The Yamaha Thailand Racing Team kicked off the Asia Road Racing Championship season with a blazing start, as "Idea" Kritpat Khuankham clinched victory in the AP250 class, while "Tee" Anupap Samul secured a podium finish in the first SS600 race at Sepang.
The first round of the 2026 Asia Road Racing Championship motorcycle race held its opening race on Saturday, 11 April 2024 GMT+7, at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, featuring a 5.543-kilometer lap.
The race highlight was the strong performance of Thai riders from the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team, who continued to impress following practice sessions, competing fiercely in both the SuperSport 600cc and Asia Production 250cc categories.
In the SuperSport 600cc class, the race covered 10 laps. Rider number 500, "Tee" Anupap Samul, piloting a YAMAHA YZF-R6, started from the sixth grid position and quickly advanced to the leading group. He moved up to second place early on and took the lead mid-race, engaging in intense battles near the end before finishing second, securing the first podium of the season just 0.293 seconds behind the winner.
In the Asia Production 250cc class, the race was 8 laps. Young rider number 39, "Idea" Kritpat Khuankham, on a YAMAHA YZF-R3, started 10th after a red flag in qualifying. He launched aggressively, moving up to the front group early and taking the lead within the first three laps. Though he dropped to fifth mid-race, he remained tightly grouped with the leaders.
In the final two laps, "Idea" Kritpat Khuankham pushed hard, fiercely challenging competitors before crossing the finish line first, securing a strong win in the season's opening race. Meanwhile, wildcard rider number 36, "Gas" Teerunai Thabtim, started 18th and finished 10th, 3.172 seconds behind the winner, earning valuable points for the team.
The second race of the 2026 Asia Road Racing Championship's opening round will take place on Sunday, 12 April 2024 GMT+7. The Asia Production 250cc race is scheduled to start at 13:10 Thailand time, followed by the SuperSport 600cc race at 14:00. Fans can watch live broadcasts on the Facebook fan page: Asia Road Racing Championship.