After picking up three podium positions in Race 1 at the third leg of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship in Suzuka, the Malaysian contingent in the championship had high hopes of replicating their results in Race 2. However, the second day of competition turned out to be a forgettable day at the office for the majority of the Malaysians.
In the premiere SuperSports 600cc class, the increasing ambient and track temperature caused a change in engine character on Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman’s bike. The Race 1 winner had to be content in 5th place with 22’22.477s.
“I did my best, but I was just unable to get the same response from the bike as I did in Race 1. Race 2 ran under much hotter temperatures than the previous days and it caused my engine to lose power,” explained Azlan. However, the good news for the Malaysian would be that he had done enough in Suzuka to move up the championship ladder. The Kawasaki rider is now second with 74 points.
Meanwhile, Race 2 was won by Australian Anthony West with 22’22.002s. Thai rookie Keminth Kubo celebrated his first ARRC podium in second place with 22’22.379s while Azlan’s team mate, Ahmad Yudhistira, picked up a double podium in third place with 22’22.408s.
Team CKJ Yamaha Racing’s Ahmad Afif Amran was the best Malaysian performer in the Asia Production 250cc category. Afif crossed the finish line in fourth place with 20’02.642s, missing out on the podium by half a second. Up in front, the unstoppable Rheza Danica Ahrens his fourth consecutive win of the season with 19’53.378s. Mario Suryo Aji also clinched his fifth podium of the year, coming home second with 20’02.030s. Kawasaki’s Andy Muhammad Fadly was third with 20’02.228s.
Malaysia’s sole podium from Race 2 was delivered by Mohd Izzat Zaidi in the Underbone 150cc category. The RCB Yamaha YY Pang Racing rider completed the 6-lap race in third place behind Indonesian duo Gupita Kresna Wardhana and Wahyu Aji Trilaksana.
