Asia Road Racing Championship 2017 Round 1 Malaysia Johor circuit
From March 31 to April 2, 2017 Asia road racing championship kicked off at the Johor Circuit, Malaysia.

■SS600
Exciting new talent came to the fore as the season opening round of the 2017 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship came to a close at the Johor Circuit last weekend. A pair of teenagers, 18-year-olds Taiga Hada of Japan and Irfan Ardiansyah from Indonesia, stole the limelight when they dominated Race 2 of the SuperSports 600cc category amidst a field of seasoned campaigners

Despite high expectations that Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi would repeat his Race 1 victory, the polesitter’s race got off to a bad start when he lost the holeshot to Hada. On Lap 2, Zaqhwan’s dream of a double win was smashed when he crashed out at Turn 2. Two laps later, another strong contender, Thailand’s Decha Kraisart also ended his race on the gravel.

While the high profile riders stumbled, Taiga Hada of team RAMA Honda by NTS T.Pro Ten10, put in a stunning masterclass of inch-perfect racing throughout the 16-lap race. He kept his cool and his lead to clinch the first 600cc win of his career with a time of 24’51.787s.

“My rear tyre was a bit slippy throughout the race, but apart from that, I have no other complaints. It was a thoroughly enjoyable race,” said a delighted Hada.

Meanwhile, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman who suffered from engine woes in Race 1, fared better when he wheelied to the finish line in second place with 24’56.876s. Finally, Indonesian rider Irfan Ardiansyah from Astra Honda Racing stole the spotlight when he rode like a raging bull to go from 12th on the grid to third in the race with a time of 25’04.928s. Further down the field, Ahmad Yudhistira took fourth place with a time of 25’08.480s.

Thai rider Ratthapong Wilairot stormed home in fifth place. Noriyuki Haga, Tatsuya Yamaguchi, Teppei Nagoe, Sena Yamada and Chalermpol Polamai completed the top 10.

Hada now leads the SuperSports 600cc class with 45 points followed by Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, second with 33 points and Zaqhwan third with 25 points.

Thanks to the young rider, team RAMA Honda by NTS T.Pro Ten10 holds the provisional lead in the team awards with 45 points. Team Manual Tech Kawasaki Racing and MUSASHi Boon Siew Honda Racing are tied in second with 33 points apiece.

Round 2 of the 2017 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will take place at the Chang International Circuit on April 14 and 5, 2017.

Report From Asia Road Racing Championship


Race1
2nd Taiga Hada (RAMA Honda by NTS T.Pro Ten10)
7th Ahmad Yudhistira (Manual Tech Kawasaki Racing)
8th Irfan Ardiansyah (Astra Honda Racing Team)
14th Shankar Sarath Kumar (RAMA Honda by NTS T.Pro Ten 10)


Race2
1st Taiga Hada (RAMA Honda by NTS T.Pro Ten10)
3rd Irfan Ardiansyah (Astra Honda Racing Team)
4th Ahmad Yudhistira (Manual Tech Kawasaki Racing)
14th Shankar Sarath Kumar (RAMA Honda by NTS T.Pro Ten 10)

■AP250
　 Race 2 of the Asia Production 250cc class brought the coveted double win for Indonesian rider Gerry Salim. The Astra Honda Racing rider dominated the proceedings as he led from start to finish with a time of 20’54.397s.
A rocket start allowed Gerry to lead into Turn 1 with poleman Anupab Sarmoon and Takehiro Yamamoto hot on his tail. Gerry managed to carve out a lead when his team mate Rheza Danica Ahrens got mixed up within the front group. Rheza’s presence distracted the other riders enough for Gerry to pull away. “The race went easier for me today,” said Gerry. “Everything went according to script. I pushed hard in the first five laps and then brought the pace down a bit to conserve my tyres until the end.” Unable to catch up to Gerry, Anupab role a solo race in second place with a time of 20’56.112s. Takehiro Yamamoto edged out Tomoyoshi Koyama for third position with a time of 20’59.050s.
Meanwhile, Rheza Danica was undoubtedly the man of the hour for Astra Honda Racing. He started the race from fourth on the grid but was penalized with a ride-through penalty when he jumpstarted the race. Rejoining the grid at P15, Rheza went past one rider after another to complete the 12-lap race in fifth place. As the sole double winner of the weekend, Gerry goes home with the maximum 50 points to his name.
Takehiro Yamamoto tied with Anupab Sarmoon in second overall with 36 points each.

Report from Asia Road Racing Championship


Race1
1st Gerry Salim (Astra Honda Racing Team)
3rd Anupab Sarmoon (YAMAHA Thailand Racing TEAM)
4th Rheza Danica Ahrens (Astra Honda Racing Team)
5th Awhin Sanjaya (Astra Honda Racing Team)
6th Peerapong Luiboonpeng (YAMAHA Thailand Racing TEAM)
7th Tomoyoshi Koyama (RAMA Honda)
8th Andy Muhammad Fadly (Manual Tech Kawasaki Racing)
9th Galang Hendra Pratama (Yamaha Racing Indonesia)
11th Vorapong Malahuan (AP Honda Racing Thailand)
12th Reynaldo Chrisantho Ratuk (Yamaha Racing Indonesia)
15th Muklada Sarapuech (AP Honda Racing Thailand)
18th Naoko Takasugi (Team One For All)
19th Sethu Rajiv(RAMA Honda)
22nd Bui Duy Thong (Yuzy Honda Vietnam Racing Team)

DNF Peerapong Boonlert (YAMAHA Thailand Racing TEAM)


Race2
1st Gerry Salim (Astra Honda Racing Team)
2nd Anupab Sarmoon (YAMAHA Thailand Racing TEAM)
4th Tomoyoshi Koyama (RAMA Honda)
5th Rheza Danica Ahrens (Astra Honda Racing Team)
6th Andy Muhammad Fadly (Manual Tech Kawasaki Racing)
7th Peerapong Luiboonpeng (YAMAHA Thailand Racing TEAM)
9th Galang Hendra Pratama (Yamaha Racing Indonesia)
10th Reynaldo Chrisantho Ratuk (Yamaha Racing Indonesia)
11th Peerapong Boonlert (YAMAHA Thailand Racing TEAM)
15th Vorapong Malahuan (AP Honda Racing Thailand)
17th Muklada Sarapuech (AP Honda Racing Thailand)
18th Naoko Takasugi (Team One For All)
19th Sethu Rajiv(RAMA Honda)
21st Bui Duy Thong (Yuzy Honda Vietnam Racing Team)