Honda riders dominate as ARRC Superbike season wraps up in Thailand

2024 IDEMITSU FIM Asia Road Racing Championships
Round Six – Chang International Circuit, Thailand

Asia Superbike 1000cc Race One

Honda Asia-Dream Racing triumvirate, Andi Farid Izdihar, Nakarin Atiratphuvapat, and Md Zaqhwan Zaid, immediately started pulling away from the field when the penultimate race of the 2024 ARRC Superbike season got underway on Saturday in Thailand.

By lap six the Honda triumvirate were over two-seconds clear.

Championship leader, Yuki Kunii, was in fifth place and trying to chase them down but had his hands full with Japanese wildcard rider Tetsuta Nagashima who made it a Honda 1-2-3-4-5. The first rider not on a Honda was Hafizh Syahrin on a Ducati.

Andi became more comfortable in the lead, creating a gap of two-seconds ahead of Zaqhwan and on the final lap, Yuki, who had been trailing Nakarin closely, managed to overtake him to secure the final podium spot.

Andi’s victory made him the new championship leader, five points clear of Yuki Kunii.

Andi Farid Izdihar

“In the beginning, I just focused on maintaining a good pace, which is the right strategy. I didn’t expect to still claim the victory after making some mistakes, but I’m happy with the result. Tomorrow, we’ll analyse everything before Race 2, but for now, I want to celebrate and release the tension.”

Zaqhwan finished in second place while Kunii rounded out the podium ahead of Nakarin.

Hafizh Syahrin got the better of Nagashima for fifth place.

Lachlan Epis had qualified ninth in his comeback from shoulder injuries, but technical problems with the ESG backed BMW saw him have to start from pit-lane. The Australian made his way up to a ninth place finish by the chequered flag.

Asia Superbike 1000 cc Race One Results

Asia Superbike 1000cc Race Two

Yuki Kunii claimed a hard-fought victory, securing both the win and the 2024 championship, in the Sunday afternoon finale at Chang International Circuit.

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Yuki got off to a great start, quickly taking the lead. However, just three laps into the contest, race one winner Andi Farid Izdihar, along with team-mate Nakarin Atiratphuvapat, both overtook Yuki and took control up front. As if the pressure wasn’t enough, Md Zaqhwan Zaidi closely followed, adding even more intensity to the competition.

As the race progressed, the four Honda riders were locked in fierce battle.

Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of TKKR BMW Racing Team started to make up ground from fifth, gradually closing the gap and positioning himself as a potential podium challenger.

On Lap 10, Tetsuta Nagashima made an impressive move to shoot forwards to second, which further stirred the front group. This prompted Yuki to pick up the pace further.

Yuki managed to build a lead of three-seconds between himself and the chasing trio of Honda Asia-Dream Racing riders. The 21-year-old Japanese rider maintained his advantage from there to take the race win and the 2024 FIM Asia Road Racing Superbike Championship.

Yuki Kunii

“Yesterday, we faced some challenges at the start, but in Race 2, we gave it everything we had. In the beginning, I focused on maintaining my position, and towards the end, I managed to create a gap and keep the pressure off. This victory, and this championship, is not just for me. I want to dedicate it to my late teammate Haruki Noguchi. Haruki always gave his best for the team, and it’s truly heartbreaking that he is no longer with us. This win and the championship are for him. I hope he is watching from above and smiling.”

Completing the podium were Tetsuta Nagashima and Andi Farid Izdihar.

Lachlan Epis started well and was quickly up to eighth. Epis lost a few positions over the opening laps before dropping out of the race due to engine problems with seven laps still to run. Despite missing plenty of points scoring opportunities through injury, and a few mechanical gremlins, Epis still finished the 2024 ARRC season tenth overall in the Superbike standings.

Asia Superbike 1000 cc Race Two Results

Asia Superbike 1000 cc Standings

SuperSports 600 cc Race One Results

SuperSports 600 cc Race Two Results

SuperSports 600 cc Standings

Asia Production 250 cc Race One

Asia Production 250 cc Race Two

Asia Production 250 cc Standings – Top 20

Underbone 150 cc Race One

Underbone 150 cc Race Two

Underbone 150 cc Standings – Top 20

TVS Asia One Make Championship Race One

TVS Asia One Make Championship Race Two

TVS Asia One Make Championship Standings