Pratama Wins, Hada 3rd in Race 1, Pratama 4th Race 2

Round 4 of the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) was held at the Sentul International Circuit in Indonesia. In late July, many ARRC riders had participated in the Suzuka 8hours Endurance Race in Japan. Dimas Ekky Pratama (Astra Honda Racing Team), Md Zaqhwan Zaidi (MuSASHi Boon Siew Honda Racing) and Ratthapong Wilairot (AP Honda Racing Thailand) had raced at the event for Satu HATI. Honda Team Asia, making it into the Top 10 Trial in 10th place, and completing the race in 8th. Tatsuya Yamaguchi (AP Honda Racing Thailand) finished an impressive 6th at Suzuka with AP250 rider Tomoyoshi Koyama (RAMA Honda).

Zaidi secured the SS600 pole, but it was Pratama who took the lead early in the race. Zaidi retook the lead, ensuring a hot battle for the remainder of the race. With Taiga Hada (RAMA Honda by NTS T.Pro Ten 10), Decha Kraisart, (Yamaha), Ahmad Yudhistira (Kawasaki) and Chalermpol Polamai (Yamaha), the five riders fought for victory.

As Pratama bullies his way past Zaidi, three riders caught the lead group of five, making it eight riders contending the top podium spot. Zaidi gives way to Hada, making the top 3 Pratama, Hada and Zaidi. Kraisart ups his pace and passes Hada for 2nd. Yudhistira passes Zaidi. The order, in an instant, becomes Pratama, Kraisart, Hada, Yudhistira, and Zaidi. Hada takes 2nd place back, and chases Pratama. Yudhistira is up to 3rd. And the battle continues throughout the race.

In the closing stages, Yudhistira catches Hada, and is up in 2nd place. Zaidi is 4th. The positions fluctuate with the passing laps. Pratama, Yudhistira, Hada distance themselves from other riders, and in the end, Pratama prevails to cross the checkered flag victorious. Hada is 3rd, Zaidi 4th. For other Honda teams, Sena Yamada (RAMA Honda by NTS T.Pro Ten 10.) is 10th, Yamaguchi 12th, and Teppei Nagoe (MuSASHi Boon Siew Honda Racing) is 13th.

In Race 2, Zaidi takes the holeshot and capitalizes on his advantage, pulling away from Hada in 2nd. One the first turn on Lap 2, Polamai (Yamaha) overtakes Hada, now 3rd. Zaidi increases his lead lap after lap. The battle for 2nd, however, increases to a 10-way fight, Zaidi then crashes, causing a red flag as his bike was left on the track.

The restarted race was contended over 9 laps. As riders waited for the restart, the weather changed, bringing thunder and torrential rain. The riders were now on rain tires, and were back out on the track. Riders carefully rode their way to the grid.

Once the rainy race restarted, Pratama was fastest into the first turn, but soon enough overtaken by Kraisart, who was luckier in keeping his lead. The large group of riders followed. Yudhistira eventually takes the lead, with Kraisart, Polamai, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (Kawasaki) and Pratama close behind.

Yamaha and Kawasaki fought for victory, while Pratama fought Yuki Ito (Yamaha) for 4th. On the final lap, Dimas forged his own position, for a 4th place finish. Wilairot was 8th, Yamaguchi 10th, Hada 12th, Yamada 14th and Nagoe 16th.

Dimas Ekky Pratama: Astra Honda Racing Team
SS600 Race Results: 1st / 4th

“Needless to say, I’m unbelievably happy to win at my home race in Race 1. The last lap was tense, and the slightest lapse gave the lead away, but I was determined to win. I didn’t have much space to maneuver, but I had to work with what I had. I’m so glad I won. I thank everyone for their effort.”

Taiga Hada: RAMA Honda by NTS T.Pro Ten 10.
SS600 Race Results: 3rd / 12th

“Bike setup went well since FP1, and we were prepared for the race, but I finished 3rd in Race 1. Race 2 was a very disappointing 12th. We’ll look over what went wrong, so I can get better results in India.”

Tatsuya Yamaguchi: A.P.Honda Racing Thailand
SS600 Race Results: 12th / 10th

“This was my first tie on this track. I had heard there are a lot of gaps, so I thought I was prepared, but it was more than I had expected. The track layout is simple, but it was hard avoiding the gaps, I was nearly thrown off my bike many times. I improved by a second each time I was on the track, but with a setup that compromises between my riding style and slick tires for a 600cc machine, I wasn’t competitive enough. In Race 1 I missed a gear on Lap 3 which lost me a lot of places, and with two laps left when I nearly caught the lead group I was off-line on Turn 1 and was in the sand, the highside costing me dearly. In Race 2, the heavy rain after the red flag should have been a good opportunity, but I was on a new rain tire setup, and couldn’t ride as I had intended. I learned though, that we had the same problems in the wet as in dry conditions, which is a big hint so solving our issues. We’ll be using this experience to improve in the next race.”

Sena Yamada: RAMA Honda by NTS T.Pro Ten 10.
SS600 Race Results: 10th / 14th

“It was my first time here, and it was the bumpiest track I’ve ever raced on. We set up the bike based on data the team had for last year, and we didn’t change much, making adjustments to my riding style instead. It was the best preparation we’ve done all season. Race 1 was better than usual, but I lost positions near the end of the race. It was my first time in the wet on a 600cc bike in Race 2, with the rain coming after the red flag, and I couldn’t build my rhythm and didn’t finish well. There was a lot I learned though, so I’ll aim to finish closer to the leaders next race.”

Teppei Nagoe: MuSASHi Boon Siew Honda Racing
SS600 Race Results: 13th / 16th

“It was a very difficult weekend. The track, unlike in Japan, is very bumpy, and each time I tried to make a move, the rear tire would spin. For Free Practice my bike was set up based on [Zaqhwan] Zaidi’s and adjusted for me, so I could concentrate on learning the track. In qualifying I was able to improve my lap times each lap, and built up a good rhythm for the race. I was slow off the mark in Race 1, and gradually lost ground to the leaders, but the good points and bad points were useful in Race 2. I pushed from the beginning and caught up to the leaders, but that’s when I crashed. The race was restarted, but I couldn’t get over the crash, and I had difficulty adjusting to the hard-wet setup because of the squall, so it was an irritating race. My results aren’t good this week, but I’m gradually seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I haven’t been on the track for the next race, but I’ll concentrate and aim for the podium.”

Salim Wins, Ahrens 2nd, Izdihar 3rd in Race 1, Salim Wins, Izdihar 2nd and Koyama 3rd in Race 2

In the Asia Production 250 (AP250) class, Gerry Salim (Astra Honda Racing Team) took pole position, with Tomoyoshi Koyama (RAMA Honda) close behind in 4th, and Takehiro Yamamoto (SIDRAP HONDA IKAZUCHI Racing Team.) 10th.

In Race 1, Salim takes the holeshot, and pulls away, to control the race from the front. Salim completes Lap 1 in a convincing fashion, followed by ten riders all fighting for 2nd. Andi Izdihar (Astra Honda Racing Team) eventually prevails, while Koyama is 5th, waiting for the opportunity to break away from the battle for 2nd.

Izdihar, Anupab Sarmoon (Yamaha), Rheza Danica Ahrens (Astra Honda Racing Team) and Koyama battle for 2nd place, chasing the leader. Salim outruns them all for the win, Ahrens manages to finish 2nd, with Izdihar 3rd, giving Astra Honda Racing Team complete domination of the podium. Koyama crossed the finish line in 4th place. Yamamoto was less fortunate, retiring with mechanical issues.

Race 2 started under less than ideal, windy conditions. Salim again takes control, leading the race. Sarmoon chases, with Izdihar and Koyama close behind. Six riders fight for 2nd place. Izdihar inches ahead for 2nd, and the fight for victory turns into a 4-way ordeal. Koyama surges past the others for 2nd place, now chasing Salim in the lead. The top 4 cross the control line together, outmaneuvering each other at every turn until the last lap. Although Koyama at sone stage leads, it was short-lived, as the battle raged until the last turn, Salim once again crossing the line first for a double win. Izdihar was 2nd, with Koyama narrowly losing out but earning his first podium finish.

Gerry Salim: Astra Honda Racing Team
AP250 Race Results: 1st / 1st

“I wanted to win both races, so I’m happy. My start in Race 2 was no good. The front of the bike lifted so I was slow off the mark, but I somehow managed to take back the lead. I’m glad I won in both races.”

Tomoyoshi Koyama: RAMA Honda
AP250 Race Results: 4th / 3rd

“The mechanics helped me a lot during race week as I was having problems with the engine’s settings. I wasn’t competitive in Race 1, but in Race 2 the team’s efforts and a headwind helped me to battle for the lead. This race was the best I had this year, and I’ll be working to close the gap even further and aim to win. Thank you for your support.”

Takehiro Yamamoto: SIDRAP HONDA IKAZUCHI Racing Team
AP250 Race Results: DNF / 8th

“I won here at Sentul last year and this track suit me, so I was very confident, but it was hard from the beginning of the week because I couldn’t find the right setup. I retired in Race 1 because of mechanical issues, and only managed 8th in Race 2. We’ll work out the problems, and get back to where we should be.”

2017 Asia Road Racing Championship
Round 04: Sentul – Indonesia