Hafizh remains perfect as Epis makes ground at ARRC Buriram

4 weeks ago 34

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Round Two – Chang International Circuit

Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah continued his flawless start to the 2026 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Chang International Circuit, the Malaysian taking both ASB1000 wins at Buriram to move to a perfect 100 points from the opening four races of the season.

The JDT Racing Team Ducati rider again proved the ASB1000 benchmark across the second round, winning Saturday’s opener after working through the lead group, then backing it up on Sunday after early pressure from the Honda contingent. Keito Abe was again his closest championship pursuer, while Thailand’s Nakarin Atiratphuvapat gave the home crowd a podium in Race Two.

There was also a strong Australian angle in the premier class, with Lachlan Epis putting together his best weekend of the season on the Swift Grow Racing Team BMW M 1000 RR. Epis finished seventh in Race One and then fourth in Race Two, the latter result coming after he ran close enough to the front to capitalise when the podium battle became increasingly messy in the closing stages. That moves Epis to ninth in the championship on 32 points.

Olly Simpson finished tenth in both ASB1000 races on the MotoGo Yamaha Fusport Racing YZF-R1M, while Declan Carberry was 13th in Race One before retiring from Race Two. Simpson is now 13th in the standings on 12 points, with Carberry 17th on three.

ASB1000

Hafizh had to work for the first ASB1000 win of the weekend after starting fifth, while pole-sitter Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi launched well and led the early phase ahead of team-mate Azroy Hakeem Anuar. Keito Abe quickly inserted himself into the lead fight and briefly took control after capitalising on a Zaqhwan mistake, but Hafizh remained patient as the front group traded places.

The decisive phase came from mid-race. Hafizh moved past both Keito and Zaqhwan in one sequence on lap eight, then swept by Azroy a lap later to take the lead. Once in clean air, the Ducati rider edged away to win by 2.626 seconds over Azroy, with Keito third, Zaqhwan fourth and Andi Farid Izdihar fifth.

Race Two again began with Zaqhwan and Azroy prominent, but Hafizh was in the lead by lap two and gradually broke the race open. Azroy looked the most likely to challenge before crashing at Turn 8 on lap eight while trying to close the gap. Zaqhwan then faded from podium contention after late drama, while Keito moved through to second and Nakarin took third for Honda Racing Thailand.

Epis was one of the beneficiaries of the late reshuffle but his fourth place was no fluke. His 1m35.992 best lap in Race Two was the fourth-fastest classified race lap, and he finished only 8.155 seconds behind Hafizh.

After four wins from four starts, Hafizh now leads the ASB1000 championship on 100 points, 24 clear of Keito. Andi is third on 53, while Epis is ninth.

ASB 1000 Race One Results


Pos	Rider	Bike	Time/Gap	Speed
1	H. Syahrin	Duc	24m06.445	296.7
2	A. Hakeem Anuar	Hon	+2.626	296.7
3	K. Abe	Hon	+2.876	295.9
4	M. Zaidi	Hon	+3.278	292.7
5	A. Izdihar	Duc	+3.369	294.3
6	N. Atiratphuvapat	Hon	+6.863	296.7
7	L. Epis	BMW	+10.373	292.7
8	R. Sessler	BMW	+13.211	288.8
9	M. Adenanta Putra	Hon	+18.548	297.5
10	O. Simpson	Yam	+23.891	285.7
11	K. Watanabe	Apr	+33.095	285.7
12	J. Francis	Yam	+48.518	274.1
13	D. Carberry	BMW	+1m16.214	289.5
14	M. Abdul Wahab	BMW	+1 Lap	283.5
15	C. Qing Rong	BMW	+1 Lap	276.2

ASB 1000 Race Two Results


Pos	Rider	Bike	Time/Gap	Speed
1	H. Syahrin	Duc	24m02.0	295.9
2	K. Abe	Hon	2.748	293.5
3	N. Atiratphuvapat	Hon	3.482	297.5
4	L. Epis	BMW	8.155	294.3
5	R. Sessler	BMW	10.776	290.3
6	A. Izdihar	Duc	16.511	291.9
7	M. Adenanta Putra	Hon	18.404	295.1
8	K. Watanabe	Apr	32.901	285
9	J. Francis	Yam	48.579	276.2
10	O. Simpson	Yam	+1m13.826	279.1
11	M. Zaidi	Hon	+3m55.009	294.3
12	M. Abdul Wahab	BMW	+1 Lap	285.7
DNF	C. Qing Rong	BMW	DNF	282.7
DNF	D. Carberry	BMW	DNF	288
DNF	A. Hakeem Anuar	Hon	DNF	299.2

ASB 1000 Points


Pos	Rider	Bike	Total
1	H. Syahrin	Duc	100
2	K. Abe	Hon	76
3	A. Izdihar	Duc	53
4	A. Hakeem Anuar	Hon	44
5	N. Atiratphuvapat	Hon	39
6	M. Zaidi	Hon	37
7	R. Sessler	BMW	34
8	M. Adenanta Putra	Hon	34
9	L. Epis	BMW	32
10	K. Watanabe	Apr	24
11	J. Francis	Yam	19
12	A. Norrudin	Suz	15
13	O. Simpson	Yam	12
14	A. West	Yam	11
15	M. Abdul Wahab	BMW	10
16	C. Qing Rong	BMW	3
17	D. Carberry	BMW	3
18	T. Yew Joe	BMW

SS600

The Supersports 600 class produced the closest finish of the weekend on Saturday, with Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin beating Thailand’s Thanat Laoongplio by just 0.003 seconds.

Thanat, Anupab Sarmoon, Kasma and McKinley Kyle Paz were all in the lead fight, with the order changing constantly through the closing laps. Thanat looked set to give the home crowd the Race One win, but Kasma’s final-corner attack produced a drag race to the flag and a photo-finish victory. Anupab completed the podium, only 0.141 seconds from the win.

Thanat responded on Sunday with one of the rides of the round. A long-lap penalty dropped him to 11th, but the Thai rider came back through the pack, recording the fastest lap and rejoining the victory fight before the final laps. He then passed Anupab at the final corner to win by 0.130 seconds. McKinley Kyle Paz completed the podium, with Kasma fourth.

Kasma still leads the SS600 championship on 72 points, but Thanat is now only three points behind. Muhammad Helmi Azman is third on 61, one point ahead of Anupab.

SS600 Race One Results

Pos

Rider

Bike

Time/Gap

Speed

1	K. Kasmayudin	Yam	20m06.403	261.5
2	T. Laoongplio	Hon	+0.003	256.5
3	A. Sarmoon	Yam	+0.141	261.5
4	H. Firdaus	Hon	+0.340	260.2
5	W. Nugroho	Yam	+1.450	260.2
6	M. Azman	Hon	+7.079	257.8
7	F. Aditama	Hon	+9.353	254.7
8	M. Toreqottullah	Yam	+25.383	261.5
9	D. Pratama	Hon	+27.453	253.5
10	Z. Tianhao	Yam	+1 Lap	240.5
11	M. Ikmal	Yam	+1 Lap	260.9
12	K. Pawi	Hon	+2 Laps	248.8
DNF	K. Tanachot	Hon	DNF	260.9
DNF	M. Kyle Paz	Yam	DNF	259.0

SS600 Race Two Results

Pos

Rider

Bike

Time/Gap

Speed

1	T. Laoongplio	Hon	20m02.096	262.8
2	A. Sarmoon	Yam	+0.130	260.2
3	M. Kyle Paz	Yam	+0.577	260.9
4	K. Kasmayudin	Yam	+0.769	259.0
5	M. Faerozi Toreqottullah	Yam	+4.578	259.0
6	K. Tanachot	Hon	+4.676	262.8
7	W. Nugroho	Yam	+6.506	255.9
8	F. Arbi Aditama	Hon	+9.314	259.6
9	K. Idham Pawi	Hon	+12.392	257.1
10	M. Helmi Azman	Hon	+20.222	261.5
11	D. Ekky Pratama	Hon	+36.408	254.7
12	M. Izam Ikmal	Yam	+36.539	264.7
13	Z. Tianhao	Yam	+1 Lap	242.2
DNF	H. Firdaus	Hon	DNF	261.5

SS600 Points

Pos

Rider

Bike

Total

1	K. Kasmayudin	Yam	72
2	T. Laoongplio	Hon	69
3	M. Helmi Azman	Hon	61
4	A. Sarmoon	Yam	60
5	W. Nugroho	Yam	43
6	M. Kyle Paz	Yam	40
7	H. Firdaus	Hon	38
8	F. Arbi Aditama	Hon	38
9	M. Faerozi Toreqottullah	Yam	26
10	D. Ekky Pratama	Hon	23
11	K. Idham Pawi	Hon	19
12	M. Izam Ikmal	Yam	18
13	K. Tanachot	Hon	16
14	Z. Tianhao	Yam	12

AP250

Hiroki Ono made an immediate impact in Asia Production 250, winning Race One on his first AP250 appearance as a replacement rider for Honda Racing Vietnam.

Krittapat Keankum had started the weekend strongly for Yamaha Thailand Racing Team and led early in the opener, but the race developed into the usual AP250 pack fight. Panjaruch Chitwirulchat, Rheza Danica Ahrens, Fahmi Basam, Teeranai Tubtim and others all took turns in the lead group, but Hiroki was strongest when it counted. He won by 0.114 seconds over Rheza, with Panjaruch third.

Krittapat made amends in Race Two with a much more decisive performance. The Thai rider grabbed the holeshot and built a race-winning advantage while the pack behind him tore itself apart. By the final lap Krittapat had more than four seconds in hand and he crossed the line 4.694 seconds clear of Panjaruch. Candra H completed the podium for Yamaha Racing Indonesia.

The Race Two win helped Krittapat strengthen his AP250 championship lead. He now has 86 points, ahead of Rheza on 64 and Panjaruch on 62.

AP250 Race One Results


Pos	Rider	Bike	Time/Gap	Speed
1	H. Ono	Hon	18m48.695	196.4
2	R. Ahrens	Hon	+0.114	201.5
3	P. Chitwirulchat	Hon	+0.805	197.1
4	F. Basam	Yam	+0.924	202.6
5	K. Keankum	Yam	+0.982	195.7
6	T. Tubtim	Yam	+1.054	201.5
7	A. Fadly	Kaw	+1.302	202.2
8	R. Takahira	Yam	+2.048	203.8
9	C. H	Yam	+2.214	201.1
10	M. Syahmi Ahmad Shahril	Yam	+2.280	199.6
11	P. Luiboonpeng	Yam	+2.349	195.7
12	A. Iyoshi	Hon	+2.560	203.8
13	G. Salim	Hon	+2.664	201.5
14	I. Ardiansyah	Hon	+2.769	202.6
15	A. Ismaya	Yam	+8.831	201.1
16	M. Musyavi	Yam	+8.874	203.4
17	N. Huu Tri	Hon	+8.961	201.1
18	M. Irfan Haykal Amidi	Hon	+9.003	198.9
19	S. Cheng Zhang	Kaw	+9.444	199.3
20	G. Ziang	Yam	+31.953	192.5
21	Z. Junhao	Yam	+32.176	197.1
22	R. Hasegawa	Hon	+33.182	196.4
23	C. Jacob Solis	Hon	+33.798	194.9
24	S. Yokoyama	Yam	+33.958	192.5
25	M. Jazil Juraimi	Yam	+34.126	196.0
26	L. Yin	Yam	+36.509	196.0
27	S. Rajiv	Hon	+59.787	189.8
DNF	M. Idil Fitri Mahadi	Yam	DNF	187.5
DNF	G. Hendra Pratama	Yam	DNF	200.7
DNS	P. Thonggerdloung	Hon	DNS	–

AP250 Race Two Results


Pos	Rider	Bike	Time/Gap	Speed
1	K. Keankum	Yam	18m41.804	191.2
2	P. Chitwirulchat	Hon	+4.694	201.1
3	C. H	Yam	+6.562	203.4
4	R. Ahrens	Hon	+6.732	202.2
5	T. Tubtim	Yam	+6.732	201.5
6	F. Basam	Yam	+6.740	202.6
7	I. Ardiansyah	Hon	+6.873	204.2
8	H. Ono	Hon	+6.875	200.0
9	R. Takahira	Yam	+7.116	203.4
10	M. Syahmi Ahmad Shahril	Yam	+7.144	201.5
11	M. Musyavi	Yam	+7.264	203.8
12	M. Irfan Haykal Amidi	Hon	+7.296	203.4
13	G. Hendra Pratama	Yam	+7.607	202.6
14	A. Iyoshi	Hon	+7.794	201.1
15	A. Ismaya	Yam	+9.488	204.2
16	S. Cheng Zhang	Kaw	+10.150	209.3
17	N. Huu Tri	Hon	+31.548	198.5
18	G. Ziang	Yam	+31.759	197.1
19	Z. Junhao	Yam	+40.382	201.5
20	R. Hasegawa	Hon	+40.542	198.2
21	M. Jazil Juraimi	Yam	+40.688	197.8
22	M. Idil Fitri Mahadi	Yam	+40.923	196.7
23	S. Yokoyama	Yam	+40.954	195.3
24	L. Yin	Yam	+46.453	193.9
25	S. Rajiv	Hon	+1:00.368	189.8
DNF	P. Luiboonpeng	Yam	DNF	200.4
DNF	G. Salim	Hon	DNF	203.0
DNF	C. Jacob Solis	Hon	DNF	197.1
DNF	A. Fadly	Kaw	DNF	203.0
DNS	P. Thonggerdloung	Hon	DNS	–

AP250 Points

Pos

Rider

Bike

Total

1	K. Keankum	Yam	86
2	R. Ahrens	Hon	64
3	P. Chitwirulchat	Hon	62
4	C. H	Yam	39
5	M. Syahmi Ahmad Shahril	Yam	33
6	H. Ono	Hon	33
7	G. Salim	Hon	30
8	T. Tubtim	Yam	27
9	F. Basam	Yam	23
10	P. Luiboonpeng	Yam	21
11	A. Iyoshi	Hon	18
12	R. Takahira	Yam	17
13	N. Viet Tuan	Hon	16
14	G. Hendra Pratama	Yam	16
15	M. Musyavi	Yam	16
16	I. Ardiansyah	Hon	11
17	N. Huu Tri	Hon	11
18	A. Fadly	Kaw	9
19	M. Irfan Haykal Amidi	Hon	7
20	A. Ismaya	Yam	6
21	T. Saito	Hon	6
22	G. Ziang	Yam	1

UB150

Underbone 150 again delivered the most chaotic racing of the weekend, with the front pack rarely separated by more than a few tenths.

Fadli Rigani won Race One after a wild final lap. Husni Zainul Fuadzy, Rendi Odding, Shahrol Syazras, Gupita Kresna Wardhana and M. Syirat Sauki were all still in the fight as the field headed towards the final corner, but Nazirul Izzat Muhammad Bahauddin crashed while positioned to challenge for victory. Fadli stayed out of trouble and won by 0.137 seconds from Wahyu Aji Trilaksana, with Husni third.

Husni then converted the pace he had shown all weekend into a Race Two win. The race again featured a large lead group, and Fadli had looked a chance to double up before an engine problem ended his challenge while leading.

Husni held firm through mixed conditions, with light rain at Turn 3 while the rest of the track remained dry. Dimas Juli Atmoko crossed the line second on the road but was penalised for exceeding track limits at Turn 12, promoting Ahmad Darwisy Ahmad Sahir to second and Adytya Fauzi to third.

Husni now has a commanding UB150 championship lead on 82 points. Gupita is second on 44, with Dimas third on 43 and Adytya fourth on 42.

UB150 Race One Results

Pos

Rider

Bike

Time/Gap

Speed

1	F. Rigani	Yam	16m40.642	175.0
2	W. Aji Trilaksana	Yam	+0.137	176.5
3	H. Zainul Fuadzy	Yam	+0.169	166.9
4	R. Odding	Yam	+0.290	170.1
5	G. Kresna Wardhana	Yam	+0.401	173.9
6	D. Juli Atmoko	Yam	+0.405	175.9
7	A. Darwisy Ahmad Sahir	Hon	+0.445	173.9
8	A. Fauzi	Hon	+1.049	175.9
9	M. Syirat Sauki	Yam	+1.131	175.9
10	A. King Mascardo	Yam	+1.466	167.7
11	S. Syazras Shahrol	Hon	+1.567	172.5
12	M. Shafiq Rasol	Yam	+1.862	170.6
13	T. Jonathan Ky Rojas	Yam	+1.939	176.8
14	J. Emerson Inguito	Yam	+2.006	174.5
15	M. Muzakkir Mohamed	Vog	+2.095	172.5
16	M. Afizi Supaat	Vog	+2.129	172.8
17	K. Sudarman Manurung	Hon	+2.170	174.2
18	M. Silmi Helsinki	Yam	+2.362	175.0
19	A. Fazrul Sham	Yam	+2.460	177.3
20	N. Izzat Muhammad Bahauddin	Yam	+22.438	177.3
DNF	M. Adib Arsyad Mohd Hisam	Yam	DNF	175.3

UB150 Race Two Results

Pos

Rider

Bike

Time/Gap

Speed

1	H. Zainul Fuadzy	Yam	16m37.890	173.9
2	A. Darwisy Ahmad Sahir	Hon	+0.390	172.0
3	A. Fauzi	Hon	+0.411	176.5
4	D. Juli Atmoko	Yam	+0.352	178.2
5	M. Syirat Sauki	Yam	+0.590	173.6
6	M. Silmi Helsinki	Yam	+0.702	181.8
7	S. Syazras Shahrol	Hon	+0.878	175.3
8	A. King Mascardo	Yam	+0.932	175.3
9	A. Ilham Safatulah	Yam	+1.028	175.6
10	M. Muzakkir Mohamed	Vog	+1.534	171.4
11	R. Odding	Yam	+1.631	172.5
12	A. Fazrul Sham	Yam	+1.716	174.5
13	T. Jonathan Ky Rojas	Yam	+12.408	175.3
14	M. Shafiq Rasol	Yam	+16.472	172.0
15	G. Kresna Wardhana	Yam	+22.218	177.0
16	M. Adib Arsyad Mohd Hisam	Yam	+38.260	174.5
DNF	N. Izzat Muhammad Bahauddin	Yam	DNF	175.6
DNF	J. Emerson Inguito	Yam	DNF	176.5
DNF	K. Sudarman Manurung	Hon	DNF	179.4
DNF	F. Rigani	Yam	DNF	175.3
DNF	M. Afizi Supaat	Vog	DNF	172.8
DNF	W. Aji Trilaksana	Yam	DNF	173.1

UB150 Points


Pos	Rider	Bike	Total
1	H. Zainul Fuadzy	Yam	82
2	G. Kresna Wardhana	Yam	44
3	D. Juli Atmoko	Yam	43
4	A. Fauzi	Hon	42
5	A. Darwisy Ahmad Sahir	Hon	39
6	F. Rigani	Yam	37
7	W. Aji Trilaksana	Yam	35
8	A. King Mascardo	Yam	35
9	A. Ilham Safatulah	Yam	34
10	S. Syazras Shahrol	Hon	30
11	R. Odding	Yam	29
12	M. Syirat Sauki	Yam	29
13	M. Silmi Helsinki	Yam	21
14	J. Emerson Inguito	Yam	15
15	M. Adib Arsyad Mohd Hisam	Yam	11
16	M. Shafiq Rasol	Yam	11
17	K. Sudarman Manurung	Hon	7
18	T. Jonathan Ky Rojas	Yam	6
19	M. Muzakkir Mohamed	Vog	6
20	A. Fazrul Sham	Yam	4

TVS Asia

The TVS Racing International Championship delivered two last-corner thrillers.

Spain’s Luis Miguel won Race One by only 0.004 seconds over Mohd Ramdan Rosli. Ramdan had started from pole, but Luis launched well and remained in the lead fight throughout. Oratilwe Phiri finished third, with Rakshith Shihari Dave fourth and Md Naqib Rifqi fifth.

Sarthak Chavan bounced back in Race Two. After a difficult Race One, the Indian rider returned to the front group on Sunday and made his move in the final corner to win by 0.073 seconds over Ramdan. Pedrinho Matos was only 0.088 seconds from victory in third.

Ramdan continues to lead the TVS standings on 85 points, but Sarthak closed the margin to five points with his Race Two win.

TVS Asia Race One Results


Pos	Rider	Bike	Time/Gap	Speed
1	L. Miguel	TVS	14m57.220	203.4
2	M. Ramdan Rosli	TVS	+0.004	202.2
3	O. Phiri	TVS	+0.529	200.7
4	R. Shihari Dave	TVS	+0.770	205.3
5	M. Naqib Rifqi	TVS	+1.140	199.6
6	S. Chavan	TVS	+3.133	203.8
7	J. Kento Turner	TVS	+3.548	205.3
8	J. Lopez	TVS	+3.582	204.9
9	T. King	TVS	+3.589	200.4
10	C. Vishwanath	TVS	+3.751	203.8
11	T. Nuansai	TVS	+6.546	201.1
DNF	P. Matos	TVS	DNF	202.6
DNF	F. Algasani	TVS	DNF	204.2
DNF	L. Parades	TVS	DNF	200.4

TVS Asia Race Two Results

Pos

Rider

Bike

Time/Gap

1	S. Chavan	TVS	14m58.040
2	M. Ramdan Rosli	TVS	+0.073
3	P. Matos	TVS	+0.088
4	M. Naqib Rifqi	TVS	+0.241
5	J. Kento Turner	TVS	+0.935
6	J. Lopez	TVS	+1.035
7	T. Nuansai	TVS	+1.147
8	C. Vishwanath	TVS	+1.950
9	R. Shihari Dave	TVS	+2.510
10	L. Parades	TVS	+5.340
11	O. Phiri	TVS	+1:14.519
DNF	L. Miguel	TVS	DNF
DNF	T. King	TVS	DNF
DNF	F. Algasani	TVS	DNF

TVS Asia Points

Pos

Rider

Bike

Total

1	M. Ramdan Rosli	TVS	85
2	S. Chavan	TVS	80
3	O. Phiri	TVS	43
4	L. Miguel	TVS	41
5	M. Naqib Rifqi	TVS	37
6	J. Kento Turner	TVS	32
7	J. Lopez	TVS	31
8	R. Shihari Dave	TVS	28
9	M. Haziq Md Fairues	TVS	26
10	P. Matos	TVS	25
11	C. Vishwanath	TVS	24
12	T. King	TVS	20
13	L. Parades	TVS	15
14	T. Nuansai	TVS	14
15	K. Ahamed	TVS	7
16	F. Algassani Priyadi	TVS	6
17	N. Keith Frost	TVS	5