)

"On the sighting lap I already had the feeling there might be some trouble, but I tried to stay positive and do what I could in the race. Of course I did my best and I had the leaders in sight, but unfortunately my bike stopped. As far as standings go this result hurt a lot, but I still have a chance to be in the top three if I can get good results in Race 2 and in the last round. So first I need to focus on being on the podium for Race 2."

Team Manager Yukihiko Kurata

"It was a tough race today. Broc had little issues all throughout the weekend, and we had to go into the race without having the settings fully dialed in. That was the main cause, but to come back and take 4th, I think he did the absolute maximum he could with what he had. As far as points go this 4th place was important, even if it's by only a little. Ito was doing really well, so for his race to be over was really disappointing. I was a bit worried about him losing some motivation, but I was relieved to see that he's already over it and ready for the next race. We'll fix his machine and be back to fight again."

Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia
#127 Kasma Daniel bin Kasmayudin (SS600: 2nd)

"I was in 3rd for the whole race, and as I followed the two in front I watched their lines and saw what their machines were doing. This is just a guess, but I think my rivals were fast on the straights but my R6 was better in the corners. My plan was to make my move on the last two laps to get to the lead and open a gap, but Ramdan came with me and in the last corner I made my move and for a moment I was in the lead, but I made a mistake and let Ramdan alongside me and on the final straight he passed me. It was a frustrating result, but we'll change the settings and do everything possible for a win tomorrow."

Team Manager Sean Wong Hong Siong

"Both riders found setups that they liked, and in qualifying we had great teamwork and got a 1-2 start to head into the race. There, Amran crashed on the first lap, but Kasma Daniel was involved in the fight for the win. He made a major mistake in the last corner on the last lap and took 2nd. Of course being on the podium was good, but we always want to win so it was a less than ideal result. For Race 2 our goal is having both riders on the podium and one of them as the winner!"

Yamaha Thailand Racing Team
#24 Apiwat Wongthananon (ASB1000: 3rd)

"In the free practices we were only focused on finding a setup, and eventually we found one with stability in both the front and rear. In Race 1 I got a good start and got on top and tried as hard as I could to push my machine, but I didn't have enough of an advantage and ended up forming a lead group with several riders. We went back and forth for the lead, so it was a really tough race. We're planning on tuning up the setup a bit for Race 2 so we can be in with a chance of a taking the win."

Peerapong Boonlert (SS600: 3rd)

"I battled it out with two local riders, Kasma Daniel and Ramdan who have a lot of experience riding here. I rode as best I could and brought it down to the last lap where I wanted to attack, but I had to settle for 3rd. My settings were pretty different to theirs, but it was good to be able to see their riding from behind. I learned a lot that will help me for Race 2, and I plan to use it. Besides that, with this result I won the championship. Of course I'm happy, but I wanted to take it with a win, so I'm slightly disappointed, but in Race 2 I want to take a win as the champion."

Theerapong Opaskornkul, Senior General Manager of Sales & Marketing Support

"First of all Peerapong, he has seven wins and I was expecting him to bring that total up to eight today to equal the record. He got in with the top group in the race but had tyre grip issues and finished 3rd. What was really important though was that he secured the title, since although he finished 3rd Kasma Daniel was 2nd. For Peerapong to win it this year after Ratthapong did it last year was really special. Even after winning the title, we're still very focused on winning the last three races of the year. Apiwat got a strong start then looked steady as he rode with the top group. Especially in the first half he was in the fight for the lead, but in the second half Azlan Shah, who has a lot of experience at Sepang, took the lead and it was hard to beat him. By the end Apiwat dropped back to 3rd, but I think it was fantastic for him to be on the podium. Our team will come together to work on the bike's settings for the next race, where we'll go for the win once again."

Race 2

Yamaha Racing Team ASEAN
#23 Broc Parkes (ASB1000: 5th)

"I expected it to be tough as it usually is, but honestly I have to say today was an especially hard race. I did as much as I could but it wasn't enough. To combat the issues we had yesterday with the tyre slipping, I picked the same tyre the other riders were on and that gave me a better feeling, but there were still some of the same grip issues we had yesterday, and in some of the corners I felt like I couldn't fully trust the tyre. I guess everyone was dealing with some of the same issues though. Azlan Shah closed the gap in the championship, so when we were in Thailand last time losing out on taking the win in the final corner was pretty frustrating, but overall it's a good circuit for us. All we have to do is keep focused on the championship and do everything we can to win it."

Yuki Ito (ASB1000: 6th)

"I didn't get off the line well and got stuck mid-pack, and from that point I was fighting with Yudhistira. I couldn't sense that he was going to back down, and on laps 5 and 6 we kept trading places. By the time I passed him it was too late because the front guys had already gotten away. After that I tried to go quicker to catch the group and I did get onto the back of them and had a battle with Sandi where I passed him, but his bike was really fast on the straight so in the end I couldn't break into the lead group. I rode as best I could with what I had, but I feel like some of yesterday's issues were still affecting us. The next round will be the last one, and I plan on doing my best as always to try for higher positions, so I can finish out the season with no regrets."

Team Manager Yukihiko Kurata

"Parkes couldn't get in touch with the group at the front. We made definite progress with the setup since yesterday, but compared to our rivals the setup still wasn't quite there and that played a part all the way through the weekend for us. Ito was in a long battle which as he said himself made for an extremely frustrating race. It was good that he could recover a position on the last lap, but as a team we wish he could have done a bit more. At the next round in Thailand we've already had good results, so we've got to put this weekend behind us and go there to try to put up a good fight. Both the riders and our team will be there with the goal of winning the championship."

Yamaha Thailand Racing Team
Apiwat Wongthananon (ASB1000: 3rd)

"Everybody was fast in Race 1, and that made it hard to pass and a hard race in general. That's why I knew I had to focus on the first half of Race 2, so my goal was to get into as high a position as I could during that time. My plan paid off and I was in 3rd coming into the final laps, so I pushed my bike to the maximum. The two guys in front of me were too fast though, so I couldn't get in touch. The next round is my home race so I definitely want to be on the podium there. The main straight is really long there though, so with my rivals' machines I know that it won't be easy, but we'll do all we can to be ready, including improving our package."

Peerapong Boonlert (SS600: 1st)

"Getting ready for Race 2, we tried to improve over the Race 1 setup, especially with the front and rear suspension. It wasn't a huge change, but it gave me confidence to do well. I was able to concentrate on both attacking and defending all the way until the final lap, and I think that was the key. We're going to Thailand next. I've heard that the record for wins in the SS600 class is eight, and I've equaled that record now. So at the last round I want to improve over that and set a new record. That's what I'll be aiming for."

Theerapong Opaskornkul, Senior General Manager of Sales & Marketing Support

"First of all, Peerapong won the championship yesterday but in the actual race he didn't quite catch his rivals. I think that weighed on him mentally. So here in Race 2 with all the pressure gone, he improved a lot of things so he could be back at the front. It was a fantastic race, and it's one I'm extremely proud of as a team manager. Wongthananon also took 3rd here. In both Race 1 and Race 2 his rivals had a machine advantage, but he worked very hard to stay with them and get a great result. We'll be at our home round next time, so all of our riders will be giving their best and we hope to achieve a lot of podium finishes."

Hong Leong Yamaha Malaysia
#127 Kasma Daniel bin Kasmayudin (SS600: 2nd)

"I lost out because I couldn't defend at the end and that was disappointing, but thinking about my overall race it was quite positive. Everything went to plan and I was able to hold firm and stay with Peerapong. When we came into the last corner I went outside and he went inside, and when we came out we were so close. I just barely missed out on the win. I'll turn my frustration into positive energy to carry into the last round."

Team Manager Sean Wong Hong Siong

"Once again we couldn't quite get a win, but I'm very proud of Kasma Daniel's riding and his fighting spirit. For Race 2 we worked on making the setting better so that he could ride more comfortably. Our plan for the race was to avoid pushing too hard in the first few laps, and just to stick with the leaders before attacking in the last two or three laps. In the actual race we stayed with Peerapong and attacked him on the final lap, but coming out of the final corner we couldn't quite get there. All we have now is the final round, where I know Kasma Daniel will be going for a win, and Amran wants a podium. It would be great to finish out our season with a double podium result and we'll be trying for that."

Yamaha Racing Indonesia
Aldi Satya Mahendra (UB150: 3rd)

"I'm so happy to get my third podium of the season. I started from 17th on the grid but I got in with the lead group. I had to use the slipstream a lot and choose different braking markers from other riders. I actually fell back from the group at one point, but I attacked on the last two laps and took the inside line with two corners left to go and that got me up to 3rd. I'm hoping to be on the podium again at the last round to improve my championship ranking as much as I can."