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Matsuyama claims ATC lead with 1-1 in Thailand

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2019 Asia Talent Cup

Round 4 – Chang International Circuit – Buriram

After a long summer break the Asia Talent Cup returned in Buriram, Thailand for Round 4 of the championship, with two races held over the weekend, marking the beginning of the second-half of the season. Engines fired up for the first time since July at the Thai venue before the Cup heads to Motegi on the way to the season finale at Sepang… with everything to race for!

ATC Rnd Thailand Sho Nishimura Race ZA
Favourite coming into Round 4 Sho Nishimura  – 2019 Asia Talent Cup Round 4, Thailand

Sho Nishimura arrived as the man in charge in the standings, with the Japanese youngster on 115-points at the top – 18 clear of his nearest challenger, Indonesian Afridza Munandar. Then there was another gap of 14 points back to Adenanta Putra and Takuma Matsuyama.

ATC Rnd Thailand Race ZA
Race 1 – 2019 Asia Talent Cup Round 4, Thailand

A crash in Race 1 for Nishimura ensured that lead was immediately under threat, with Putra receiving a ride-through penalty, allowing Matsuyama to take a clear Race 1 win, with drama ending the podium charge of three riders in the final corner.

Matsuyama went on repeat his performance in Race 2, this time under pressure from Syarifuddin Azman and Afridza Munandar, who would complete the podium and it all coming down to the last corner. The result leaves Takuma Matsuyama with a four-point lead over Sho Nishimura, with Munandar a further 16-points in arears.

ATC Rnd Thailand Race Finish DSC
Matsuyama took the Race 2 win from Azman and Munandar – 2019 Asia Talent Cup Round 4, Thailand

Aussie Jacob Roulstone put in a strong effort to claim 6-5 results, while Harrison Voight was a DNF in Race 1 and penalised for Race 2 having to start from pitlane, but still ending the race in the points, in 15th.

Race 1

Takuma Matsuyama took a commanding win in Race 1 of the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup at Buriram, pulling clear of the chasing pack – and the drama – to cross the line over three seconds clear for his first win of the season. Herjun Firdaus and Syarifuddin Azman completed the rostrum for their first podiums too, with final corner drama taking three riders out the podium fight…

ATC Rnd Thailand Race Start ZA
Race 1 Start – 2019 Asia Talent Cup Round 4, Thailand

The front row got fairly equal starts to blast down to Turn 1 in unison, but drama just off the front grabbed everyone’s attention as points leader Sho Nishimura lost it and skittled out, taking a couple of riders with him. And there would be plenty more drama later, but Matsuyama was already far clear of it and from there on out, the Japanese rider only stretched his advantage.

The fight for second raged throughout the race, however. Firdaus, Azman, Tatchakorn Buasri, polesitter Afridza Munandar, Shoki Igarashi, Adenanta Putra and Idil Bin Mahadi all battled it out, with the first to drop from the group proving Putra as he was given a ride through for a jump start. And then there were six…

ATC Rnd Thailand Herjun Fidaus Race ZA
Herjun Firdaus – 2019 Asia Talent Cup Round 4, Thailand

As the laps ticked down, it seemed Buasri and Munandar had the form but it wasn’t to be. As Matsuyama crossed the line in the clear, the fight for second approached the final corner and Igarashi then tried to force his way through – and lost the front, taking several riders with him. That left Firdaus and Azman coming through to complete the podium. Igarashi was given a back of the grid start for Race 2 as a result.

ATC Rnd Thailand Herjun Fidaus Race ZA
Herjun Firdaus – 2019 Asia Talent Cup Round 4, Thailand

The man who crossed the line fourth, Bin Mahadi, also received a penalty – a time penalty the equivalent to a ride through – and is classified eighth, bumping home hero Piyawat Patoomyos up to P4, just ahead of compatriot wildcard Buapa Thurakij. Jacob Roulstone and Ryosuke Bando were next up ahead of Bin Mahadi, with Putra fighting back to ninth and Warit Thongnoppakun to tenth after he suffered contact.

ATC Rnd Thailand Afridza Munandar Race ZAKadir Erbay took 11th ahead of Nishimura, with Rei Wakamatsu having fought back to ahead of the points leader but then demoted a place for overtaking under yellows at the final corner. A penalty from Race 1 also saw Harrison Voight start from pitlane for causing a collision with Thongnoppakun.

ATC Rnd Thailand Race Podium DSC
Race 1 podium 1) Takuma Matsuyama, 2) Herjun Firdaus, 3) Syarifuddin Azman – 2019 Asia Talent Cup Round 4, Thailand

Race 2

It was home hero Tatchakorn Buasri who stormed to the holeshot off the front row in Race 2, the Thai rider taking over as he did in Race 1 and Munandar, especially, one to lose out. Matusyama slotted into second and flashbacks from Saturday must have immediately started for many on the grid, but number 11 wasn’t bolting off on Sunday.

ATC Rnd Thailand Race Start ZA
Race 2 Start – 2019 Asia Talent Cup Round 4, Thailand

Instead, the race was a classic freight train with the lead swapping and changing, and a lot less drama than the attrition of Race 1. Matsuyama spent plenty time at the head of the race, but the Japanese rider just didn’t seem quite able to pull the pin – although his key rival, Sho Nishimura wasn’t having the easiest race of it as he got beaten up in the group, pushed down outside the top five.

Eventually, however, Matsuyama got his chance as the squabble for second allowed him to make a break for it with eight laps to go. Was this it? The gap went up to over half a second and kept on climbing…

ATC Rnd Thailand Tatchakorn Buasri Syarifuddin Azman Race ZA
Tatchakorn Buasri & Syarifuddin Azman – 2019 Asia Talent Cup Round 4, Thailand

With four laps to go though, Azman was on a charge. Breaking free from the group battle, he was able to close the leader down – and brought some company. It was therefore a quartet heading over the line for the final lap, with Matsuyama facing Azman, Buasri and Munandar down for the win and of course, it went down to the final corner.

Buasri was a little too far back but both Azman and Munandar attacked Matsuyama, one either side, but the Japanese rider held firm and kept the perfect line around the corner, exiting ahead and slicing away and over the line to do the double. Azman took second and Munandar third, with Buasri heading wide as he also tried to get involved. The home hero was forced to settle for fourth.

ATC Rnd Thailand Takuma Matsuyama Race ZA
Takuma Matsuyama – 2019 Asia Talent Cup Round 4, Thailand

Aussie Jacob Roulstone got the better of former leader Nishimura in the end, the Australian putting in another stellar performance on Saturday to complete the top five, as behind Nishimura, but by just a tenth, came Adenanta Putra.

Jacob Roulstone

“Really proud of myself this weekend at round 4 of Asia Talent Cup. It’s been tough to get to this point but today it feels great. Free practices went well with both sessions at 10th and qualifying a bit disappointing at 15th. Race 1 was full of drama but I was holding 10th place when 3 went down at the front on the last corner allowing me to claim 7th. A further rider was penalized so I managed 6th! But race 2 I worked hard for it and battled up the front right to the end and grabbed 5th place. My best ride and result all season. Thank you Mum for being here, Steve Nagle for all his help, Colin Stoner for his support, dad and Ashley back home and all the people who have supported me and said hi over the weekend. Also Thank you to Joan my mechanic and all the Asia Talent Cup team.”

ATC Rnd Thailand Jacob Roulstone Race ZA
Jacob Roulstone – 2019 Asia Talent Cup Round 4, Thailand

Thai riders Warit Thongnoppakun and Piyawat Patoomyos took P8 and P9 on home soil on Sunday, with Shoki Igarashi completing the top ten to bounce back from his back of the grid penalty. Herjun Firdaus couldn’t repeat his Race 1 form, taking P11 ahead of Idil Bin Mahadi, Ryosuke Bando, Rei Wakamatsu and Australian Harrison Voight, who took the final point despite his penalty of starting from pitlane.

ATC Rnd Thailand Race Podium DSC
Race 2 podium 1) Takuma Matsuyama, 2) Syarifuddin Azman, 3) Afridza Munandar – 2019 Asia Talent Cup Round 4, Thailand

That’s it from Buriram, and now it’s next stop Motegi…home turf for a good portion of the grid, and the two men at the top of the standings. Last year it was all about Matsuyama, can Nishimura flip the form book in 2019? Find out in two weeks.

Source: MCNews.com.au

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Nishimura & Munandar share Sepang Round 3 ATC wins

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Asia Talent Cup 2019

Sepang International Circuit – Round 3

Round 3 of the Asia Talent Cup saw Sho Nishimura claim the Race 1 win from Afridza Munandar and Takuma Matsuyama, with young Aussies Harrison Voight 13th, Luke Power 16th and Jacob Roulstone 18th.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Sepang Sat Munandara ZA
Afridza Munandar – Asia Talent Cup 2019 – Round 3 Sepang

In Race 2 it was Afridza Munandar who claimed the race win from Adenanta Putra and Warit Thongnoppakun. Harrison Voight took fourth, with Jacob Roulstone inside the top 10 in ninth, and Luke Power 11th.

Asia Talent Cup Race 1

Sho Nishimura has extended his lead in the standings after a dramatic Race 1 at Sepang International Circuit, with the first showdown of the weekend cut short by a Red Flag after a mutliple-rider incident with five laps to go. Indonesian Afridza Munandar and Japanese rider Takuma Matsuyama, who remains second in the Championship, completed the podium.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Sepang Sat Race Start ZA
Race 1 Start – Asia Talent Cup 2019 – Round 3 Sepang

It was Shoki Igarashi who took the holeshot from third on the grid, slotting into the lead ahead of Matsuyama as polesitter Nishimura lost out slightly off the line. But it wouldn’t stay that way for long as the number 11 machine of Matsuyama soon attacked and took the lead, initially then pushing to try and break away but Nishimura able to pull him back in. And so it became a group of four fighting at the front, with Munandar up in the mix.

Warit Thongnoppakun was on the chase, however, with the Thai rider managing to chip away at the gap and join the foursome in the lead. Could he get into a podium position and take his second rostrum finish? As it transpired, he wouldn’t get the chance as some serious drama was about to hit the second group.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Sepang Sat Nishimura ZA
Sho Nishimura – Asia Talent Cup 2019 – Round 3 Sepang

A multiple-rider crash saw Hildhan Kusuma, Adenanta Putra, Tatchakorn Buasri and Abdul Mutaqim all go down, and soon after the Red Flag was shown, bringing the race to an early end. That meant that last time over the line decided the winner – and it had been close. By an infinitesimal 0.060 the win goes to Nishimura, with the Japanese rider just ahead of Munandar, and Matsuyama completes the podium. Thongnoppakun and Igarashi complete the top five.

Because the results are taken from the last time over the line, it’s Putra classified sixth, ahead of home hero Syarifuddin Azman as the Malaysian put in a top performance on home turf. Herjun Firdaus takes P8, with Hildhan Kusuma and Piyawat Patoomyos completing the top ten.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Sepang Sun Matsuyama ZA
Takuma Matsuyama – Asia Talent Cup 2019 – Round 3 Sepang

Buasri and Mutaqim were 11th and 12th and the last two in a tight freight train of seven riders within a few tenths before the key incident. Riders were all ‘ok’ after the crash, although Buasri and Mutaqim were sent for further checks.

Australian Harrison Voight took P13 and some points after a top qualifying, with Ryosuke Bando and second Malaysian Idil Mahadi completing the scorers.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Sepang Sat Podium ZA
Race 1 Podium – Asia Talent Cup 2019 – Round 3 Sepang

Asia Talent Cup Race 1 Results

  1. Sho Nishimura 18’42.072
  2. Afridza Munandar +0.060
  3. Takuma Matsuyama +0.289
  4. Warit Thongnoppakun +0.544
  5. Shoki Igarashi +0.962
  6. Adenanta Putra +5.506
  7. Syarifuddin Azman +5.552
  8. Herjun Firdaus +5.789
  9. Hildhan Kusuma +5.928
  10. Piyawat Patoomyos +6.159
  11. Tatchakorn Buasri +6.247
  12. Abdul Mutaqim +6.376
  13. Harrison Voight +8.161
  14. Ryosuke Bando +15.990
  15. Muhammad Idil Fitri Bin Mahadi +19.981
  16. Luke Power +23.609
  17. Rei Wakamatsu +23.858
  18. Jacob Roulstone +23.828
  19. Kadir Erbay +51.360

Asia Talent Cup Race 2

Afridza Munandar took a commending second win of the season at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, staying clear of a chaotic fight at the front in the final laps to take home 25 points and take over second in the standings. Compatriot Adenanta Putra followed him home, with Thai rider Warit Thongnoppakun taking his second rostrum of the finish in third after escaping some final corner drama.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Sepang Sun Race Start ZA
Race 2 Start – Asia Talent Cup 2019 – Round 3 Sepang

Sho Nishimura took the holeshot from pole, but Takuma Matsuyama was quick to attack back and the two headed up a five-rider fight at the front, with Thongnoppakun, Shoki Igarashi and Adenanta Putra in the mix. There was a small gap back to Tatchakorn Buasri on the chase, and eventual winner Afridza Munandar was soon challenging too.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Sepang Sun Munandar ZA
Afridza Munandar – Asia Talent Cup 2019 – Round 3 Sepang

With Matsuyama streaking away at the front, it was Munandar who sliced through to start reeling the number 11 in with a show of intent and he did just that; the freight train at the front then appearing again and 12 riders within 1.8 seconds.

With eight laps to go, big drama hit for Matsuyama. Running off and then making contact with another rider on track, the number 11 fell from the front fight and the initial pacesetter was out. That left Munandar in the lead at the front of the group, with Nishimura in second and home hero Syarifuddin Azman having sliced through into third.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Sepang Sat Race ZA
Asia Talent Cup 2019 – Round 3 Sepang

As the group kept chopping and changing and the laps ticked down, however, it was Thongnoppakun who managed to escape the melee to stay with Munandar and the duo began to pull away. Heading onto the final lap, the Indonesian had half a second in his pocket and that would prove a crucial gap.

Although those behind managed to close in, no one could attack Munandar into the final corner – and the final corner was where the attack happened. Azman, gunning for a home podium, tried a move on Nishimura but the Malaysian tagged the back of the Japanese rider, taking them both down and out of podium contention.

Munandar crossed the line in clear air, Thongnoppakun was able to avoid the drama and, despite losing time, made his way back on track to gun it to the line – but he was beaten to it as Adenanta Putra pipped him to the post, the podium decided in dramatic fashion.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Sepang Sun Voight ZA
Harrison Voight – Asia Talent Cup 2019 – Round 3 Sepang

Harrison Voight took his best finish yet in fourth after a good weekend for the Australian, ahead of Hildhan Kusuma who completed the top five. Tatchakorn Buasri took P6 ahead of Piyawat Patoomyos, with Abdul Mutaqim crossing the line in eighth.

Jacob Roulstone headed the next group and beat home hero Idil Mahadi to ninth, with Luke Power, Rei Wakamatsu, Kadir Erbay and wildcard Shinji Ogo completing the finishers. Igarashi and Herjun Firdaus suffered DNFs.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Sepang Sun Roulstone DSC
Jacob Roulstone – Asia Talent Cup 2019 – Round 3 Sepang

It’s a long wait for the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup until the next round alongside MotoGP at Buriram now, but it’s still Sho Nishimura who leads the way despite Day 2 at Sepang not going his way. Who will be strongest when the field return to the fray? Find out in October.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Sepang Sun Podium ZA
Race 2 Podium – Asia Talent Cup 2019 – Round 3 Sepang

Asia Talent Cup Race 2 Results

  1. Afridza Munandar 30’21.574
  2. Adenanta Putra +2.475
  3. Warit Thongnoppakun +2.535
  4. Harrison Voight +3.679
  5. Hildhan Kusuma +3.839
  6. Tatchakorn Buasri +11.839
  7. Piyawat Patoomyos +12.031
  8. Abdul Mutaqim +24.380
  9. Jacob Roulstone +29.721
  10. Muhammad Idil Fitri Bin Mahadi +30.119
  11. Luke Power +30.242
  12. Rei Wakamatsu +43.530
  13. Kadir Erbay +1’05.237

Asia Talent Cup Standings

  1. Sho Nishimura 115
  2. Afridza Munandar 97
  3. Adenanta Putra 83
  4. Takuma Matsuyama 83
  5. Warit Thongnoppakun 73
  6. Tatchakorn Buasri 72
  7. Piyawat Patoomyos 41
  8. Herjun Firdaus 40
  9. Shoki Igarashi 37
  10. Abdul Mutaqim 33
  11. Harrison Voight 31
  12. Hildhan Kusuma 28
  13. Muhammad Idil Fitri Bin Mahadi 22
  14. Syarifuddin Azman 22
  15. Luke Power 17
  16. Jacob Roulstone 16
  17. Ryosuke Bando 13
  18. Rei Wakamatsu 8
  19. Kadir Erbay 5

Source: MCNews.com.au

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Sho Nishimura claims Asia Talent Cup round win in Thailand

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2019 Asia Talent Cup
Round Two – Buriram, Thailand

Afridza Munandar wins Race 1
Tatchakorn Buasri wins Race 2
Sho Nishimura overall winner for Round 2

The Asia Talent Cup Round 2 in Thailand saw Sho Nishimura compound his lead, despite claiming two second place finishes, with the wins shared between Afridza Munandar in Race 1 and Tatchakorn Buasri in Race 2, with Nishimura’s consistency proving key across the weekend.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Thailand Jacob Roulstone
Australian Jacob Roulstone claimed seven championship points across the weekend

Race 1 also saw Samuel Voight claim 12th for four championship points, while Jacob Roulstone was 14th with two points. In Race 2 Luke Power came home tenth for six points, while Roulstone was 11th for five.

Race One

Afridza Munandar took his first ever Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup win in Race 1 at Chang International Circuit, pitching it to perfection in a frantic final corner to emerge ahead of Japanese duo Sho Nishimura and Takuma Matsuyama. As ever, everything went down to the wire in a last dash shuffle, but the Indonesian emerged ahead to open his victory account.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Thailand Afridza Munandar Takuma Matsuyama
Afridza Munandar leads Takuma Matsuyama

At lights out it was home hero and pacesetter in practice Tatchakorn Buasri who got the holeshot from pole, but Matsuyama struck early and made it past two riders in Turn 1 to take the lead. From there it was the Japanese rider dueling Buasri initially, but a group was on the chase comprised Adenanta Putra, Munandar, Nishimura, Warit Thongnoppakun, Piyawat Patoomyos, Adbul Mutaquim and Shoki Igarashi. As the race settled into a rhythm, however, it was Matsuyama leading a group of five at the head of the race and Thongnoppakun seeming to start to fade.

Soon after though, the Thai rider got his head down and closed back in on the leading quintet of Matsuyama, Putra, Munandar, Buasri and Nishimura to make a lead group of six, but it wasn’t long until Indonesian rookie Herjun Firdais was able to get in the mix too. Chopping and changing and jostling for position, the laps ticked down until the hour of reckoning: the final lap.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Thailand Race field
Asia Talent Cup – Round 2 – Chang International Circuit

By then Firdaus was struggling to tag back on to the group and the stage was set for a six-man tussle at the final corner – exactly what it became. Buasri seemed to have found himself a little out of position for an assault on the win and Putra had suffered a big moment not long before, but the final turn, as it would turn out, belonged to Munandar.

The Indonesian went bravely round the outside, able to keep his speed up and avoid the squabble at the apex before gunning it to the line in style, just ahead of those nipping at his heels.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Thailand Race Finish
The Race 1 finish line saw five riders within 0.2s

It was elbows out to complete the podium though, with Nishimura just able to hold off Matsuyama in some Qatar deja vu to keep his Championship lead, with home rider Buasri left off the podium in fourth. For the polesitter and the pacesetter for most of the weekend, that will be something he’ll be desperate to improve on in Race 2.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Thailand Samuel Voight
Australian Samuel Voight

Putra completed the top five ahead of Thongnoppakun, with impressive rookie Firdaus in seventh. Fellow debutant, Malaysian Idhil Mahadi, took P8 and a big step forward from Round 1, with Patoomyos, Syarifuddin Azman and Mutaquim all in extremely close company just behind.

Australian Harrison Voight, Hildhan Kusuma, Jacob Roulstone and Rei Wakamatsu completed the points, with Igarashi the final finisher after sliding out at the final corner mid-race but getting back on.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Thailand Race Podium
ATC Race 1 Podium – 1) Afridza Munandar, 2) Sho Nishimura, 3) Takuma Matsuyama

Asia Talent Cup – Chang International Circuit Race 1

  1. Afridza Munandar
  2. Sho Nishimura +0.074 20
  3. Takuma Matsuyama +0.094 16
  4. Tatchakorn Buasri +0.161 13
  5. Adenanta Putra +0.166 11
  6. Warit Thongnoppakun +0.290 10
  7. Herjun Firdaus +2.788 9
  8. Muhammad Idil Fitri Bin Mahadi +9.848 8
  9. Piyawat Patoomyos +9.942 7
  10. Syarifuddin Azman +10.101 6
  11. Abdul Mutaquim +10.165 5
  12. Samuel Voight +20.531 4
  13. Hildhan Kusuma +20.711 3
  14. Jacob Roulstone +46.688 2
  15. Rei Wakamatsu +1’12.207 1
  16. Shoki Igarashi +1’12.208 0

Race Two

Tatchakorn Buasri got a taste of home glory as his took victory in a dramatic Race 2 in Thailand, with the race red-flagged and the Thai rider in the perfect position at the perfect time after fighting in the front group throughout from pole.

Points leader Sho Nishimura took second despite a crash as the race result was counted back to the last time over the line, escaping a disaster for his title hopes, with Race 1 winner Afridza Munandar completing the podium.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Thailand Race Field
Asia Talent Cup – Round 2 – Chang International Circuit

Buasri got a barnstormer of a start from pole, taking off into clean air as Adenanta Putra gunned it behind him and was able to close in for an attack at Turn 3. The Thai rider hit back soon though and Takuma Matsuyama closed in on the duo in the lead as the long freight train off the line remained incredibly close behind them.

With everyone having gained a little more experience of Chang International Circuit in Race 1, it was closer on Sunday as that huge group of riders remained tightly packed together.

Two or three abreast at times, the squabble saw the majority of the field fighting it out in the initial stages. The lilkes of Buasri, Matsuyama, Putra, Munandar, Warit Thongnoppakun, Nishimura, Idil Mahadi and Piyawat Patoomyos were just hundredths apart and the fight for the lead stretched from first place back into the distance.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Thailand Tatchakorn Buasri
Tatchakorn Buasri in the lead in Race 2

As the laps ticked down, however, it was a 12-rider train that emerged at the front and was able to make a bit of a break for it, with the racing and jostling for position keeping the same frantic pace. With seven laps to go, a crash for Syarifuddin Azman saw the Malaysian fall out of contention and the group became 11, but the battle was headed for an as-yet unknown dramatic crescendo.

With three laps to go, Abdul Mutaqim suffered a problem and dropped back from the group, making it a ten rider train settling in for the final fight. But then drama suddenly struck as Championship leader Nishumura slid out, the crash seeming like a disaster for the rider who won the first three races of the season. The drama, however, was far from over…

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Thailand Takuma Matsuyama
Takuma Matsuyama

Lightning struck twice in as many minutes in the front group as a crash between Firdaus and Mahadi took them out of the mix, the incident bringing the Red Flag out soon after. That meant the result was counted back to the last time over the line and it was home hero Buasri who’d been leading the pack then; delight for the Thai rider after missing out on a podium in Race 1.

It was a stroke of luck for Nishimura just behind in second as the Japanese rider, by virtue of having been able to remount after his crash, gets classified second – the position he was in over the line before the incident.

Race 1 winner Munandar completed the podium for a top weekend in Thailand, with Putra in fourth and Matsuyama locking out the top five as he loses some ground in the title fight. Thongnoppakun took sixth on home turf, ahead of Shoki Igarashi and Patoomyos. Mutaqim takes P9, mitigating the issue he suffered after the group crossed the line for the final time.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Thailand Luke Power
Luke Power completed the top 10 in Race 2

Australian Luke Power won the battle to complete the top ten and pipped compatriot Jacob Roulstone, with Ryosuke Bando in P12, ahead of countryman Rei Wakamatsu. The final finisher was Kadir Erbay, after Hildhan Kusuma and Harrison Voight tangled at the final corner earlier in the race and failed to finish.

Mahadi was taken to hospital for further and final check ups.

That’s it from Buriram and another top weekend in Thailand, with Nishimura retaining his advantage in the standings as we head for Round 3. That’s at Sepang International Circuit as the Cup race alongside Malaysian Superbike from the 14th to 16th July.

Asia Talent Cup Rnd Thailand Race Podium
ATC Race 2 Podium – 1) Tatchakorn Buasri, 2) Sho Nishimura, 3) Afridza Munandar

Asia Talent Cup – Chang International Circuit Race 2

  1. Tatchakorn Buasri
  2. Sho Nishimura +0.120
  3. Afridza Munandar +0.213
  4. Adenanta Putra +0.408
  5. Takuma Matsuyama +0.494
  6. Warit Thongnoppakun +0.835
  7. Shoki Igarashi +0.994
  8. Piyawat Patoomyos +1.183
  9. Abdul Mutaquim +1.704
  10. Luke Power +20.011
  11. Jacob Roulstone +21.501
  12. Ryosuke Bando +29.706
  13. Rei Wakamatsu +45.849
  14. Kadir Erbay +1’23.983

Asia Talent Cup standings following Race 2

  1. Sho Nishimura 90
  2. Takuma Matsuyama 67
  3. Tatchakorn Buasri 57
  4. Adenanta Putra 53
  5. Afridza Munandar 52
  6. Warit Thongnoppakun 44
  7. Herjun Firdaus 32
  8. Piyawat Patoomyos 26
  9. Shoki Igarashi 26
  10. Abdul Mutaquim 21
  11. Muhammad Idil Fitri Bin Mahadi 15
  12. Samuel Voight 15
  13. Syarifuddin Azman 13
  14. Luke Power 12
  15. Ryosuke Bando 11
  16. Hildhan Kusuma 10
  17. Jacob Roulstone 9
  18. Rei Wakamatsu 4
  19. Kadir Erbay 2

Images by ATC

Source: MCNews.com.au

Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing, News

Aussie kids getting up to speed at Asia Talent Cup Testing

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Voight, Power and Roulstone kick off Asia Talent Cup season with Sepang Test

The Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup returns once again in 2019, marking the sixth season of the Road to MotoGP feeder program selecting promising young riders from the Asia-Pacific region to take part. Seven riders return this year, while 14 rookies fill the ranks and Harrison Voight, Luke Power and Jacob Roulstone represent Australia.

The competitors, aged 12 to 19, have been handpicked at an annual IATC Selection Event at Sepang International Circuit and represent Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Turkey.

Asia Talent Cup Sepang Test
Asia Talent Cup 2019 – Sepang Test

They’ll be competing on Honda NSF250R Moto3 machinery to see who has what it takes to become the IATC Champion and once again, they’ll benefit from the vast experience of Asia Talent Cup Director Alberto Puig and his team of experts as they aim to both win and learn.

Kicking off the season was the first test of the year at the Sepang International Circuit, which hosted the grid over two days directly following the MotoGP test with Harrison Voight and Jacob Roulstone completing testing in the top 15, while Luke Power suffered a Day 1 crash, before being cleared to head back out on track on Day 2.

Asia Talent Cup Sepang Test Track Info
Asia Talent Cup 2019 – Sepang Circuit Testing Information

Dry track conditions greeted the riders, with some veterans and a host of rookies able to get in some good track time ahead of the season opener alongside the Grand Prix of Qatar.

Some news came in before conclusion of the test that sees Kopchai Sae-Liw withdraw from the 2019 Cup, and Danial Sharil – after a big crash at the end of last season – remains sidelined through injury although the Malaysian is expected to return to competition once fit.

Of the riders who completed the test – which included a race simulation on Day 2 – one name shone above the rest by the end of action, Indonesian Adenanta Putra.

Putting in an impressive performance, Putra topped the overall combined times by nearly half a second from his nearest competitor, Japanese rider Sho Nishimura, and was consistently one of the quickest.

Nishimura also impressed to take P2 overall, but he was only 0.016 ahead of compatriot Takuma Matsuyama as the gap tightened behind Putra. Tatchakorn Buasri was fourth quickest and a further two tenths in arrears as veterans dominated the top, but the first rookie impressively locked out the top five – Herjun Firdaus.

The Indonesian newcomer had compatriot and veteran Afridza Munandar for close company, however, with less than half a tenth separating the countrymen.

Warit Thongnoppakun was the first name in another trio close on the timesheets, six tenths off Munandar but with rookie compatriot, Thai rider Piyawat Patoomyos, just 0.018 off and Japanese rookie Shoki Igarashi only another 0.068 in arrears. Reserve rider and wild card Shota Kiuchi completed the top ten.

Harrison Voight of Australia, Ryosuke Bando of Japan, Indonesians Abdul Mutaqim and Hildhan Kusuma and Australian Jacob Roulstone completed the top fifteen, with the pace of the majority of the field showing impressive improvements as those further down the order cut the gap to the front and the frontrunners continued to push.

Australian Luke Power crashed on Day 1 and was deemed unfit for the rest of that day’s action before being reviewed on the morning of Day 2 and heading out to continue his testing, whereas wildcard Harith Zamri of Malaysia crashed on Day 2 and was declared unfit, heading to hospital with a suspected fracture.

That’s it from Sepang after the 2019 competitors had their first taste of the season to come, tune in to the first round of the year from Losail International Circuit in Qatar as the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup open the season competing alongside MotoGP from the 8th to 10th March.

Asia Talent Cup Riders
Asia Talent Cup 2019 – Rider List

Asia Talent Cup 2019

After a test at Sepang in February, the 2019 Cup commences at Losail International Circuit in Qatar as the series kicks off racing alongside the MotoGP season opener in March. It’s a quick turnaround for Round 2 as the IATC heads for Buriram in Thailand the following weekend, this time alongside WorldSBK, with the season then hitting the mid-point at Sepang in June alongside the Malaysian Superbike Championship.

Asia Talent Cup Sepang Test Atmos
Asia Talent Cup 2019 – Sepang Test

Then it’s back to the MotoGP paddock as the IATC complete their season alongside the Grands Prix in Thailand, Japan and Malaysia in October and November, with 10 of the 12
races once again taking place on the same stages as MotoGP and World Superbike. The season finale at Sepang is bound to be another showstopper, with the Cup often going down to the final round, the final lap – and even the final corner

Asia Talent Cup Honda NSFR
Asia Talent Cup 2019 – Honda NSF250R

2019 Asia Talent Cup Calendar

  • 08-10 March – Qatar, Losail (MotoGP)
  • 15-17 March – Thailand, Chang (WSBK)
  • 14-16 July – Malaysia, Sepang (MSC)
  • 04-06 October – Thailand, Chang (MotoGP)
  • 18-20 October – Japan, Motegi (MotoGP)
  • 01-03 November – Malaysia, Sepang (MotoGP)

Source: MCNews.com.au

Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing, News

bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup status boost | 2019 Entry List

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bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Gets Dorna Support

Oceania Junior Cup 2019 Entry list announced

The pathway to World Championship Grand Prix racing as become a little easier for aspiring young Oceania talent, with Dorna having just announced that the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup has now been afforded Road to MotoGP status alongside the two other main Grand Prix feeder series such as the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup and Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. Riders competing in bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup – and in spirit with the ‘Road to MotoGP’ effort now have a direct path to Motorcycle Grand Prix Racing.

Riders from the Oceania Junior Cup will also be given the chance to attend the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Selection Event in 2019. This has been made possible by the continued support provided by Motorcycling Australia, the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and FIM Oceania, the regional representatives of the FIM.

MotoGP Valencia Moto Can Oncu
Dorna’s talent programs bearing fruits. Red Bull Rookies cup rider’ Can Oncu debuted in Moto3 via a wildcard in and won at 15, setting a new record.

Born from the desire to develop exceptional Australian motorcycle road racing talent, this announcement is particularly great news for juniors looking for a structured pathway to Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing. As is the excitement and interest, the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup received many applications from an impressive array of junior competitors from across the country, hailing from nearly every motorcycling discipline including Road Race, Motocross, Dirt Track, Enduro and Speedway. Included in the line-up is a strong representation from four Australian States, two female contenders and a representative from New Zealand also. 

Peter Goddard
Peter Goddard

Peter Goddard, Motorcycling Australia President:

“For Dorna to endorse the Oceania Junior Cup under the Road to MotoGP program is an exciting opportunity for all involved and adds a substantial level of credibility to what we are trying to achieve. Such an important partnership cements the key criteria of the program, creating a clear progression plan between the Oceania Junior Cup and the world stage. The development of the next World Champion from our region has received a huge boost today.”

Randy Mamola and Carmelo Ezpeleta
Carmelo Ezpeleta

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports:

“We are delighted to welcome another series to our Road to MotoGP program. The Road to MotoGP is going from strength to strength and has an incredibly successful record in finding and promoting talent. The bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup will be an asset to the program and perfectly complements our aims for the Oceania region. We’re excited to begin this new collaboration.”

After careful consideration, MA would like to introduce you to the 26 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup finalists, for the class of 2019!

OCEANA

Rider First Name Surname State
11 Natalie Barbati VIC
12 Reece Oughtred VIC
14 Jacob Hatch QLD
15 Zak Pettendy NSW
17 Hunter Diplock NSW
18 Tom Connors NSW
21 Carter Thompson NSW
22 Lincoln Knight NSW
24 Jamie Port VIC
26 Dominic Fletcher NSW
27 Toby James VIC
28 Cormac Buchanan NZ
31 Max Gibbons QLD
32 Jai Russo NSW
36 Angus Grenfell VIC
37 Patrick Bognar VIC
39 Glenn Nelson QLD
42 Cros Francis NSW
44 Pyper Kent WA
46 Marianos Nikolis NSW
53 Alex Kenworthy-Jones NSW
55 Varis Fleming VIC
58 Lucas Quinn QLD
59 Tom Drane NSW
69 Archie McDonald NSW
74 Jacob Roulstone NSW

The maiden season kicks off with the Official ASBK Test at Phillip Island in February 2-3, before racing commences for Round 1 at Wakefield Park Raceway in Goulburn, New South Wales, on March 22-24. Running alongside the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) for 5 of the 6 rounds, the program will introduce the finalists to the highest level of Australian road race competition and exemplify the focus and mentality required to become a true champion.

2019 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Calendar
Official ASBK Test – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit – Phillip Island, VIC      2 – 3 Feb
1 Wakefield Park Raceway (ASBK) – Goulburn, NSW                            22 – 24 Mar
2 Broadford State Motorcycle Complex (MotoStars) – Broadford, VIC           6– 7 Apr
3 Morgan Park Raceway (ASBK) – Warwick, QLD                                         5 – 7 Jul
4 Winton Motor Raceway (ASBK) – Benalla, VIC                                            6 – 8 Sep
5 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit (ASBK) – Phillip Island, VIC                      4 – 6 Oct
6 Round 6 – Sydney Motorsport Park (ASBK) – Eastern Creek, NSW                     1 – 3 Nov

Source: MCNews.com.au

Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing, News

Billy Van Eerde | 2018 Asia Talent Cup Champion | Videos

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Asia Talent Cup Billy Van Eerde Champ sign
Billy Van Eerde – 2018 Asia Talent Cup Champion

2018 Asia Talent Cup Champion

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16-year-old Billy Van Eerde today won the 2018 Asia Talent Cup Championship after an unbelievable weekend of racing at Sepang.

Asia Talent Cup Billy Van Eerde Jack Miller
Jack Miller has been instrumental in helping Billy this season both at the track, and in a massive way away from the track

It came down to the line and Billy was actually beaten to the flag by championship rival Haruki Noguchi. However, the Japanese rider had a coming together on the straight with Malaysian rider Danial Sharil.

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An investigation immediately after the race then judged Noguchi to have been guilty of irresponsible riding and docked him 27-seconds, which promoted Billy to the race win, and with that enough points to be crowned Asia Talent Cup Champion.

Asia Talent Cup Crash Line
A coming together at the flag decided the championship

Billy only joined the Asia Talent Cup for the first time this year, while many of his competitors, including Noguchi have had multiple years in the tightly contested category on controlled Honda NSF250R motorcycles.

Asia Talent Cup Billy Van Eerde Sue
Billy Van Eerde with mum Sue

I don’t think it is out of place for me to say that all of us that are regularly involved in Australian Road Racing are immensely proud of Billy’s achievement today, and feel lucky to have seen his progression from the start as he made his transtion from dirt track in the ranks of ASBK Supersport 300 on a KTM.

Billy Van Eerde heads to Thailand holding down second place in the Asia Talent Cup standings
Billy Van Eerde

I reckon it is also fair to say that quite a few of shed a tear this evening as we watched the realisation dawn on Billy that he had won the championship. 

Asia Talent Cup Billy Van Eerde Relief
Billy Van Eerde – 2018 Asia Talent Cup Champion

Alberto Puig (Talent Promotion Director)

“As always this Cup is about evolution during the year and some guys make more of an evolution than others, van Eerde started step by step but has been progressing, as have many other riders, and finally he was the Champion and we have to congratulate him. I think this incident in the last race made it a little it strange, but in the points he’s the Champion and that’s what counts. Overall we’re happy with the year, we’re satisfied we had another season of the Cup because it’s always complicated.”

Asia Talent Cup Billy Van Eerde Champ
Billy Van Eerde – 2018 Asia Talent Cup Champion
Asia Talent Cup Billy Van Eerde Champ
2018 Asia Talent Cup Top Three
Asia Talent Cup Billy Van Eerde Group
Billy Van Eerde – 2018 Asia Talent Cup Champion – #19

2018 Asia Talent Cup Final Championship Points

  1. Billy Van Eerde AUS 199
  2. Haruki Noguchi JPN 174
  3. Sho Nishimura JPN 150
  4. Danial Sharil MAL 147
  5. Mario Aji INA 123
  6. Tachakorn Buarsi THA 108
  7. Takuma Matsuyama JPN 101
  8. Lucky Hendriansya INA 87
  9. Agung Fachrul INA 75
  10. Afridza Munandar INA 59

Source: MCNews.com.au

Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing, News

Aussie youngsters selected for 2019 Asia Talent Cup

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2019 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup

Harrison Voight and Jacob Roulstone make it in!

Riders for the 2019 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup have been decided at the Selection Event in Malaysia.

Asia Talent Cup Selections
Asia Talent Cup Selections

The Selection Event to choose the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup riders for next season is now over for another year after taking place at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.

Asia Talent Cup Selections
Asia Talent Cup Selections for 2019

Following inscriptions on Tuesday and a day of track action to assess the new crop of hopefuls on Wednesday, eight young riders from across Asia and Oceania have been selected to join the grid– as well as five reserve riders.

Asia Talent Cup Selections Harrison Voight
Harrison Voight – Asia Talent Cup 2019

Aussie youngsters Jacob Roulstone and Harrison Voight are two of the youngest to make it through the selection process while Luke Power has been named as a reserve rider. 

The Selection Event took place largely in the wet at Sepang, but it didn’t put too much of a dampener on proceedings.

Asia Talent Cup Selections Jacob Roulstone
Jacob Roulstone – Asia Talent Cup 2019

Over 90 youngsters were put through their paces throughout the day before the Selection Committee made their final decisions.

Asia Talent Cup Selections Harrison Voight
Harrison Voight – Asia Talent Cup 2019

The committee, led by Talent Promotion Director Alberto Puig, selected riders from Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan to either join the grid next year or be on the reserve list.

Asia Talent Cup Selections Jacob Roulstone
Jacob Roulstone – Asia Talent Cup 2019

Now the grid for next year is decided, it’s time to decide the Champion this season. The 2018 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup will be decided at Sepang this weekend, and young Aussie Billy Van Eerde currently leads the championship by 12-points heading into this weekend’s finale!

AsiaTalentCup

SELECTED & RESERVE RIDERS FOR 2019
WEDNESDAY, 31ST OCTOBER 2018 /// SEPANG GO-KART CIRCUIT, MALAYSIA
S/R NUM RIDER NAME NAT GEN AGE Cm Kg
SEL 18 M IDIL FITRI BIN MAHADI MAL M 15 164 47
SEL 20 M SYARIFUDDIN BIN A MAL M 16 163 51
SEL 39 HERJUN ATNA FIRDAUS INA M 14 170 50
SEL 41 ABDUL GOFAR MUTAQIM INA M 14 170 49
SEL 57 JACOB JOHN ROULSTONE AUS M 13 157 36
SEL 62 HARRISON SAMUEL VOIGHT AUS M 12 149 41
SEL 81 RYOSUKE BANDO JPN M 15 170 51
SEL 91 REI WAKAMATSU JPN M 12 146 36
RES 27 MUHAMMAD AIMAN BIN AZMAN MAL M 18 168 59
RES 40 MUHAMMAD HILDHAN KUSUMA INA M 16 170 53
RES 56 LUKE POWER AUS M 13 162 52
RES 76 SHOTA KIUCHI JPN M 15 164 54
RES 113 KADIR ERBAY TUR M 12 170 48

Alberto Puig

Alberto Puig (Talent Promotion Director):

“It was difficult, especially because of the conditions. It was pouring. We couldn’t do our full intended program of testing but we did what we could. Out of all this I think we’ve selected the riders who were faster today, and the reserve riders. It’s the first time we’ve had rain like this during the selection at Sepang. But we did it and we’re happy, we have some young riders of different nationalities. It’s also important that no one is injured although we had some crashes, everyone is ok. So for one more edition, job completed.

“We always try and find young riders because they always have more potential to learn and grow. We hope we’ve got some potential selected here. They understand they have an important opportunity but at the beginning it will be difficult for them, like it has been for all the riders who have come to race in the Cup. But as always, the guys who are strongest and have the most passion will make it on this road.”

Source: MCNews.com.au