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Broc Parkes sixth after challenging Sepang ARRC opener

Barry Russell by Barry Russell
March 9, 2020
in Japan / Asian Road Racing, Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing
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ARRC 2020 – Round 1

With Barry Russell


It was a rough and tumble weekend in Malaysia for Broc Parkes in Round One of the 2020 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC). The 39-year-old from Hunter Valley did a decent job in pre-season testing on Monday and Tuesday, but had to contend with an on-form Markus Reiterberger, whose pace on the 2020 BMW S 1000 RR was out of reach on a dry track, as well as a rapid Ducati mounted Italian and the usual leading lights of the Asian series.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Broc Parkes Byron Draper ARRC Free Practice Pit
Broc Parkes with Byron Draper

He also knocked himself around by hitting the deck twice during practice and qualifying before high-siding out of a likely second place in a wet race one. He redeemed the opening weekend by toughing it out for third place in race two on Sunday.

Partnering the popular Yuki Ito again in Yamaha Racing Team ASEAN, Broc maintained a position as one of the best of the rest through free practice and qualifying, which, in empirical terms, meant around one second behind the German BMW exponent. Broc’s 2019 championship nemesis, and Reiterberger’s ONEXOX TKKR SAG team-mate, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, had yet to click with the new Beemer and was another second adrift.

ARRC Rnd Sepang ONEXOX TKKR SAG Pit Sepang ARRC BMW
ONEXOX TKKR SAG in pitlane

As it has all around the world, concerns about the new corona virus winnowed entries in all but the underbone class. The most significant Asia Superbike absentee was Malaysian, Zaqhwan Zaidi, whose Honda Asia Dream Racing by Showa team decided not to make the trip from Japan, which also took out his class rookie team-mate, Gerry Salim. The two red BMWs of the China Racing Team were understandably missing, as was Victor Racing’s Li Zheng Peng.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Broc Parkes Gravel Free Practice ARRC Sepang
A couple of offs left Broc Parkes battered and bruised for the main races

Honda Asia Dream’s decision was part of what appeared to be a voluntary recommendation by Honda not to send factory supported teams to Sepang. That took out AP Honda’s four entries in the Supersport 600 and Asia Production 250 classes and Astra Honda’s two 600 and three 250 riders.

As it turned out, the absences were notable, but did not stop close battles from being waged in all categories. Global pandemics notwithstanding, ARRC Round Two will be at The Bend Motorsports Park on May 7-10th in Australia, where it will again share a double-billing with ASBK.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Markus Reiterberger Pits Sepang
Markus Reiterberger

Asia Superbike: Reiterberger makes his mark

We didn’t have to wait long to find out how a decent World Superbike rider would fare ARRC’s competitive cauldron. Markus Reiterberger – who alongside Tom Sykes, rode a BMW S 1000 RR for Shaun Muir Racing in 2019 – followed up a lap record breaking performance in pre-season testing at Sepang with a dominant performance in Friday’s free practice for round one.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Markus Reiterberger Free Practice ARRC Sepang
Markus Reiterberger

The German, who turns 26 this week, looked at ease aboard the ONEXOX TKKR BMW, topping all three sessions by more than six tenths. His best time was 2’04.950, set midway through FP1.

The chase was led at different times by Kawasaki Thailand’s Thitipong Warakorn, Yamaha Racing ASEAN’s Broc Parkes and Yamaha Thailand’s Apiwat Wongthananon, who ended up second on the day, with a best time of 2’05.764 in FP3, more than eight tenths adrift of Markus. Broc put in a good day’s work to finish third on combined times, with a lap of 2’05.928.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Apiwat Wongthananon Pit Sepang
Apiwat Wongthananon

The only other rider to get into the 2’05s and therefore within a second of Markus, was Lorenzo Zanetti, on the Access Plus Racing Okada Ducati Panigale. Standing in for Frederico Sandi, Zanetti, who is an official Ducati test rider, finished just ahead of Thitipong, Yuki Ito and defending champion Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, who lagged his new team-mate by 1.810s to end up seventh.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Azlan Shah Gravel Sepang Free Practice
Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman

ASB debutant, Anuparb Sarmoon, made a good account of himself to finish the day eighth for Yamaha Thailand, while Kawasaki Thailand’s class rookie, Ryosuke Iwato and Access Plus Okada’s TJ Alberto completed the top ten.

ASB Qualifying and Race 1

During Saturday morning qualifying, the pattern of pre-season testing and free practice repeated, with nobody able to get within striking distance of the ONEXOX TKKR SAG BMW of Markus Reiterberger, who claimed pole position with a lap of 2’04.762.

Broc Parkes got to within 1.4 seconds of the German to put himself second from Yamaha Thailand’s Apiwat Wongthananon, who always seems to qualify on the front row. Broc’s team-mate, Yuki Ito was fourth, to lead the second row from the Access Plus Ducati of Lorenzo Zanetti.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Yuki Ito Free Practice ARRC Sepang
Yuki Ito

Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman was seventh, ahead of Thitipong Warakorn. The Thai rider had his session disrupted when he crashed on water that had seeped onto the track at Turn 4. The incident brought out the red flag and there was a lengthy delay while marshals mopped and dried the surface.

As it often does, an electric storm hit Sepang later in the afternoon, causing a delay of around 45 minutes to the start of the race.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Azlan Shah Chill Free Practice ARRC Sepang
Azlan Shah

With racing on a wet track being a new experience for the 2020 BMW, the possibility of Markus being beaten began to look realistic. He got away at the front, but, ominously, Yuki Ito tucked in behind him and snatched the lead midway round lap one. Meanwhile, Apiwat was well-placed in third, just ahead of Broc, who went through at turn 15 and then passed Markus for second.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Broc Parkes Apiwat Wongthananon Anuparb Sarmoon Markus Reiterberger ARRC Race
Broc Parkes, Apiwat Wongthananon, Anuparb Sarmoon, Markus Reiterberger

By lap three out of 12, Yuki had found his rhythm and was three seconds clear at the front. Markus ran wide and Yamaha Thailand’s Apiwat and Anuparb Sarmoon went through to third and fourth. Some five seconds further back, Lorenzo was battling with Farid Badrul and Azlan for sixth place, while Thitipong looked unhappy further back in tenth.

By half distance the race was looking settled, with Yuki hitting his marks smoothly and stretching his lead every lap. In contrast Broc was having to fend off the advances of a determined Apiwat, with both machines twitching and threatening to spit off their riders at every turn.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Yuki Ito Race Winner ARRC ASB
Yuki Ito claims the Race 1 win

These two were well clear of Anuparb, who was making a very respectable debut. Broc succumbed to Apiwat’s pressure on lap 11, going over the highside of his R1 and snapping his handlebars, to register a highly undesirable DNF.

Despite a leisurely trundle from turn 15 to the chequered flag, Yuki crossed the line 7.6 seconds ahead of Apiwat and Anuparb, who was 15 seconds behind his Yamaha Thailand team-mate. Markus came in a safe fourth from Zanetti, Azlan and Badrul.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Yuki Ito Race Winner ARRC ASB
Yuki Ito celebrates the Race 1 win

ASB Race 2

Storm clouds that had again looked threatening during the afternoon began to disperse as the Asia Superbike grid formed for race two.

Sitting on pole position, ONEXOX TKKR SAG’s Markus Reiterberger looked a lot more relaxed than he had 24 hours earlier for Saturday’s wet race, next to Yamaha Racing ASEAN’s Broc Parkes, who was feeling sore after high-siding out of second position in race one. Despite the setbacks, the Australian was determined to get the start of his ARRC season launched with a degree of success.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Markus Reiterberger ARRC ASB Sepang Race
Markus Reiterberger

utside him, Yamaha Thailand’s Apiwat Wongthananon, who had hounded Broc the previous day and then benefited from the previous day’s crash, set his sights on another strong result.

Markus checked out at the start, pulling a few lengths clear as he got to the first corner. Broc was the best of the rest for a few corners until he got mugged by Apiwat, who fancied his chances of chasing down the German at the front. More discomfort followed for the Hunter Valley man, as he found himself under pressure from Yamaha Thailand’s Anuparb Sarmoon and Access Plus Okada Ducati’s Lorenzo Zanetti.

Kawasaki Thailand’s Thitipong Warakorn was next, with race one winner, Yuki Ito and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman completing a group of seven. On lap three, Lorenzo, who had predicted a podium finish, moved past Anuparb and Apiwat into second.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Apiwat Wongthananon Broc Parkes Lorenzo Zanetti Anuparb Sarmoon Race
Apiwat Wongthananon, Broc Parkes, Lorenzo Zanetti, Anuparb Sarmoon

With half the 12-lap race done, Markus was 6.8 seconds clear and Lorenzo and Apiwat made up the provisional podium from Anuparb and Broc. Then Azlan seemed to finally gell with the 2020 Beemer and made his way through the group and up into second from Apiwat and Lorenzo. Anuparb crashed out of contention on lap seven.

With two laps left, a mistake by Azlan saw him hit the floor, while Broc and Thitipong, who had also taken a few knocks during the weekend got a lot more serious about their finishing positions. Broc moved onto the back of a twitchy-looking Ducati, but was unable to find a way past until the Italian appeared to miss a gear as he charged out of turn 15 towards the finish line. Broc narrowly avoided rear-ending him and took third place behind Markus and Apiwat. Zanetti came through to fourth in front of Thitipong and Yuki.

ARRC Rnd Sepang ARRC ASB Sepang Race Podium
ASB Race 2 Podium

Apiwat’s brace of second places means that he leaves Sepang atop the standings with 40 points to Markus’s 38. Yuki lies third on 35 from Zanetti (24) and Thitipong (18). Broc’s DNF and third place finish put him sixth and level on points with Anuparb.

logoASB

  • Race Two
  • Race One
  • Standings

Race Two

PosNameBikeTime/Diff
1Markus ReiterbergerBMW S1000 RR25m29.725
2Apiwath WongthananonYAMAHA YZF-R1M+7.414
3Broc ParkesYAMAHA YZF-R1M+9.353
4Lorenzo ZanettiDUCATI PANIGALE V4 R+9.438
5Thitipong WarokornKAWASAKI NINJA ZX-10RR+10.231
6Yuki ItoYAMAHA YZF-R1M+11.018
7Ryosuke IwatoKAWASAKI NINJA ZX-10RR+24.226
8Ahmad Daniel HaiqalYAMAHA YZF-R1+41.895
9Farid BadrulYAMAHA YZF-R1+52.055
10Azlan Shah KamaruzamanBMW S1000 RR+1m25.895
11Timothy Joseph C.AlbertoDUCATI PANIGALE  V4 R1 Lap

Race One

PosNameBikeTime/Diff
1Yuki ItoYAMAHA YZF-R1M28m16.971
2Apiwath WongthananonYAMAHA YZF-R1M+7.609
3Anupab SarmoonYAMAHA YZF-R1M+22.780
4Markus ReiterbergerBMW S1000 RR+28.010
5Lorenzo ZanettiDUCATI PANIGALE V4 R+32.584
6Azlan Shah KamaruzamanBMW S1000 RR+43.264
7Farid BadrulYAMAHA YZF-R1+59.188
8Ahmad Daniel HaiqalYAMAHA YZF-R1+1m10.770
9Thitipong WarokornKAWASAKI NINJA ZX-10RR+1m15.514
10Ryosuke IwatoKAWASAKI NINJA ZX-10RR+1m29.791

Standings

PosNameMotorcycleTotal
1Apiwath WongthananonYAMAHA YZF-R1M40
2Markus ReiterbergerBMW S1000 RR38
3Yuki ItoYAMAHA YZF-R1M35
4Lorenzo ZanettiDUCATI PANIGALE V4 R24
5Thitipong WarokornKAWASAKI NINJA ZX-10RR18
6Broc ParkesYAMAHA YZF-R1M16
7Anupab SarmoonYAMAHA YZF-R1M16
8Azlan Shah KamaruzamanBMW S1000 RR16
9Farid BadrulYAMAHA YZF-R116
10Ahmad Daniel HaiqalYAMAHA YZF-R116
11Ryosuke IwatoKAWASAKI NINJA ZX-10RR15
12Timothy Joseph C.AlbertoDUCATI PANIGALE  V4 R5

Supersport 600

SS600 Free Practice

PACHI ZK Racing’s Adam Norrodin, one of the few stars left from the class of 2019, managed to stay ahead in free practice on Friday, finishing 0.163 clear on combined times.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Azroy Anuar SS Free Practice Sepang ARRC
Azroy Anuar

The big surprise of the day came from Musashi Boon Siew Honda’s Azroy Hakeem Anuar and Helmi Azman. The seven-year-old CBR 600RR was eclipsed throughout 2019 by Yamaha’s YZF R6, but the two Hondas found enough speed to keep Adam at the top of his game.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Azroy Anuar ARRC Sepang SS Grid
Azroy Hakeem Anuar

Honda’s corona virus policy meant that AP Honda’s Muklada Sarapuech and Passawit Thitiwararak and Astra Honda’s Irfan Adriansyah and Rheza Danica Ahrens were missing, leaving just the two Malaysians to fly the flag.

Azroy just ended up second from Helmi, followed by Afif Amran, who continued to impress. This year he’s aboard the GEN BLU Yamaha, partnering Philippine ‘wonder boy’ McKinley Kyle Paz.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Azroy Anuar SS ARRC Sepang Free Practice
Azroy Hakeem Anuar

Afif finished the day fourth from Soichiro Minamimoto, Ibrahim Norrodin, who was almost eight tenths off his big brother’s time, Ratthapong Wilairot and Ramdan Rosli, who was eighth. 2019 Underbone champion McKinley did well with the extra 450cc to end up eleventh on 2’11.482.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Helmi Azman SS Sepang ARRC Free Practice
Helmi Azman

SS600 Qualifying and Race 1

In the morning qualifying session, the first two rows were decided in the closing two minutes. After leading much of the session, Helmi crashed with four minutes remaining, allowing first Soichiro Minamimoto, then Afif Amran to push him onto the second row.

Seconds later Adam moved into first, then Ratthapong put in his best lap to get within a tenth of Adam and Ibrahim did the same to put himself on the outside of the front row. Afif, Minamimoto and Helmi made up the second row, in that order.

At the race start, Adam got a perfect launch from pole position, to lead all the way round the first lap until he went wide at the final corner to let Helmi and Afif past. The Pachi rider scrambled back through to the lead on lap two, followed by Helmi and Azroy, who had taken third from Afif.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Adam Norrodin SS ARRC Sepang Free Practice
Adam Norrodin

Ratthapong had made a poor start from the front row and was back in fifth, fending off Soichiro Minamimoto and Ibrahim Norrodin. By lap four, Adam and Helmi had got themselves clear of Afif and Azroy, who were disputing third position, as the rest of the field slipped back.

On lap six, Azroy and Afif closed the one second gap to Helmi and Adam, who was another one second up the road, made an unforced error two laps later and low-sided himself out of the lead. He got straight back up, leaving plumes of gravel and dust in his wake, to rejoin in ninth, behind class debutant, McKinley Kyle Paz.

ARRC Rnd Sepang SS Race Start
Supersport 600 Race 1 Start

As the dust settled, Azroy slipped past his team-mate, pulling Afif with him, who engaged Helmi for second and then took it cleanly. Chasing hard behind them was Ibrahim, who reduced his deficit to one second by the start of the last lap. Within two corners he was onto the back of Helmi’s Idemitsu Boon Siew Honda.

With nothing between these four, it came down the final turn 15. Azroy hung onto his lead by just five hundredths from Afif while, three tenths behind them, Ibrahim nudged Helmi off the podium by eight hundredths.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Helmi Azman Afif Amran Azroy Anuar ARRC Sepang SS Race
Helmi Azman, Afif Amran, Azroy Anuar

More than 11 seconds further back, Soichiro Minamimoto brought his Akeno Speed Yamaha through to a lonely fifth place, a long way clear of his team-mate, Yusuke Nakamura. Adam recovered to seventh after just getting ahead of McKinley’s Gen Blu Yamaha at the line.

ARRC Rnd Sepang SS Race Podium
Supersport 600 Race 1 Podium

SS600 Race 2

A problem with the front of Ramdan Rosli’s Yamaha left him in his pit box for the start of Race 2, which saw Adam Norrodin and Azroy Anuar get away into turn one. Then things got crazy, when Soichiro Minamimoto’s yellow Akeno Speed Yamaha tangled with the blue R6 of Ratthapong Wilairot, bringing them both down heavily on the entrance to the first turn.

A few seconds later, Afif and his GEN BLU Yamaha lost the front and had a nasty egg-beater of a tumble through the gravel and then Rei Toshima had a similar crash. Both incidents destroyed the machines, battered the riders and showed why motorcycle racers prefer tarmac run-off to gravel traps.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Adam Norrodin Azroy Anuar ARRC SS Sepang Race
Adam Norrodin & Azroy Anuar

Inevitably the red flag came out and TV viewers were treated to an impressive display of spannering by Akeno Speed, as they successfully rebuilt Minamimoto’s bike in around ten minutes.

The race distance was reduced from ten to eight laps and the delay meant that Ramdan was able to join the grid. Adam again got away first, but too much time with his front wheel in the air enabled Ratthapong to get in front at turn one. The Idemitsu Boon Siew Hondas of Helmi Azman and Anuar Azroy were in close pursuit, followed by Ibrahim Norrodin, Minamimoto and Ramdan.

Adam got past Ratthapong on the second lap, closely followed by Azroy, who continued on into the lead. By half of the reduced race distance it was Adam from Azroy and Ibrahim, with Helmi pushing hard to stay in contact and punishing his tyres spectacularly in the process.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Adam Norrodin Winner ARRC SS Sepang Race
Adam Norrodin

With two laps remaining, Ibrahim made it a brotherly 1-2 from a determined Azroy, as his team-mate dropped two seconds back. At the final turn Adam got in and out cleanly, while Azroy went for a tight inside line, catching out Ibrahim, who clattered into him and went down. The Boon Siew rider stayed shiny side up and blasted to the line to take second place and the championship lead, after his race one win, while Helmi happily took his first supersport podium.

Five seconds further back, Ratthapong won a three-way battle for fourth over Ramdan and Minamimoto and McKinley Kyle Paz capped a promising inaugural weekend in the class with seventh in front of Soto Furuyama, Victor Racing’s Ahmad Yudhistira and fellow Filipino, Troy Cua Alberto, who completed the top ten.

ARRC Rnd Sepang ARRC SS Race Podium
SS600 Race 2 Podium

Azroy’s first and second places give him 45 points and an 11 point lead over Adam, who’s on 34. Helmi is third, with 29.

logoSS

  • Race Two
  • Race One
  • Standings

Race Two

PosNameBikeTime/Diff
1Md Adam Md NorrodinYAMAHA YZF-R617m36.715
2Azroy Hakeem AnuarHONDA CBR600RR+0.848
3Md Helmi AzmanHONDA CBR600RR+1.436
4Ratthapong WilairotYAMAHA YZF-R6+5.851
5Md Ramdan RosliYAMAHA YZF-R6+6.271
6Soichiro MinamimotoYAMAHA YZF-R6+6.706
7McKinley Kyle PazYAMAHA YZF-R6+12.180
8Sota FuruyamaYAMAHA YZF-R6+15.672
9Ahmad YudhistiraYAMAHA YZF-R6+18.871
10Troy Jacob Cua AlbertoHONDA CBR600RR+21.847
11Md Faerozi ToreqottullahYAMAHA YZF-R6+23.124
12Nazirul Izzat Md BahaudinYAMAHA YZF-R6+40.477

Race One

PosNameBikeTime/Diff
1Azroy Hakeem AnuarHONDA CBR600RR21m53.229
2Ahmad Afif AmranYAMAHA YZF-R6+0.059
3Md Ibrahim Md NorrodinYAMAHA YZF-R6+0.303
4Md Helmi AzmanHONDA CBR600RR+0.379
5Soichiro MinamimotoYAMAHA YZF-R6+11.913
6Yusuke NakamuraYAMAHA YZF-R6+22.282
7Md Adam Md NorrodinYAMAHA YZF-R6+25.621
8McKinley Kyle PazYAMAHA YZF-R6+25.778
9Troy Jacob Cua AlbertoHONDA CBR600RR+31.973
10Nazirul Izzat Md BahaudinYAMAHA YZF-R6+35.466
11Sota FuruyamaYAMAHA YZF-R6+39.773
12Rei ToshimaYAMAHA YZF-R6+1m18.521
Not classified
DNFRatthapong WilairotYAMAHA YZF-R6DNF
DNFAhmad YudhistiraYAMAHA YZF-R6DNF
DNFMd Ramdan RosliYAMAHA YZF-R6DNF
DNFMd Faerozi ToreqottullahYAMAHA YZF-R6DNF

Standings

PosRiderBikeTotal
1Azroy Hakeem AnuarHONDA CBR600RR45
2Md Adam Md NorrodinYAMAHA YZF-R634
3Md Helmi AzmanHONDA CBR600RR29
4Soichiro MinamimotoYAMAHA YZF-R621
5Ahmad Afif AmranYAMAHA YZF-R620
6McKinley Kyle PazYAMAHA YZF-R617
7Md Ibrahim Md NorrodinYAMAHA YZF-R616
8Ratthapong WilairotYAMAHA YZF-R613
9Sota FuruyamaYAMAHA YZF-R613
10Troy Jacob Cua AlbertoHONDA CBR600RR13
11Md Ramdan RosliYAMAHA YZF-R611
12Yusuke NakamuraYAMAHA YZF-R610
13Nazirul Izzat Md BahaudinYAMAHA YZF-R610
14Ahmad YudhistiraYAMAHA YZF-R67
15Md Faerozi ToreqottullahYAMAHA YZF-R65
16Rei ToshimaYAMAHA YZF-R64

Asia Production 250

AP 250 Free Practice

Defending Asia Production 250 champion, Andy Fadly, had to keep Idemitsu Boon Siew Honda’s class rookie, Izam Ikmal at bay in order to stay on top at Sepang during Friday’s three free practice sessions. With a total of five championship contenders missing from Thailand’s AP Honda and Indonesia’s Astra Honda, due to Covid-19 travel policies, the field was reduced to 14 machines. Honda India was also missing.

ARRC Rnd Sepang BMW Safety Car ARRC Sepang
BMW Safety Car at Sepang

On combined times, Izam split the Motul Manual Tech Kawasakis of Fadly and Aiki Iyoshi. ONEXOX TKKR SAG’s Muzakkir Mohamed was fourth ahead of Idlan Haqmi Raduan, Anggi Setiawan and Vorapong Malahuan.

Vorapong, who collected armfuls of AP 250 trophies as an AP Honda rider, is now leading India’s TVS racing project. He did well aboard the single-cylinder Apache 310RR, ending up just over two seconds adrift of Fadly and two seconds clear of team-mates, Jagan Kumar and KY Ahmed.

ARRC Rnd Sepang ARRC Commentator
In the control box

AP 250 Qualifying and race one

Idemitsu Boon Siew Honda were serious when they said they came into the AP250 class to promote young Malaysian riders. On Saturday, one of their rookie riders, Idlan Haqimi Raduan, starting from 11th on the grid, came through to take his first win by one thousandth of a second from Motul Manual Tech Kawasaki’s Aiki Iyoshi and his own team-mate, Izam Ikmal. You read that right. The margin of victory was too small for the unassisted human eye to discern, so race direction ruled on a photo finish.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Idlan Haduan Aiki Iyoshi Izam Iqbal ARRC Sepang Race
Idlan Haduan, Aiki Iyoshi, Izam Iqbal

Despite the absence of the AP Honda and Astra Honda teams, the benchmark presented by Andy Fadly and Aiki Iyoshi, left no doubt as to the pedigree Boon Siew riders’ pedigree.
From his lowly grid slot, Idlan worked his way up to the leading group by lap two and kept himself in contention. With Andy Fadly expected to open his title defence with a win, the race was blown open on the final lap, when the Indonesian lost his gear lever.

With the rest of the field some 10 seconds adrift, Fadly’s misfortune left Iyoshi, Izam and Idlan to fight for the podium order. Idlan got out of the final corner first, but the power of Iyoshi’s Kawasaki brought him level at the line, leaving officials with the photo finish decision, which went in favour of an emotional rookie. Fadly nursed his bike across the line in 13th place.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Idlan Haduan Winner ARRC Sepang Race
An emotional Idlan Haduan after victory

There was an intriguing battle behind them between Wahyu Nugroho, Shahrol Syazras Yuzy, Vorapong Malahuan, Rey Ratukore and Syafieq Aiman. What was remarkable about it was that Vorapong, charged with helping TVS with their R & D, managed to put the single cylinder Apache 310RR among such established machine and rider combinations and take sixth place.

AP 250 Race two

Andy Fadly put the previous day’s mechanical failure behind him to ride a ferociously fast, clean race to victory on Sunday. In doing so he led his Motul Manual Tech Kawasaki team-mate, Aiki Iyoshi to a one-two in front of Idemitsu Boon Siew Honda’s Izam Iqmal.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Andy Fadly Aiki Iyoshi Izam Ikmal ARRC AP Finish Race
Asia Production 250 Race 2 Finish – Andy Fadly, Aiki Iyoshi, Izam Ikmal

A crash at the beginning of lap two by race one winner, Idlan Raduan, who pushed a touch too much in his charge through from 11th on the grid, left these three with an advantage at the front that increased by more than two seconds a lap for the full eight lap contest.

Izam, who had been pushing the Kawasakis hard throughout the weekend, continued the job through to Sunday, briefly snatching the lead and riding the wheels off his Honda.

There was another intriguing tussle in the second group, with the Yamahas of Wahyu Nugroho, Anggi Setiawan, Rey Ratukore and Muzakkir Mohammed finding themselves being hassled by Thailand’s Vorapong Malahuan, who was riding another inspired race for Indian motorcycle giant, TVS.

ARRC Rnd Sepang ARRC AP Podium Race
Asia Production 250 Race 2 Podium

At the chequered flag, Wahyu took fourth place by 0.4s from Vorapong, whose single-cylinder Apache 310RR, showed plenty of grunt on the drag from turn 15 to the line. Behind him, Anggi was fifth from Muzakkir, Syafieq Aiman Fauzi, Danial Syhami and Rey.

His two second places mean that Iyoshi leads the championship with 40 points from Izam (32) and Fadly (28)

logoAP

  • Race Two
  • Race One
  • Standings

Race Two

PosNameBikeTime/Diff
1Andy Muhammad FadlyKAWASAKI NINJA 25019m39.574
2Aiki IyoshiKAWASAKI NINJA 250+0.120
3Muhammad Izam IkmalHONDA CBR250 RR+0.409
4Wahyu NugrohoYAMAHA YZF-R25+20.428
5Vorapong MalahuanTVS Apache RR310+20.829
6Anggi SetiawanYAMAHA YZF-R25+20.912
7Md Muzakkir MohamedYAMAHA YZF-R25+21.176
8Syafieq Aiman FauziYAMAHA YZF-R25+21.189
9Md. Danial SyahmiKAWASAKI NINJA 250+21.305
10Reynaldo C. RatukoreYAMAHA YZF-R25+31.571
11Jagan KumarTVS Apache RR310+34.554
12KY AhmedTVS Apache RR310+38.703
13Tse Leong NangYAMAHA YZF-R25+38.720

Race One

PosNameBikeTime/Diff
1Md Idlan Haqimi RaduanHONDA CBR250 RR19:40.866
2Aiki IyoshiKAWASAKI NINJA 250+0.001
3Muhammad Izam IkmalHONDA CBR250 RR+0.348
4Wahyu NugrohoYAMAHA YZF-R25+12.584
5Shahrol Syazras YuzyHONDA CBR250 RR+12.640
6Vorapong MalahuanTVS Apache RR310+13.329
7Reynaldo C. RatukoreYAMAHA YZF-R25+13.719
8Syafieq Aiman FauziYAMAHA YZF-R25+14.072
9Md Muzakkir MohamedYAMAHA YZF-R25+14.233
10Md. Danial SyahmiKAWASAKI NINJA 250+14.506
11Anggi SetiawanYAMAHA YZF-R25+15.368
12Jagan KumarTVS Apache RR310+26.421
13Andy Muhammad FadlyKAWASAKI NINJA 250+37.909
14Tse Leong NangYAMAHA YZF-R25+43.987
15KY AhmedTVS Apache RR310+44.005

Standings

PosRiderBikeTotal
1Aiki IyoshiKAWASAKI NINJA 25040
2Muhammad Izam IkmalHONDA CBR250 RR32
3Andy Muhammad FadlyKAWASAKI NINJA 25028
4Wahyu NugrohoYAMAHA YZF-R2526
5Md Idlan Haqimi RaduanHONDA CBR250 RR25
6Vorapong MalahuanTVS Apache RR31021
7Md Muzakkir MohamedYAMAHA YZF-R2516
8Syafieq Aiman FauziYAMAHA YZF-R2516
9Anggi SetiawanYAMAHA YZF-R2515
10Reynaldo C. RatukoreYAMAHA YZF-R2515
11Md. Danial SyahmiKAWASAKI NINJA 25013
12Shahrol Syazras YuzyHONDA CBR250 RR11
13Jagan KumarTVS Apache RR3109
14KY AhmedTVS Apache RR3105
15Tse Leong NangYAMAHA YZF-R255

Underbone 150

UB 150 Qualifying and Superpole

After a disappointing couple of seasons, Indonesia’s double Underbone champion, Wahyu Aji Trilaksana, flashed his contender’s credentials in Friday afternoon’s qualifying session at Sepang, finishing half a second clear of the rest, with a time of 2’31.358.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Wahyu Aji Trilaksana Pit Box Sepang
Wahyu Aji Trilaksana

Another former champion, Malaysia’s Akid Aziz, had shown his class in the morning’s free practice sessions, but was well off his earlier pace during qualifying to finish seventh on 2’32.862. Richie Taroreh qualified second from Ahmad Fazli Sham, younger brother, Ahmad Fazrul Sham and Peerapong Luiboonpeng. Haziq Fairues pipped his UMA team-mate Akid by less than a tenth to qualify sixth.

The first 15 grid positions were determined in Saturday morning’s Superpole contest. Fazrul Sham took pole from Wahyu Aji and Iqbal Malek. Izzat Zaidi, who had been the last rider to make the qualifying cut, was fourth, from Akid and Thailand’s Peerapong Luiboonpeng.

ARRC Rnd Sepang ARRC Underbone Free Practice Sepang
Underbone riders in FP

UB 150 Race 1

ONEXOX TKKR SAG’s Wahyu Aji Trilaksana put two barren seasons behind him on Saturday, by following up strong practice and qualifying performances with a clever win in race one.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Underbone Race
Underbone Race 1

Starting from the middle of the front row, the Indonesian rider kept his Yamaha at or near the front of the pack for the full six lap race. Last time around, he attempted to break away, only to find himself sucked back into the mono-powered peloton.

Holding onto his lead, Wahyu hugged the inside line at turn 15 and held a slim advantage of 45 hundredths of a second at the finish from Cardinals Racing’s pole man, Fazrul Sham and Team One for All’s Peerapong.

The first three were followed by a veritable who’s who of underbone racing, including fourth-placed Akid Aziz, who was followed by Wawan Wello, Richie Taroreh, Ahmad Fazli Sham, Haziq Fairues and Fernando Masato.

ARRC Rnd Sepang Underbone Finish Race
Underbone Race 1 race to the finish line

UB 150 Race 2

Ahmad Fazli Sham, one of ARRC’s favourite campaigners, won another nail-biting underbone race on Sunday. On this occasion we were treated to two brothers on the podium, as Fazrul came through to third, just behind RCB Yamaha YY Pang’s Izzat Zaidi.
Fazrul got away cleanly from pole, chased by race one winner, Wahyu Aji Trilaksana, Fazli, Richie Taroreh, Akid Aziz, Iqbal Abdul Malex, Fernando Masato, Haziq Fairues, Peerapong and Gupita.

ARRC Rnd Sepang ARRC Underbone Podium Race
Underbone 150 Race 2 Podium

At the end of lap two Wahyu Aji went down at turn 15 with Fernando and Iqbal. Meanwhile, John Inguito, Izzat Zaidi and Aldi Satya Mehandra worked their way into the leading group of 14. The last corner was close fought, but clean, which saw Fazli go in first and come out first for the win, one tenth ahead of Izzat and Fazrul. Muhammad Hildan took fourth in front of Inguito, Haziq, Aldi Satya and Gupita Kresna.

Fazrul leaves Sepang at the top of the table on 36 point, two ahead of Fazli, while Wahyu Aji is third on 25.

logoUB

  • Race Two
  • Race One
  • Standings

Race Two

PosNameBikeTime/Diff
1Ahmad Fazli ShamYAMAHA Y15 ZR15m34.448
2Md Izzat ZaidiYAMAHA Y15 ZR+0.101
3Ahmad Fazrul ShamYAMAHA Y15 ZR+0.301
4Muhammad HildanHONDA SUPRA GTR 150+0.959
5John Emerson InguitoYAMAHA SNIPER 150+0.965
6Md Haziq Md FairuesYAMAHA Y15 ZR+0.986
7Aldi Satya MahendraYAMAHA MX KING 150+1.133
8Gupita KresnaYAMAHA SNIPER 150+1.205
9Md Adib RosleyYAMAHA Y15 ZR+1.244
10Richard Richie TarorehYAMAHA MX KING 150+1.277
11Md Hafiza RofaYAMAHA Y15 ZR+1.288
12Md Affendi RosliYAMAHA Y15 ZR+1.347
13Md Akid AzizYAMAHA Y15 ZR+1.350
14Peerapong LuiboonpengYAMAHA Y15 ZR+1.353
15Md Aiman AzmanHONDA RS150 R+7.960
16Md Shahzul Naim RazaliHONDA RS150 R+15.565
17Md Afizad SupaatHONDA RS150 R+21.200
18Kerwin ChangYAMAHA SNIPER 150+21.208
19Iswandi MuisYAMAHA MX KING 150+21.324
20Wahyu Aji TrilaksanaYAMAHA Y15 ZR+43.845
21Md Firdaus HamdanHONDA RS150 R+46.478
22To Ha Dong NghiYAMAHA Y15 ZR+46.489

Race One

PosNameBikeTime/Diff
1Wahyu Aji TrilaksanaYAMAHA Y15 ZR15m36.063
2Ahmad Fazrul ShamYAMAHA Y15 ZR+0.045
3Peerapong LuiboonpengYAMAHA Y15 ZR+0.075
4Md Akid AzizYAMAHA Y15 ZR+0.207
5Wawan WelloYAMAHA MX KING 150+0.307
6Richard Richie TarorehYAMAHA MX KING 150+0.383
7Ahmad Fazli ShamYAMAHA Y15 ZR+0.391
8Md Haziq Md FairuesYAMAHA Y15 ZR+0.443
9Fernando MasatoYAMAHA SNIPER 150+0.668
10Aldi Satya MahendraYAMAHA MX KING 150+1.033
11Md Faiz Zekri SabriYAMAHA Y15 ZR+1.071
12Md Iqbal Abdul MalekYAMAHA Y15 ZR+1.115
13Md Affendi RosliYAMAHA Y15 ZR+1.335
14Gupita KresnaYAMAHA SNIPER 150+1.834
15Md Adib RosleyYAMAHA Y15 ZR+1.909
16John Emerson InguitoYAMAHA SNIPER 150+6.353
17Md Hafiza RofaYAMAHA Y15 ZR+10.283
18Iswandi MuisYAMAHA MX KING 150+10.325
19Adly M TaufikYAMAHA MX KING 150+12.550
20Kerwin ChangYAMAHA SNIPER 150+16.136
21Md Shahzul Naim RazaliHONDA RS150 R+25.169
22To Ha Dong NghiYAMAHA Y15 ZR+55.917
23Md Firdaus HamdanHONDA RS150 R+56.704
24Md Aiman AzmanHONDA RS150 R+1m33.154

Standings

PosNameMotorcycleTotal
1Ahmad Fazrul ShamYAMAHA Y15 ZR36
2Ahmad Fazli ShamYAMAHA Y15 ZR34
3Wahyu Aji TrilaksanaYAMAHA Y15 ZR25
4Md Izzat ZaidiYAMAHA Y15 ZR20
5Peerapong LuiboonpengYAMAHA Y15 ZR18
6Md Haziq Md FairuesYAMAHA Y15 ZR18
7Md Akid AzizYAMAHA Y15 ZR16
8Richard Richie TarorehYAMAHA MX KING 15016
9Aldi Satya MahendraYAMAHA MX KING 15015
10Muhammad HildanHONDA SUPRA GTR 15013
11John Emerson InguitoYAMAHA SNIPER 15011
12Wawan WelloYAMAHA MX KING 15011
13Gupita KresnaYAMAHA SNIPER 15010
14Md Adib RosleyYAMAHA Y15 ZR8
15Fernando MasatoYAMAHA SNIPER 1507
16Md Affendi RosliYAMAHA Y15 ZR7
17Md Hafiza RofaYAMAHA Y15 ZR5
18Md Faiz Zekri SabriYAMAHA Y15 ZR5
19Md Iqbal Abdul MalekYAMAHA Y15 ZR4
20Md Aiman AzmanHONDA RS150 R1
21Md Shahzul Naim RazaliHONDA RS150 R0
22To Ha Dong NghiYAMAHA Y15 ZR0
23Iswandi MuisYAMAHA MX KING 1500
24Kerwin ChangYAMAHA SNIPER 1500
25Md Firdaus HamdanHONDA RS150 R0
26Md Afizad SupaatHONDA RS150 R0
27Adly M TaufikYAMAHA MX KING 1500
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Barry Russell

Barry Russell

Barry Russell is a motorcycle journalist and a frequent FIM Steward for the Asia Road Racing Championship.

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