Friday, July 11, 2025
MCNews
  • NEWSLatest
  • REVIEWS
  • LATEST BIKES
  • RACING
  • FEATURES
  • TOURING
  • PRODUCTS
  • MEDIA
    • GALLERY
  • MORE
    • POPULAR ARTICLES
    • MCNEWS COMMENTS
    • MAIN FORUM
    • CONTACT US
    • ABOUT US
No Result
View All Result
MCNews
  • NEWSLatest
  • REVIEWS
  • LATEST BIKES
  • RACING
  • FEATURES
  • TOURING
  • PRODUCTS
  • MEDIA
    • GALLERY
  • MORE
    • POPULAR ARTICLES
    • MCNEWS COMMENTS
    • MAIN FORUM
    • CONTACT US
    • ABOUT US
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
MCNews

ARRC lifts Supersport 600 age cap for 2020

Barry Russell by Barry Russell
March 3, 2020
in Japan / Asian Road Racing, Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing

2020 Asia Road Racing Championship

Supersport shapes up for an epic season after ARRC lifts age cap

With Barry Russell


Having been ARRC’s premier class for 18 years, Supersport was repositioned in 2019 as a stepping stone for riders on their way up to ASB. In the process, an upper age limit of 25 was introduced.

The development category experiment was successful to the extent that stars like runaway champion, Peerapong Boonlert, Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin, and Andi Farid Izdihar found themselves drawn into CEV and Moto2 championships.

ARRC Supersport Zaqhwan Zaidi ASB
Zaqhwan Zaidi

The downside was that it thinned out the field. To ensure the ongoing health of the class promoter, TWMR has lifted the age cap to make it a true intermediate category. So, looking back at 2019 won’t tell you a thing about what could happen in 2020.

Teams have welcomed the move by springing surprises that promise a year of unpredictable, hard-fought battles. The result is also that out of 19 entries, 12 are riders who were not on the 600 grid in 2019. Of those, just three are above the erstwhile age limit.

ARRC Supersport Soichiro Minamimoto ARRC Suzuka
Soichiro Minamimoto

Starting at what, for now, is the top, Yamaha Thailand are replacing 2019 champion Peerapong with their 2018 champion, Ratthapong Wilairot, who moves back to 600s after an indifferent year in ASB.

Next on the list comes Soichiro Minamimoto, the rider who, as a wildcard, broke Peerapong’s 2019 six race winning streak in round four at Suzuka. The 20-year-old will again be aboard the Akeno Speed Yamaha and starts the season as a top contender. Joining him is Yusuke Nakamura.

ARRC Supersport Soichiro Minamimoto Yusuke Nakamura ARRC
Soichiro Minamimoto and Yusuke Nakamura

Another promising young Japanese rider, Rei Toshima, emerges from the Japanese Superbike (JSB) paddock to join the grid for the evocatively monikered Speed Heart DOGFIGHT Racing Yamaha team. He has previously had outings in AP 250 and ran as a wildcard at Suzuka in 2019.

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises is Victor Racing’s Ahmad Yudhistira, who was the stand-out ASB privateer in 2019. As with other international and top-level domestic series, factory involvement in ASB makes it difficult for those without it to compete at the front. It is less of a factor in Supersport, which gives a rider of Yudhistira’s quality a real shot at the title.

Adam Norrodin Ibrahim Norrodin IUSB ZK Racing SS
Adam Norrodin and Ibrahim Norrodin

Zulfahmi Kairuddin’s Sepang-based team takes on a slightly new name, IUSB ZK Racing, and doubles in size, signing both Adam and Ibrahim Norrodin for 2020. Adam was the team’s regular rider in 2019, causing all kinds of discomfort to Peerapong, scoring seven podiums from 12 starts, including wins in China and Thailand. Ibrahim stepped in for his big brother in Australia and surprised everyone with brilliant fourth and third place finishes. Sibling rivalry should keep both riders well and truly focused.

RelatedPosts

Tough weekend for the Aussies in ARRC at Sepang last weekend

Tough weekend for the Aussies in ARRC at Sepang last weekend

June 4, 2025
Honda stars dominate ARRC season opener in Thailand

Honda stars dominate ARRC season opener in Thailand

April 28, 2025

Yamaha Indonesia has promoted former AP 250 rider, Faerozi Toreqotullah to the intermediate class for 2020. Although always fast on a 250, Faerozi didn’t quite get into title contention and could well be one of those riders who goes better on bigger capacity bikes.

McKinley Kyle Paz Afif Amran Gen Blu SS
Kyle Paz and Afif Amran

Cross border collaboration between Hong Leong Yamaha and Yamaha Motor Philippines brings together Filipino prodigy, McKinley Kyle Paz and 2019’s highest scoring class rookie, Afif Amran. Under the Yamaha GENBLU Racing Team banner, the hugely popular UB 150 champion is expected to harness the extra horses quickly, as well as drawing thousands of extra eyeballs to the championship, while Afif should continue build on his impressive debut season.

He is sure to enjoy the additional 450cc and should work his way quickly into contention. At the time of writing there is speculation that another Filipino could join the class. If that indeed proves to be true, then expect to see McKinley’s erstwhile UB150 partner, Fernando Masato included in an announcement about the team they’ll be riding for.

ONEXOX TKKR SAG have just announced their full line-up for 2020. Ramdan Rosli is the only top rider from 2019 to reappear and he’ll be joined by Nazirul Izzat, whom the team promotes from AP 250. He’s a rider who showed good speed and was marked out as one to watch by some of us, despite a lack of consistency.

ARRC Supersport Muklada Sarapuech ARRC
Muklada Sarapuech

With all the riders mentioned so far being Yamaha-mounted, the question has to be asked whether Honda can be competitive with its ageing CBR600RR. During 2019 there was an almost perfect split in qualifying and finishing positions, with Yamaha’s continually upgraded YZF-R1 occupying the top half, so it’s to be hoped that Honda will be helping their teams to find more speed.

There are some hugely talented riders aiming to break Yamaha’s stranglehold on the class, led, at least in terms of media attention, by AP Honda Racing Thailand’s Muklada Sarapuech. The 2015 Asia Dream Cup champion, having spent the last few seasons showing her male counterparts how to ride a 250, steps into the 600 class. The 26-year-old already has glittering supersport credentials, having won the Suzuka 4 Hours in 2019 and will immediately be on the pace.

Muklada is joined by Passawit Thitiwararak, who returns for a third season in the class. He established himself as one of the quickest Honda riders in 2019, finishing sixth overall in the standings.

ARRC Supersport Irfan Ardiansiah Rheza Danica Ahrens ARRC
Irfan Ardiansyah & Rheza Danica Ahrens

One of the most exciting riders to move up is Irfan Ardiansyah, who is rewarded by Astra Honda for his third place finish in the 2019 AP 250 championship. The young Indonesian has the maturity and confidence of a champion as well as the physical size to dominate a bigger machine, so expect him to get up to pace quickly. Rheza Danica Ahrens, the 2018 AP 250 champion, starts his second year in the class looking for strong results after a lacklustre inaugural season.

Musashi Boon Siew Honda are again fielding Malaysian underbone graduates, Azroy Hakeem Anuar and Helmi Azman, who won the UB150 title in 2018. Azroy, who starts his third supersport season, was the best of the Honda contingent in 2019, finishing fourth in the standings and will again be looking to get amongst the Yamahas and onto the podium. Helmi had a difficult first season after sustaining a nasty leg injury in round two. He should start 2020 with his fitness and confidence restored and will be aiming to mix it up with the leaders.

ARRC Supersport Helmi Azman Azroy Anuar ARRC
Azroy Hakeem Anuar and Helmi Azman

Another new team, Honda Philippines Okada Manila Access Plus Racing, will be in the next garage to the Ducati team of almost the same name. On board will be Troy Jacob Cua Alberto, younger brother of Timothy Joseph ‘TJ’ Cua Alberto. Troy, 18, has had some decent outings in the Asia Talent Cup and the Thailand Talent Cup and entered SS600 rounds last year at Sepang and Zhuhai for Yuzy Honda.

SS Official Entries
2020 ARRC Supersport 600 Entry List

With the age cap lifted, it could be anyone’s game, however here’s a look at the final standings in the 2019 Supersport 600 category.

2019 ARRC Supersport 600 Final Standings
Pos. Rider Nat. Points
1 Peerapong Boonlert THA 300
2 Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin MAS 224
3 Muhamad Adam Mohd Norrodin MAS 170
4 Azroy Hakeem Anuar MAS 125
5 Andi Farid Izdihar INA 115
6 Passawit Thitivararak THA 108
7 Md Helmi Azman MAS 105
8 Ahmad Afif Amran MAS 105
9 Md Ramdan Rosli MAS 90
10 Javier Orellana Malloy ESP 78
11 Rheza Danica Ahrens INA 78
12 Kritchaporn Kaewsonthi THA 68
13 Fakhrusy Syakirin Rostam MAS 52
14 Soichiro Minamimoto JPN 41
15 Ma Sai CHN 36
16 Liam Taylor MacDonald NZL 34
17 Kyusuke Okude JPN 30
18 Md Ibrahim Md Norrodin MAS 29
19 Yuto Sano JPN 23
20 Muhammad Izam Ikmal MAS 20
21 Katsuto Sano JPN 12
22 Nazirul Izzat Md Bahaudin MAS 11
23 Md Akid Aziz MAS 11
24 Sha Juntong CHN 9
25 Ao Leong Fu MAC 8
26 Chen Hpng Yan CHN 8
27 Kota Arakawa JPN 7
28 Chen Yuan Hang CHN 5
29 Md Khairul Ikhwan Ajis MAS 4
30 Rei Toshima JPN 1

2020 Asia Road Racing Championship Calendar

  • Pre-Season Test – Sepang International Circuit, MALAYSIA – March 2–4, 2020
  • Round 1 – Sepang International Circuit, MALAYSIA – March 6–8, 2020
  • Round 2 – The Bend Motorsports Park, AUSTRALIA – May 7–10, 2020
  • Round 3 – Suzuka Circuit, JAPAN – June 26–28, 2020
  • Round 4 – Zhuhai International Circuit, CHINA – July 24–26, 2020
  • Round 5 – Chang International Circuit, THAILAND – August 21–23, 2020
  • Round 6 – Sepang International Circuit, MALAYSIA – September 25–27, 2020
  • Round 7 – Chang International Circuit, THAILAND – November 27–29, 2020
Tags: ARRCARRC 2020FIM Asia Road Racing Championship
ShareTweetShare
Barry Russell

Barry Russell

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

Related Posts

Kawasaki Elektrode 20 Review

Kawasaki Elektrode 20 Review – Team Green’s electric offering for kids

July 10, 2025
The Dutch TT from Assen with Boris

MotoGP hits Germany this weekend, we preview the MotoGP/2/3 action

July 9, 2025
Misano Sunday WorldSBK/SSP/300 Results/Reports/Quotes/Notes

Tight at the top as WorldSBK heads to Donington Park – Preview

July 9, 2025
Aussies impress at Motegi – BLU CRU Asia Pacific Championship

Aussies impress at Motegi – BLU CRU Asia Pacific Championship

July 9, 2025
Load More

Subscribe to Latest News

Subscribe

* indicates required

Support MCNews On Patreon

SUPPORT OUR SUPPORTERS

MCNews

MCNEWS.COM.AU is a specialist on-line resource that provides motorcycle news for motorcyclists. MCNews covers all areas of interest for the motorcycling public including news, reviews and comprehensive racing coverage.

©2025 MCNews

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    • ALL NEWS
    • ALL NEWS CONDENSED
    • POPULAR ARTICLES
    • BMW News
    • Honda News
    • Husqvarna News
    • KTM News
    • Suzuki News
    • Yamaha News
    • Triumph News
    • CFMOTO News
    • Ducati News
    • Moto Guzzi News
    • Royal Enfield News
    • Kawasaki News
    • Aprilia News
    • Harley News
    • Indian News
    • MV Agusta News
    • Benelli News
    • GASGAS News
    • BETA News
    • Norton News
    • Victory News
    • EBR News
    • Rieju News
    • Sherco News
    • Bimota News
    • Zero Motorcycles News
    • EV Electromobility News
    • Scooter News
    • LAMS News
    • ATV / SSV News
  • REVIEWS
    • All Bike Reviews
    • LAMS Reviews
    • KTM Reviews
    • Honda Reviews
    • Yamaha Reviews
    • Triumph Reviews
    • BMW Reviews
    • Suzuki Reviews
    • CFMOTO Reviews
    • Ducati Reviews
    • Kawasaki Reviews
    • Husqvarna Reviews
    • Aprilia Reviews
    • Benelli Reviews
    • BETA Reviews
    • EV Electromobility Reviews
    • EBR Reviews
    • GAS GAS Reviews
    • Harley Reviews
    • Indian Reviews
    • Kymco Reviews
    • Moto Guzzi Reviews
    • MV Agusta Reviews
    • Norton Reviews
    • Royal Enfield Reviews
    • Scooter Reviews
    • Sherco Reviews
    • Victory Reviews
    • Rieju Reviews
    • Bimota Reviews
    • Zero Motorcycles Reviews
  • NEW PRODUCTS
  • LATEST BIKES
    • ALL LATEST BIKES NEWS
    • BMW
    • Honda
    • Husqvarna
    • KTM
    • Suzuki
    • Yamaha
    • Triumph
    • CFMOTO
    • Ducati
    • Moto Guzzi
    • Royal Enfield
    • Kawasaki
    • Aprilia
    • Harley
    • Indian
    • MV Agusta
    • Benelli
    • GAS GAS
    • BETA
    • Norton
    • Victory
    • Bimota
    • EV Electromobility
    • Scooters
    • LAMS
    • Rieju
    • Sherco
    • Zero Motorcycles
  • RACING
    • ALL RACING
    • ROAD
      • MotoGP
      • WSBK
      • ASBK
      • BSB
      • Real Road / TT
      • Historic Road Racing
      • Japan / Asian Road Racing
      • Endurance Road Racing
      • American Road Racing
      • NZ Road Racing
      • Supermoto
      • ATC / Rookies / Junior GP / MiniGP
    • DIRT
      • Supercross
      • AMA MX
      • Australian MX
      • MXGP
      • Enduro / Rally
      • Dirt / Flat Track
      • Speedway
  • FEATURES
  • TOURING
  • GALLERY
  • LATEST COMMENTS
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT US
  • COMMUNITY FORUM

©2025 MCNews