Yamaha Thailand Racing Team is moving forward to reclaim its position of greatness in Asia, kicking off the mission to capture its 8th championship title in the 2026 season.
Thai Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. reaffirmed its leadership in Asian motorsports by announcing plans to compete in the 2026 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship under the banner of the leading YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM, while continuing the roadmap to develop Thai riders for the global stage through the YAMAHA R3 BLU CRU Asia-Pacific 2026 program.
Mr. Pongsatorn Euamkulchai, Chief Executive Officer of Thai Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., presided over the press conference launching the YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT 2026 at the “YAMAHA The UNIQUEVERSE” booth in Challenger Hall 1, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, on Friday, 3 Apr 2026 GMT+7.
Mr. Pongsatorn Euamkulchai stated that for the 2026 season, Yamaha is fully prepared to elevate the YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM to greater strength in team standards, technology, and professionalism, leveraging experience gained from working with Yamaha’s world-class racing teams.
“Motorsport is not just about winning races; it is a crucial foundation for developing Yamaha’s technology and personnel. We apply knowledge from the racetrack to improve real products, enhancing performance, safety, and delivering the best experience to customers, aligning with Yamaha’s long-held 'Kando' philosophy.”
“This year, we will field two Thai riders in the 2026 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship: 'Tee' Anupap Samul competing in the Supersport 600cc class on the YAMAHA YZF-R6, and 'Idea' Kritpat Khueankham competing in the Asia Production 250cc class on the YAMAHA YZF-R3. We are determined to bring home the 8th Asian championship title to Thailand.”
“At the same time, we continue to follow the ‘Road to World Class’ roadmap by developing Thai riders from youth levels up to international stages to create a path toward becoming world-class racers in the future, which is one of Yamaha’s key missions to sustainably advance Thailand’s motorsport industry.”
“Tee” Anupap Samul, rider in the Supersport 600cc class, said, “This year presents another important challenge for me. Returning to compete in the Asia Road Racing Championship, I am more confident thanks to my experience at the world level in CEV Moto2 and World Supersport. This has deepened my understanding of both the bike and racing. My clear goal is to lead the team back to the Asian championship.”
Meanwhile, “Idea” Kritpat Khueankham, rider in the Asia Production 250cc class, stated,
“I am fully prepared for this season. My experience in Europe through the R3 BLU CRU European Championship and previous world-level competitions has helped me improve in many areas, including speed, decision-making, and bike setup. This year, my goal is to deliver my best performance and help the team win the championship.”
Road to World Class – Developing Thai Rising Stars
Beyond competition goals, Yamaha continues to develop young riders under the 'Road to World Class' concept, entrusted by YAMAHA FACTORY RACING to run the rider development program across Asia-Pacific through the YAMAHA R3 BLU CRU Asia-Pacific Championship 2026.
This year, Yamaha has sent two promising Thai talents, “Gus” Theeranai Thabtim and “Ink” Aswanan, to compete throughout the season.
“Gus” Theeranai Thabtim said, “I am very proud to represent Thailand in this competition. My goal is to improve my speed at every race and gain experience from international riders to advance to higher levels in the future.”
“Ink” Aswanan said, “Being part of the YAMAHA R3 BLU CRU program is a very important opportunity for me. I will strive to learn as much as possible about riding techniques, racing, and teamwork to develop myself and be ready for the next step in my professional racing career.”
YAMAHA THAILAND RACING TEAM’s mission for the 2026 season goes beyond winning races; it continues to focus on innovation, technology, and personnel development, believing that “the racetrack is the true laboratory.” The knowledge gained will be transferred to Yamaha motorcycles to enhance performance, safety, and the sporty DNA for all riders.