"Tee-Anupap and Idea-Kritpat" clinched podium spots at their home race for Yamaha Thailand Racing Team, gearing up for the Asia Road Racing Championship round 3 in Japan.
The 2026 Asia Road Racing Championship round 2 concluded with outstanding performances by the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team at Chang International Circuit in Buriram Province, amid enthusiastic cheers from Thai motorsport fans.
The highlight was the SuperSport 600cc class where experienced Thai rider Anupap Samul, aboard the YAMAHA YZF-R6 number 500, secured podium finishes in both races under Buriram's intense heat, placing 3rd in race 1 and 2nd in race 2. He accumulated 60 points, remaining in the title contention group and narrowing the gap to the leader to just 12 points.
In the Asia Production 250cc category, rising Thai star Idea Kritpat Khueankham from Yamaha Thailand Racing Team and wildcard rider Gus Theeraniy Thabthim delivered impressive performances on YAMAHA YZF-R3 motorcycles.
In race 1, Idea Kritpat, rider number 39, faced a tough challenge after his engine revs were reduced by 200 RPM per competition rules, finishing 5th. He then used the data to adjust bike settings and plan a new strategy for race 2.
In the decisive race 2, Idea Kritpat unleashed top form, leading from start to finish and decisively distancing his rivals to claim victory at his home race with a total time of 18 minutes 41.804 seconds, amid cheers and applause from Thai motorsport fans throughout the circuit.
Meanwhile, Gus Theeraniy, with bike number 36, started from grid 12 and showed remarkable progress, fiercely challenging the frontrunners. He finished 6th in race 1 and contended for a podium until the final corner in race 2, ultimately placing 5th.
After two rounds, Idea Kritpat leads the Asia Production 250cc standings with 86 points, including three race wins, holding a 22-point lead over second place. Yamaha Thailand Racing Team remains first in the team category with a total of 112 points.
The 2026 Asia Road Racing Championship round 3 is scheduled for 12-14 June at Mobility Resort Motegi, Japan. Motorsport fans can support the three Thai riders from Yamaha Thailand Racing Team via Facebook: Yamaha Thailand Racing Team as they aim to secure Thailand’s 8th Asia title.
Veerapong Thanakitjanon, General Manager of Motorsports at Thai Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., stated,
“Overall, the Buriram round was very satisfying in both Asia Production 250cc and SuperSport 600cc classes. Our riders worked excellently with the team. Idea secured a win in race 2, while Tee earned podiums in both races, marking an improvement over last season.”
“Data from race 1 helped the team adjust bike settings and develop better strategies for race 2 for Idea, Gus, and Tee. I thank everyone for their teamwork that led to these strong results. We are now preparing for the next round in Japan.”
“In AP250, we face a key challenge as Idea’s large points lead means his engine revs will be reduced by another 200 RPM in the next race, so the team must carefully plan to handle this.”
Tee – Anupap Samul
“Our plan was to break away from the pack as quickly as possible, but the extreme heat caused the front tire to wear quickly, so I had to adjust my riding style late in the race and maintain consistent race pace.”
“Although finishing 2nd, I’m satisfied with getting podiums in both races. Now, we look ahead to Motegi, where I performed well last year, and the team has already started planning practice sessions for the next round.”
Idea – Kritpat Khueankham
“Today’s performance was very satisfying after analyzing race 1 data with the team, especially regarding corner exits after the engine rev reduction, which required clutch setting adjustments and a new riding approach.”
“Our plan was to build a gap early and maintain a steady race pace until the finish, which we achieved today.”
“The team is already preparing plans for Motegi, including coping with an additional 200 RPM engine rev cut by adjusting bike setup and refining riding techniques to perform at our best.”
Gus – Theeraniy Thabthim
“Race 2 was more intense than the first. All riders made significant strategy changes. Early in the race, I focused on sticking to the plan, maintaining pace, and helping Idea build a gap over rivals.”
“In the final laps, I attacked opponents’ weaknesses in each corner. Overall, we followed our plan well, and this round provided valuable experience.”