Thanat Laongpliu from Honda Racing Thailand rode to a top 4 finish in the first practice session of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026.
The FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 Round 2 saw rising Thai talents showcase the capabilities of the Honda CBR Series motorcycles with outstanding performances.
In the Asia Superbike 1000cc class, "Chip" Nakarin Athirathphuvapat, Thailand's sole rider in the premier class wearing number 41, faced challenges on the first day but managed to clock his best time of 1:36.726 minutes during Practice 1, securing a top 5 spot on the timing sheet. However, technical issues prevented him from improving in Practice 2 and Practice 3.
In the Supersport 600cc class, "The Next Successor" from Honda Racing Thailand, "Mix" Thanat Laongpliu and his number 31 bike made a strong debut, posting speeds among the leaders and pushing experienced Asian riders aside to claim the 4th spot overall with a best lap time of 1:39.726 minutes.
Meanwhile, "Highpec" Krisada Thanachot, number 18 and Thanat’s teammate, started the home race day by consistently improving lap times over three practice sessions and recorded his fastest lap at 1:40.621 minutes, placing him in the top 10 overall.
In the Asia Production 250cc (AP250) class, Thai rising star "Fer" Panjarut Jitvirulchat, number 12, made a strong first practice showing in his home race, climbing to the top 5 in the combined times with his best lap of 1:52.169 minutes set during Practice 2.
The schedule for the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 Round 2 includes qualifying sessions to determine starting positions and the first race final on Saturday, 9 May 2026, followed by the second race final on Sunday, 10 May 2026, at Chang International Circuit in Buriram province.