Syahrin remains unbeaten as ARRC Motegi delivers home heroics

Round Three – Motegi

Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah continued his perfect start to the 2026 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at Mobility Resort Motegi, the JDT Racing Team Ducati rider taking another ASB1000 double in Japan to make it six wins from six starts.

Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah

While Hafizh again proved the premier-class benchmark, the Japanese home crowd had plenty to celebrate across the support categories. Hikari Okubo completed a clean sweep of the Supersports 600 races, while Hiroki Ono did likewise in Asia Production 250, both taking emotional home doubles after tight battles at the front.

The Underbone 150 wins were shared between John Emerson Inguito and M. Syirat Sauki, while the TVS Racing International Championship produced two different winners, with India’s Chiranth Vishwanath taking his maiden victory in Race One before Spain’s Vicente Perez Selfa controlled Race Two.

For Australian Lachlan Epis, it was a frustrating round after the promise shown earlier in the season. The Swift Grow Racing Team BMW rider failed to score in Race One, then salvaged 10th in Race Two to leave Japan ninth in the ASB1000 standings on 38 points.

South Australian Olly Simpson was 11th in Race One before a Race Two DNF, moving to 14th in the standings on 17 points, while Hunter Corney was outside the points in AP250.

The championship now heads to Mandalika International Circuit for Round Four from August 7-9, where Epis will be looking to reset after his most difficult weekend of the season and Hafizh will arrive with his perfect ASB1000 record still intact.

ASB1000

Hafizh had already made his intentions clear on Friday, topping combined practice with a 1m49.752s, ahead of Keito Abe, Nakarin Atiratphuvapat, Shota Ite and Kohta Arakawa, with just over half a second covering the top five.

Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah

Race One initially had the look of a genuine fight. Nakarin made a strong launch, Hafizh quickly joined the lead battle, and Muhammad Zaqhwan Zaidi also took a turn at the front. The pivotal moment came when Zaqhwan was forced to serve a long-lap penalty, dropping him out of the podium fight and allowing Hafizh to open the race up.

Once in clear air, Hafizh piled on the pressure and eventually lowered the race benchmark to 1m49.297s on lap 11. Keito Abe finished second, while local wildcard Shota Ite worked his way through to third, resisting late pressure from Nakarin to give the home fans an ASB1000 podium.

Race Two was even more clinical from Hafizh. Zaqhwan crashed while running fourth, then rejoined, while Keito and Nakarin traded places in the battle for second. Hafizh’s pace was again decisive, the Malaysian producing a 1m48.980s fastest lap and stretching clear to win in 27m29.019s.

Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah

Keito held off Nakarin by just 0.044s for second, with Shota fourth and Kohta Arakawa fifth. Andi Farid Izdihar completed the top six, while Epis came home 10th for six championship points.

Hafizh now leads the ASB1000 championship on 150 points, 34 clear of Keito Abe, with Andi Farid Izdihar third on 74. Epis remains the top Australian in ninth.

Lachlan Epis

“Really difficult weekend here in Japan. Seems to have one a year where everything that can go wrong does go wrong, which in a six-round championship is never ideal. My guys worked incredibly hard and me chucking it at the scenery twice yesterday definitely didn’t make their life easy to diagnose what was happening with the bike. Really missing the feeling of being at the front from the start of the season, but luckily we’re heading to my favourite track and home to my last Asia Road Racing Championship podium. Going home now to reset for the next one. Thank you to everyone for their support, I truly appreciate it.”

ASB1000 Race One Podium

ASB 1000 Race One Results

Pos

Rider

Bike

Time/Gap

Speed

1	H Syahrin Abdullah	Duc	27m33273	285.714
2	K Abe	Hon	+4.467	278.351
3	S Ite	Yam	+8.029	279.070
4	N Atiratphuvapat	Hon	+8.359	284.960
5	A Farid Izdihar	Duc	+10.934	283.465
6	K Arakawa	Hon	+11.092	280.519
7	M Zaghwan Zaidi	Hon	+13.807	278.351
8	M Adenanta Putra	Hon	+14.716	281.984
9	R Sessler	BMW	+25.491	280.519
10	K Watanabe	Apr	+26.741	279.070
11	O Simpson	Yam	+32.987	274.809
12	J Francis	Yam	+52.716	267.327
13	A Hakeem Anuar	Hon	+1m04.110	282.723
14	S Kawasaki	Apr	+1m16.973	266.667
15	M Fahmi Abdul Wahaf	BMW	+2 Laps	232.759
16	L Epis	BMW	+2 Laps	274.112

ASB1000 Race Two Podium

ASB 1000 Race Two Results

Pos

Rider

Bike

Time/Gap

Speed

1	H Syahrin Abdullah	Duc	27m29.019	285.714
2	K Abe	Hon	+4.979	277.635
3	N Atiratphuvapat	Hon	+5.023	283.465
4	S Ite	Yam	+5.594	279.793
5	K Arakawa	Hon	+8.258	281.250
6	A Farid Izdihar	Duc	+11.497	281.250
7	R Sessler	BMW	+15.405	274.809
8	M Adenanta Putra	Hon	+19.605	282.723
9	K Watanabe	Apr	+22.435	279.070
10	L Epis	BMW	+22.820	281.250
11	J Francis	Yam	+55.617	266.667
12	S Kawasaki	Apr	+1m14.370	269.327
13	M Zaghwan Zaidi	Hon	+1 Lap	278.351
14	M Fahmi Abdul Wahaf	BMW	+1 Lap	249.423
DNF	A Hakeem Anuar	Hon	DNF	–
DNF	O Simpson	Yam	DNF	–

ASB 1000 Points

Pos

Rider

Bike

Total

1	H Syaherin Abdullah	Duc	150
2	K Abe	Hon	116
3	A F Izdihar	Duc	74
4	N Atiratphuvapat	Hon	68
5	M Z Zaidi	Hon	54
6	R Sessler	BMW	50
7	M A Putra	Hon	50
8	A H Anuar	Hon	47
9	L Epis	BMW	38
10	K Watanabe	Apr	37
11	S Ite	Yam	29
12	J Francis	Yam	28
13	K Arakawa	Hon	21
14	O Simpson	Yam	17
15	A Norrodin	Suz	15
16	M F A Wahaf	BMW	12
17	A West	Yam	11
18	S Kawasaki	Apr	6
19	C Q Rong	BMW	3
20	D Carberry	BMW	3
21	T Y Joe	BMW

SS600

The Supersport weekend began with Anupab Sarmoon topping combined practice, but once racing began it was Hikari Okubo who became the story of the round.

Okubo’s Race One win came after a long duel with pole-sitter Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin. Kasma controlled the early phase and looked strong enough to take victory, but Okubo stayed patient, studied the Malaysian’s lines, then made his move on lap 10. Kasma launched one final attack on the last lap but ran wide, allowing Okubo to retake the lead and win on home soil.

Kasma finished second, with Herjun Atna Firdaus third after a strong charge through the pack and a late scrap with Anupab for the final podium position.

Race Two was even closer. Hikari, Anupab, Thanat Laoongplio, Herjun, Kasma and Apiwath Wongthananon were all in the leading group, with the order changing repeatedly through the middle stages. Hikari lifted the pace late, Anupab kept him honest, and Thanat mounted a late charge of his own.

At the flag, Okubo completed the double by 0.268s over Anupab, with Thanat third and only 0.387s from victory. Kasma still leads the championship on 102 points, with Thanat second on 96 and Anupab third on 93.

SS600 Race One Results

Pos

Rider

Bike

Time/Gap

Speed

1	H Okubo	Hon	22m61.444	248.276
2	K Daniel Kasmayudin	Yam	+2.344	252.927
3	H Atna Firdaus	Hon	+5.244	252.927
4	A Sarmoon	Yam	+5.493	254.118
5	T Laongplio	Hon	+6.204	251.163
6	A Wongthananon	Yam	+6.899	254.717
7	W Nugroho	Yam	+7.157	251.748
8	K Idham Pawi	Hon	+7.299	249.423
9	M Kyle Paz	Yam	+14.250	252.927
10	K Tanachot	Hon	+14.951	249.423
11	M Faerozi Toreqottullah	Yam	+18.544	253.521
12	K Tanaka	Yam	+22.135	252.927
13	M Izam Ikmal	Yam	+23.593	251.163
14	M Helmi Azman	Hon	+26.278	246.575
15	D Ekky Pratama	Hon	+48.319	241.611
16	Z Tianhao	Yam	+1 Lap	232.759

SS600 Race Two Results

Pos

Rider

Bike

Time/Gap

Speed

1	H Okubo	Hon	22m54950	248.276
2	A Sarmoon	Yam	+0.268	255.924
3	T Laongplio	Hon	+0.387	253.521
4	H Atna Firdaus	Hon	+0.611	250.580
5	A Wongthananon	Yam	+0.964	255.924
6	K Daniel Kasmayudin	Yam	+1.296	255.924
7	M Kyle Paz	Yam	+3.483	255.319
8	K Idham Pawi	Hon	+3.855	250.580
9	K Tanachot	Hon	+4.132	250.000
10	W Nugroho	Yam	+4.569	250.000
11	K Tanaka	Yam	+6.670	257.143
12	M Faerozi Toreqottullah	Yam	+6.956	252.927
13	M Helmi Azman	Hon	+9.152	248.276
14	D Ekky Pratama	Hon	+25.583	244.344
15	M Izam Ikmal	Yam	+1m24.882	252.336
16	Z Tianhao	Yam	+1 Lap	233.766

SS600 Points

Pos

Rider

Bike

Total

1	K D Kasmayudin	Yam	102
2	T Laoongplio	Hon	96
3	A Sarmoon	Yam	93
4	H A Firdaus	Hon	67
5	M H Azman	Hon	66
6	W Nugroho	Yam	58
7	M K Paz	Yam	56
8	H Okubo	Hon	50
9	F A Aditama	Hon	38
10	M F Toreqottullah	Yam	35
11	K I Pawi	Hon	35
12	K Tanachot	Hon	29
13	D E Pratama	Hon	26
14	M I Ikmal	Yam	22
15	A Wongthananon	Yam	21
16	Z Tianhao	Yam	12
17	K Tanaka	Yam	9

AP250

Candra H topped Friday practice in AP250, just 0.031s ahead of Japanese rider Riichi Takahira, but the races belonged to Hiroki Ono.

Race One was a proper AP250 scrap, with Hiroki, Riichi, Fahmi Basam, Irfan Ardiansyah, Candra and Krittapat Keankum all taking turns in the lead battle. Fahmi’s challenge ended with a crash on lap eight, while Hiroki, Riichi and Irfan fought over the final laps.

Hiroki held firm to win in 21m34.483s, just 0.161s ahead of Irfan, with Krittapat completing the podium only 0.418s behind the winner.

Race Two delivered another frantic lead fight. Hiroki, Riichi, Krittapat, Fahmi, Candra and Irfan again traded places, with no rider able to break clear. On the final lap, Riichi led the pack into the decisive phase, but Hiroki timed his attack perfectly to take a second home victory.

Irfan finished second again, only 0.105s behind, while Candra completed the podium 0.119s from the win. Krittapat remains the championship leader on 112 points, but Hiroki’s double moved him to second on 83, just one point ahead of Rheza Danica Ahrens.

AP250 Race One Results

Pos

Rider

Bike

Time/Gap

Speed

1	H Ono	Hon	21m34.483	189.474
2	I Ardiansyah	Hon	+0.161	195.298
3	K Keankum	Yam	+0.418	192.857
4	C H	Yam	+0.610	193.548
5	R D Ahrens	Hon	+0.691	193.896
6	P Luiboonpeng	Yam	+0.742	194.946
7	A Iiyoshi	Hon	+0.925	195.298
8	G Salim	Hon	+1.166	196.364
9	M D Syahril	Yam	+1.257	195.652
10	G H Pratama	Yam	+1.417	194.595
11	R Takahira	Yam	+1.443	193.896
12	A A Ismaya	Yam	+3.769	195.298
13	M I H Amidi	Hon	+8.105	190.476
14	G Ziang	Yam	+8.129	194.595
15	T Kugawa	Hon	+8.299	191.489
16	N H Tri	Hon	+9.754	192.857
17	R Hasegawa	Hon	+22.499	190.476
18	M J Juraimi	Yam	+27.276	185.886
19	C J Solis	Hon	+27.301	189.142
20	A A Amran	Yam	+27.465	186.528
21	H Corney	Yam	+27.633	187.500
22	L Yin	Yam	+52.825	188.811
23	R Takemoto	Yam	+1m07.617	193.548
24	R Yokoe	Yam	+3 Laps	188.811
DNF	F Basam	Yam	DNF	194.946
DNF	M I F Mahadi	Yam	DNF	194.595
DNF	S C Zhang	Kaw	DNF	189.474
DNF	P Chitwirulchat	Hon	DNF	193.552
DNF	U C Pascual	Kaw	DNF	189.474
DNF	S Rajiv	Hon	DNF	183.673
DNF	M F Musyavi	Yam	DNF	–
DNF	H Okada	Yam	DNF	–

AP250 Race Two Results

Pos

Rider

Bike

Time/Gap

Speed

1	H Ono	Hon	24m34185	191.829
2	I Ardiansyah	Hon	+0.105	194.245
3	C H	Yam	+0.119	197.080
4	R Takahira	Yam	+0.241	191.150
5	M F Musyavi	Yam	+0.553	196.364
6	K Keankum	Yam	+0.648	194.245
7	F Basam	Yam	+0.826	196.364
8	R Takemoto	Yam	+1.001	195.652
9	R D Ahrens	Hon	+1.389	193.548
10	G H Pratama	Yam	+1.415	197.802
11	G Salim	Hon	+1.471	196.595
12	P Luiboonpeng	Yam	+1.631	194.245
13	A Iiyoshi	Hon	+2.327	195.298
14	A A Ismaya	Yam	+2.454	196.721
15	M I H Amidi	Hon	+2.698	193.548
16	U C Pascual	Kaw	+3.239	193.548
17	P Chitwirulchat	Hon	+3.524	194.245
18	H Okada	Yam	+14.042	191.489
19	R Hasegawa	Hon	+14.180	188.153
20	M I F Mahadi	Yam	+14.886	194.946
21	S C Zhang	Kaw	+18.917	186.851
22	H Corney	Yam	+26.987	186.851
23	C J Solis	Hon	+27.190	188.811
24	N H Tri	Hon	+42.256	191.150
25	L Yin	Yam	+50.655	192.513
26	R Yokoe	Yam	+51.204	193.202
DNC	T Kugawa	Hon	DNC	195.652
DNC	S Rajiv	Hon	DNC	180.602
DNF	M D Syahril	Yam	DNF	197.802
DNF	G Ziang	Yam	DNF	188.811
DNF	A A Amran	Yam	DNF	190.476
DNF	M J Juraimi	Yam	DNF	186.207

AP250 Points

Pos

Rider

Bike

Total

1	K Keankum	Yam	112
2	H Ono	Hon	83
3	R D Ahrens	Hon	82
4	Candra H	Yam	68
5	P Chitwirulchat	Hon	62
6	I Ardiansyah	Hon	51
7	G Salim	Hon	43
8	R Takahira	Yam	43
9	M D S Shahril	Yam	40
10	P Luiboonpeng	Yam	35
11	F Basam	Yam	32
12	A Iiyoshi	Hon	30
13	G H Pratama	Yam	28
14	M F Musyavi	Yam	27
15	T Tubtim	Yam	27
16	N V Tuan	Hon	16
17	A A Ismaya	Yam	12
18	M I H Amidi	Hon	11
19	N H Tri	Hon	11
20	A M Fadly	Kaw	9
21	R Takemoto	Yam	8
22	T Saito	Hon	6
23	G Ziang	Yam	3
24	T Kugawa	Hon	1
25	M J Juraimi	Yam
26	S Rajiv	Hon
27	L N Tse	Yam
28	S Juntong	Yam
29	C Villanueva	Yam
30	S C Zhang	Kaw
31	R Hasegawa	Hon
32	M B Ayatullah	Hon
33	L Yin	Yam
34	S Yokoyama	Yam
35	K Rajini	Yam
36	P Thonggerdloung	Hon
37	Z Junhao	Yam
38	C J Solis	Hon
39	U C Pascual	Kaw
40	R Yokoe	Yam
41	H Corney	Yam
42	M I F Mahadi	Yam
43	H Okada	Yam

UB150

Husni Zainul Fuadzy stamped his authority on UB150 practice, but the races produced the usual Underbone chaos and two different winners.

Race One was a slipstreaming contest from the start, with Dimas Juli Atmoko, Husni, Nazirul Izzat Muhammad Bahauddin, April King Mascardo, M. Syirat Sauki and John Emerson Inguito all featuring at the front. Nazirul’s challenge ended with a technical problem while in contention, leaving the rest of the lead group to fight it out on the final lap.

John timed his run perfectly to take victory in 18m39.610s, ending a three-year wait since his previous UB150 win. Team-mate Rendi Odding made it a 4S1M EVO Yamaha one-two, while Dimas completed the podium just 0.009s behind Rendi.

Race Two was another last-lap fight. Husni led early, Dimas took his turn at the front, and John again worked into contention, but Syirat positioned himself perfectly in the closing stages. He emerged from the final corners to win by just 0.043s over Rendi, with Husni third and only 0.152s behind the winner.

Husni continues to lead the UB150 standings on 107 points, with Rendi and Dimas tied on 69, ahead of Syirat on 65.

UB150 Race One Results

Pos

Rider

Bike

Time/Gap

Speed

1	J E Inguinto	Yam	18m39.610	171.701
2	R Odding	Yam	+0.111	172.524
3	D J Atmoko	Yam	+0.120	174.475
4	A D A Sahir	Hon	+0.477	175.041
5	M S Sauki	Yam	+0.564	174.475
6	G K Wardhana	Yam	+0.726	173.633
7	H Z Fuadzy	Yam	+0.755	171.975
8	A K Mascardo	Yam	+1.107	173.633
9	W A J Trilaksana	Yam	+1.504	173.355
10	A F Sham	Yam	+1.563	173.913
11	S S S Yuzzy	Hon	+1.635	174.757
12	K S Manurung	Hon	+1.723	173.633
13	M M Mohamed	Vog	+1.823	168.487
14	M A A M Hisam	Yam	+3.864	172.800
15	M A Supaat	Vog	+6.935	168.487
16	F Rigani	Yam	+12.608	176.759
17	M S Rasol	Yam	+18.469	169.014
18	T J K Y Rojas	Yam	+1m02.715	172.800
DNC	A Fauzi	Hon	DNC	171.975
DNC	A I Safatullah	Yam	DNC	172.800
DNF	M S Helsinky	Yam	DNF	175.896
DNF	N I M Bahauddin	Yam	DNF	166.667

UB150 Race Two Results

Pos

Rider

Bike

Time/Gap

Speed

1	M Syirat Sauki	Yam	18m32.752	169.545
2	R Odding	Yam	+0.043	173.355
3	H Z Fuadzy	Yam	+0.152	170.079
4	J E Inguinto	Yam	+0.171	174.757
5	N I M Bahauddin	Yam	+0.187	171.429
6	D J Atmoko	Yam	+0.224	166.410
7	A K Mascardo	Yam	+0.567	172.524
8	A Fauzi	Hon	+0.622	173.633
9	M M Mohamed	Vog	+1.288	170.616
10	W A J Trilaksana	Yam	+1.588	174.475
11	M S Rasol	Yam	+1.712	173.355
12	A F Sham	Yam	+2.727	173.355
13	S S S Yuzzy	Hon	+13.390	171.701
14	K S Manurung	Hon	+18.695	167.963
DNC	M S Helsinky	Yam	DNC	175.896
DNC	F Rigani	Yam	DNC	175.610
DNC	M A Supaat	Vog	DNC	170.079
DNC	A D A Sahir	Hon	DNC	170.079
DNC	A I Safatullah	Yam	DNC	175.610
DNF	T J K Y Rojas	Yam	DNF	161.677
DNF	G K Wardhana	Yam	DNF	153.409
DNF	M A A M Hisam	Yam	DNF	–

UB150 Points

Pos

Rider

Bike

Total

1	H Z Fuadzy	Yam	107
2	R Odding	Yam	69
3	D J Atmoko	Yam	69
4	M S Sauki	Yam	65
5	G K Wardhana	Yam	54
6	J E Inguito	Yam	53
7	A D A Sahir	Hon	52
8	A K Mascardo	Yam	52
9	A Fauzi	Hon	50
10	W A Trilaksana	Yam	48
11	S S S Yuzy	Hon	40
12	F Rigani	Yam	37
13	A I Safatulah	Yam	34
14	M S Helsinki	Yam	21
15	K S Manurung	Hon	15
16	M A A M Hisam	Yam	13
17	A F Sham	Yam	12
18	M M Mohamed	Vog	12
19	M S Rasol	Yam	11
20	N I M Bahauddin	Yam	11
21	T J K Rojas	Yam	6
22	M A Supaat	Vog	2

TVS Asia

The TVS Racing International Championship again produced some of the tightest racing of the weekend.

Vicente Perez Selfa started from pole in Race One and led early, but the one-make field stayed locked together. Pedrinho Matos, Mohd Ramdan Rosli, Jhon A Lopez C and Chiranth Vishwanath all featured in the lead fight, with ten riders covered by less than a second at one stage.

Chiranth timed his attack perfectly to take his maiden championship victory in 16m57.997s. Vicente finished second, just 0.014s behind, with Ramdan third only 0.114s from the win. Luis Miguel and Andoni Dominguez rounded out the top five.

Vicente responded in Race Two with a completely different approach. Rather than waiting for the final lap, the Spaniard pushed from the early stages, moved into the lead on lap three and kept building the gap. He set a 2m04.997s fastest lap on lap six and eventually won by 2.652s.

Pedrinho finished second, while Oratilwe Phiri completed the podium after edging Chiranth in the battle for third. Chiranth backed up his Race One win with fourth, while Leeandro Parades completed the top five.

TVS Asia Race One Results

Pos

Rider

Bike

Time/Gap

Speed

1	C Vishwanath	TVS	16m57997	202.247
2	V Perez Selfa	TVS	+0.014	203.390
3	M R Rosli	TVS	+0.114	201.493
4	L Miguel	TVS	+0.227	202.627
5	O Phiri	TVS	+0.554	201.869
6	A Dominguez	TVS	+0.621	203.008
7	J A Lopez C	TVS	+0.842	201.869
8	L Parades	TVS	+0.899	202.247
9	P Matos	TVS	+1.785	202.627
10	R S Dave	TVS	+4.542	200.371
11	J K Turner	TVS	+9.434	198.895
12	K Y Ahamed	TVS	+19.027	192.857
DNF	M N Rifqi	TVS	DNF	201.493
DNF	F Alqasani	TVS	DNF	–

TVS Asia Race Two Results

Pos

Rider

Bike

Time/Gap

Speed

1	V Perez Selfa	TVS	16m53063	196.007
2	P Matos	TVS	+2.652	202.247
3	O Phiri	TVS	+3.053	201.869
4	C Vishwanath	TVS	+3.233	203.008
5	L Parades	TVS	+4.061	202.247
6	L Miguel	TVS	+4.187	200.371
7	J A Lopez C	TVS	+4.408	201.117
8	M R Rosli	TVS	+9.717	199.262
9	M N Rifqi	TVS	+10.430	201.117
10	J K Turner	TVS	+10.865	198.165
11	R S Dave	TVS	+12.389	198.165
12	F Alqasani	TVS	+17.135	197.441
13	K Y Ahamed	TVS	+29.029	193.202
DNS	A Dominguez	TVS	DNS	–

TVS Asia Points

Pos

Rider

Bike

Total

1	M R Rosli	TVS	101
2	S Chavan	TVS	80
3	L Miguel	TVS	54
4	O Phiri	TVS	54
5	C Vishwanath	TVS	49
6	J A Lopez	TVS	40
7	M N Rifqi	TVS	37
8	J K Turner	TVS	37
9	R S Dave	TVS	34
10	P Matos	TVS	32
11	M H Fairues	TVS	26
12	L Parades	TVS	23
13	T King	TVS	20
14	V P Selfa	TVS	20
15	T Nuansai	TVS	14
16	K Ahamed	TVS	11
17	A Dominguez	TVS	10
18	F A Priyadi	TVS	6
19	N K Frost	TVS	5