Recapping a tense Asia Road Racing Championships finale from Thailand

2025 Idemitsu FIM Asia Road Racing Championships
Round Six – Chang International Circuit, Thailand

---

ASB 1000 Race One

14 riders fronted the starter for the opening 13-lap Superbike contest, but only ten finished. Cam Dunker was among the non-finishers, as was Joe Francis, Ryo Mizuno and Azroy Hakeem Anuar.

The battle for victory was a four-man affair, with a forceful but fair move by Hafizh Syahrin late in the race proving pivotal.  Syahrin had been engaged in a heady battle with championship leader Nakarin Atiratphuvapat. The Malaysian’s move interrupted Nakarin’s flow, allowing both Andi Farid Izdihar and Keito Abe to push him off the podium.

The win saw Syahrin move into the championship lead and take a handy eight-point lead into Sunday’s finale.  Nakarin was gutted. Syahrin and his crew were elated.

Lachlan Epis secured a fairly lonely sixth-place finish 16 seconds behind the podium placings. The BMW rider has failed to finish three times this season in what has been a trying year for him and his Savitar Racing Asia squad.

However, Saturday was the first time this season that countryman Cam Dunker had not scored. An engine failure for the MotoGo rider also left him sitting out the remainder of the weekend.  Dunker came into this weekend carrying a shoulder injury, and a crash on Friday had not helped his preparation.

Epis had his own woes on Friday with another engine failure putting him behind the eight ball, but his team managed to get him on the grid for the races.

Declan Carberry finished ninth on Saturday, just under a minute behind the race winner at the end of the 13-lap journey.

ASB 1000 Race One Results

---

ASB 1000 Race Two

Saturday’s pivotal move on Nakarin Atiratphuvapat by Hafizh Syahrin had put the Malaysian into the championship lead by eight points heading into the final showdown of 2025 on Sunday in Thailand.

Keito Abe was the early leader when the lights went out, but Nakarin Atiratphuvapat was through to the lead by lap three. Zaqhwan Zaidi made it a Honda 1-2-3 while Syahrin was fourth and playing it safe at this early juncture.

Despite a fast crash during morning warm-up, Nakarin Atiratphuvapat was charging hard and immediately started pulling away. By lap five, the home hero had a two-second lead, but moving up to that second place was Hafizh Syahrin, and second place would be enough for the Malaysian to be crowned champion.  Zaidi and Abe hounded the Ducati rider throughout the rest of the race and took second place from Syahrin numerous times. Still, Syahrin was in front of them when it mattered, taking second place on the JDT Ducati and with it the ASB1000 Championship by three-points over race winner Nakarin Atiratphuvapat.

Hafizh Syahrin – 2025 FIM ARRC ASB1000 Champion

It is fair to say that Honda put by far the most effort into this championship; thus, it would be fair to say that Ducati getting the better of them in the ARRC this year will burn. Honda finishing 2-3-4-5-6 in the championship will be a small consolation.

Nakarin Atiratphuvapat – Race Winner

“I just tried to go for first position, but left it to the riders behind me to do the fighting. I did my best this season. We almost achieved the championship, but we are happy with the results we delivered. Next season, we will try even harder. I want to thank everyone who supported me, and congratulations to Hafizh.”

Hafizh Syahrin – 2025 FIM ARRC ASB1000 Champion

“No words can describe how I feel. Alhamdulillah, finally, we did it. The hard work, the training, and everything we went through in Round 5 made us stronger to be here today. This win is for my boss, my family, the fans who always believed in me, those who doubted me, and also for my late grandmother. I am sure she is proud of me from up there.”

Hafizh Syahrin – 2025 FIM ARRC ASB1000 Champion

An engine failure on Saturday had prevented Cam Dunker from taking place on Sunday, but countryman Lachlan Epis battled to the line with Andi Farid Izdihar for fifth place and won that battle. The 11 points for that fifth place saw Epis finish ahead of Dunker in the championship, the Australians finishing eighth and ninth in the final standings ahead of Brit Joe Francis.

ASB 1000 Race Two Results

ASB 1000 Points

---

SS600 Race One

The Supersport category is a much tighter contest than Superbike, with the top ten at the chequered flag covered by only 2.5 seconds at the end of the 55-kilometre race distance.

Wildcard entrant Apiwat Wongthananon took the victory by a couple of bike lengths over fellow Thai Anupab Sarmoon, while Indonesia’s Aldi Satya Mahendra completed the podium three-tenths further behind.

One of the two riders who didn’t get to see the chequered flag was championship leader Mohammad Adenanta Putra. The Indonesian went down on lap two, and his DNF saw Kasma Daniel move into the championship lead. With only a single race to go, only three points covered Putra, Daniel and Thai rider Anupab Sarmoon. The pressure would be on come Sunday, and Putra looked likely to be carrying an injury…

SS600 Race One Results

---

SS600 Race Two

Honda Racing Thailand’s Thanat Laoongplio, Hong Leong Yamaha’s Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin and Yamaha TNP’s Apiwath Wongthananon traded places up front over the opening laps as Mohammad Adenanta Putra and Anupab Sarmoon shadowed.

Halfway through the 12-lap encounter, the intensity stepped up further as Aldi Mahendra joined that party up front and thrusted his Yamaha Indonesia YZF-R6 to the front of the leading pack.

Thanat Laoongplio set the fastest lap of the race on lap nine, but still, only half a second covered the top six with two laps to run.

Mohammad Adenanta Putra led much of the final lap before crashing out of the lead only corners from the end and with it his championship hopes. Sweeping past the stricken Indonesian Thanat Laoongplio who then maintained that lead to the chequered flag, taking the victory ahead of Aldi Mahendra and Anupab Sarmoon.

Thanat Laoongplio – Race Winner

“I have waited for this moment for so long! This is my first victory of the season, and winning on my home soil makes it even more meaningful and special. This one is for everyone who never stopped believing in me and has always supported me.”

Kasma Daniel took fourth place to finish equal on 167 points with Anupab Sarmoon. Both riders had only one win under their ledger, so the countback went down to who had the most second-place finishes across the season. On that metric, it was an emotional Malaysia’s Kasma Daniel who was crowned FIM ARRC Supersport Champion for 2025.

Kasma Daniel – FIM ARRC 2025 SS600 Champion

Kasma Daniel – FIM ARRC 2025 SS600 Champion

“This is truly a gift from Allah. I still can’t believe it. During the race, I was really nervous and focused on staying safe, just trying to stick with the front group without crashing and hoping for the best. But as I said, this is a blessing from Allah. Even though I didn’t finish on the podium today, I still secured the title. Alhamdulillah, Allah’s grace is boundless.”

Kasma Daniel – FIM ARRC 2025 SS600 Champion

SS600 Race Two Results

SS600 Points

---

AP250 Race One

Thirty riders gridded up for the opening Asia Production 250 Championship race in Thailand, comprising riders on Honda CBR250RR, Yamaha YZF-R3, and Kawasaki ZX25R machinery with varying levels of permitted modifications.

Top speeds in the race were predominantly just under 200 km/h. The fastest down the chute was the Kawasaki of Aiki Iyosho, registering 202 km/h.

Only 2.5 seconds covered the top ten at the finish, but in front when it mattered was Indonesian Fadillah Arbi Aditama. Thailand’s Krittapat Keankum and Noprutpong Bunprawes rounded out the podium.

The 25 points for the race victory secured the championship for Astro Honda Racing Team rider Fadillah Arbi Aditama.

AP250 Race One Results

---

AP250 Race Two

Thailand’s Krittapat Keankum of YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM secured a hard-fought first AP250 victory on home soil after an electrifying final-lap battle with Noprutpong Bunprawes and clear champ, Astro Honda’s Fadillah Arbi Aditama.

Krittapat Keankum – Race Winner

“From the last lap onward, every turn reminded me why I was pushing. It’s for my team, and for my family. And today, it all paid off. Winning my home race and claiming my first AP250 victory is an unforgettable moment. I’m so happy!”

Krittapat Keankum – Race Winner

Fadillah Arbi Aditama – AP250 Champion

“At the end of the race, I forgot to set the engine brake map. When I braked, and the bike kept rolling forward, I realised my mistake. I hit the brake hard, the bike slid, and I knew I wouldn’t save it. Still, it was a good effort and a big lesson for me. Well done to Krittapat, he managed to beat me today. It was a fun race overall; we fought cleanly, strongly and in a world-championship style. Thank you to my team, my mechanics and everyone who supported me throughout the season. See you next year! The level this year was very high; all the riders and bikes improved a lot. I’m proud to take the championship in this category, and I’m excited to try the next category and fight for the title again.”

Fadillah Arbi Aditama – AP250 Champion

AP250 Race Two Results

AP250 Points

---

UB150 Race One

The Underbone category proved as crazy as ever on Saturday, with less than two seconds covering the top ten at the end of the eight-lap distance.

It was an all-Indonesian podium with Husni Fuadzy taking the victory by a bike length over Fadli Rigani.  Adytya Fauzi completed the rostrum.

Four riders in the leading group went down together on the penultimate lap. All up, eight riders in the 27-rider field failed to finish.

UB150 Race One Results

---

UB150 Race Two

The drone of 27 Underbone machines echoed around the Chang International Circuit on Sunday with the entire field tucked in nose to tail across the opening laps. Less than four-tenths covered the top 15 at the end of lap one, and six laps later, as they got the last lap board, they were still just as tightly packed! Emerging from the surging melee by a nose at the chequered flag was Thailand’s Peerapong Luiboonpeng, a popular victor on home soil.

Filipino John Emerson Inguito took second while Indonesia’s Gupita Kresna Wardhana rounded out the podium ahead of Malaysia’s Ahmad Amran.

Husni Zainul Fuadzy finished fifth but had already done enough earlier in the season with six wins to secure the UB150 Overall Championship title for 2025 before this finale. That didn’t stop the Indonesian from still celebrating with a Rossiesque on-track party during the cool-down lap.

Husni Zainul Fuadzy – 2025 FIM ARRC UB150- Champion

Husni Zainul Fuadzy – 2025 FIM ARRC UB150- Champion

“This is my first season with this team, and Alhamdulillah, it has been a truly rewarding year. I hope I can maintain this position next season and in the years to come. Thank you to my boss, my team, and everyone who has supported me. I love you all!”

Husni Zainul Fuadzy – 2025 FIM ARRC UB150- Champion

UB150 Race Two Results

UB150 Points

---

TVS Asia Race One

There were 14 starters and 13 finishers in the opening TVS Asia contest in Thailand. The battle for the win went down to the wire between Malaysian Ramdan Rosi and Spain’s Luis Miguel after that pair managed to break away from what had been a six-rider leading group on the final lap. Only four-tenths separated the duo at the flag, with the victory going to the Malaysian.

Only a second or so further behind at the line was a hectic four-way contest for the final step on the podium.  Indian rider Sarthak Chavan took that rostrum spot ahead of Japan’s Hiroko Ono, Malaysia’s Haziq Fairues and India’s Chiranth Vishwanath. Less than three-tenths covered that quartet at the line. Defending champion Hiroki Ono was left ruing what might have been after leading many of the final laps. Chavan also took his turn up front on the penultimate lap.

New Zealand’s Nixon Frost finished in 12th place.

TVS Asia Race One Results

---

TVS Asia Race Two

Hiroko Ono was the early leader ahead of Sarthak Chavan and Ramdan Rosli, as Luis Miguel and Haziq Fairues gave chase. That quintet went on to steadily break away from the rest of the field.

Hiroko Ono stretched away from the field by himself over the final few laps and went on to take a clear win and successfully defend his championship, while behind him, all hell broke loose…

Haziq Fairues and Sarthak Chavan both went down out of potential podium positions on the penultimate lap. That left Ramdan Rosli and Luis Miguel to fight all the way to the line for second place, with Rosli getting that second place by a nose at the chequered flag.

Hiroko Ono took his seventh race win of the season to cement his championship while Ramdan Rosli finished with the #2 plate and Sarthak Chavan #3.  Japan on top, ahead of Malaysia and India.

Hiroki Ono – 2025 FIM ARRC TVS Asia Champion

Hiroki Ono – 2025 FIM ARRC TVS Asia Champion

“I’m really happy right now. Yesterday I finished fourth, and that result wasn’t good for me, so today I changed my mentality completely. Compared to yesterday, I felt much more relaxed and focused only on my riding style, with one clear target, which is victory. In the end, that mindset gave me a good advantage. I want to thank the organisers, the TVS ASIA One Make Championship staff, and everyone who supported me. This season was very tough because the riders came from a very high level, but I enjoyed it a lot. Finally, I’ve achieved this title, just like last year, so now I have two titles in total.”

Hiroki Ono – 2025 FIM ARRC TVS Asia Champion

Young Kiwi Nixon Frost crossed the line in 11th place and, after amassing 46 points across the 12-race season, finished just outside the championship top ten.

TVS Asia Race Two Results

TVS Asia Points