It was not an easy feat with an unpredictable temperament in the Underbone 150cc race category however Md Nazirul Izzat Bahauddin of UMA RACING YAMAHA MAJU MOTOR ASIA TEAM moved swiftly alongside more than twenty riders to make the most and best of Race 2, Round 2 of Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship before claiming victory.

It is a common scene in the UB150 challenge for riders at the back to move up into the lead position within seconds. Yesterday saw multiple exchange of positions among riders however Wawan was striking at the last corner when was stayed focused despite the chaos of the casualty and went on to put on one last fight with his closest contender, Murobbil before bolting ahead.

It was a good start for Wawan who was at the pole position. He immediately took lead at the first turn and dashed ahead. Unfortunately, seconds into the race, Wawan encountered issues with the machine and was out of the equation for the day. Wahyu however found his way to the lead position by the end of lap 1 with Fazli Sham and Haziq Fairues close behind. By the end of lap 2, Murobbil pulled himself up the line while Haziq and Nazirul motioned into P2 and P3.

By mid-race, Nazirul was taking lead and from all the way back, Izam Ikmal moved up and positioned himself at P2. With two more laps to go, the riders were fiery, fuelled to succeed. At the last corner, as riders embraced for one final push, it was strategizing at place when Nazirul slip-streamed ahead of Hafiza Rofa for a dramatic finish. He clocked in at 15’43:701s.

Commenting on the race, Nazirul said, “I put on a good fight from the start of the lap till the end. Each lap posed different kind of challenge but I was determined to surpass it. I gave my best shot throughout, knowing that at the end of the day, it is not just the act of mastery but also fate. Ultimately, today’s win is a blessing from Allah. I am truly happy and grateful. Thank you to my mum especially for the endless support and of course not forgetting, the team who have been there throughout.”

Second and third place went to Md Shafiq Rasol and Md Hafiza Rofa at 15’43:710s and 15’43:715s respectively.

Striking in his moves and showcasing mastery in the Asia Production 250cc race category, Veda Ega Pratama of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM went on a grand finish when he swiped victory in Race 2, Round 2 of Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship that took place at the Sepang International Circuit.

It was a day to celebrate for the Indonesians when trio of ASTRA HONDA RACING TEAM bagged all three spots on the podium in Race 1. Steady and poised, Herjun, Rheza and Veda were relentless in their pursuit towards their goals leaving a trail of robust riders, defeated.

With the flag off, ASTRA HONDA boys were off to a fiery start with Rheza taking lead followed by Herjun and Veda. However, before the lap ended, Thai rider Jakkrephat made a slide past Herjun into P3. His moves did not last when he crashed before the end of lap 2 opening up the space for Herjun to move back into P3. Meanwhile, in the second group behind the leading trio were Aiki Iyoshi, Irfan Ardiansyah and Thanat.

Into lap 4, Herjun picked up speed as he moved past Rheza. Veda remained in P3. A wide gap started forming between the trio and the pack behind. Between teammates Irfan and Aiki, a battle of their own forced them in and out of P4 and P5. The Kawasaki Ninja riders may not make it into P3 considering the huge gap in between nevertheless, its all about scoring.

With two more laps the go, Herjun was fearlessly taking charge drawing up almost a 1-second gap from Rheza. Into the last lap, Herjun was on fire as he picked up speed while staying focused to avoid any mishap. Seconds towards the end of the game, Veda made his final move into P1. At the last turn, teamwork prevailed as the trio rode towards a 1-2-3.

Commenting on the race, Veda said, “This is my first win for the season in the Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship and I am beyond thrilled. I did face some difficulty in a few laps and I was left out in the beginning. But I am grateful to have picked up the momentum and maintained the right rhythm after that. It is a huge achievement for my team members and I in the AP250 race category. I thank my team members, the crew who have been supportive towards us throughout.”

Veda clocked in at 19’13:176s followed by Herjun Atna Firdaus at 19’13:274s and Rheza Danica Ahrens at 19’13:517s.

The TVS Asia One Make Championship has been quite a show with riders of Asia pulling their best stunts in their endeavours to succeed. Race 2 saw yet another round of exhilaration and dexterity but one that was significant was Md Ramdan Rosli of Malaysia when he claimed victory in Round 2 of Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Sepang International Circuit.

In yesterday’s feat, Muzakkir draw attention with his flawless performance as he took lead from the start till the end. Although Ramdan and Piyawat were equally competitive in their strides, they failed in their attempt to supersede the man in charge for the day.

Today started with Muzakkir picking up the speed and taking lead from the first turn. He was fiercely chased by Ramdan and Piyawat nevertheless, Muzakkir was leading with confidence. Meanwhile, Vorapong was waiting for his moment to strike at P4. By the end of lap 2, Muzakkir has drawn a gap of 0.399s from his contender, Ramdan. The first cluster of riders seemed to maintain their pace and position playing it safe. By mid-race, the top five riders included Decky at P5.

By the sixth lap however, Indonesian lad, Decky managed to swerve ahead of Piyawat, into P3. But Piyawat was quick to recover his position and by the end of lap 5, he fired his moves and into P1. Vorapong was coolly striding at P5. With one more lap the go, the intense feat saw rivalry at its best in the last corner. By then, Ramdan was leading while Vorapong, Muzakkir and Piyawat pushed their machines to the limits. Malaysian rider, Ramdan glided towards a win at 14’21:125s.

Commenting on the race, Ramdan said, “I was hoping to take the win yesterday but I failed. It is not as easy as it seems racing in this category. Everyone in this challenge is equally skilled and experienced therefore, it was crucial to stay focused on the end result. I understand the machine better now and while every one else has the same machine, it is more of having the right mindset and optimising the skills. I am grateful for today’s victory and hope to win more races to come.”

Md Muzakkir Mohamed of Malaysia took the second place at 14’21:204s.

Vorapong Malahuan of Thailand made it third on the podium at 14’21:203s.