The provisional entry list for the 2022 running of the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup has broken cover with a strong contingent of Australian riders in the ranks. 20 full-time riders will race, hailing from seven countries throughout Asia and Oceania, including Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Carter Thompson – 2021 Asia Talent Cup
There are six returning riders in 2022 – four riders from the class of 2020 and two from 2021. There are 14 new riders, two of whom have already made wildcard appearances at Mandalika International Street Circuit: Reykat Fadillah and Veda Pratama.
Many of the new faces on the grid are competitors from or promoted by the FIM MiniGP Malaysia Series, the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup, Motorcycle Federation of Japan, Suzuka Racing School, Honda, and more, with many already having begun their Road to MotoGP.
Marianos Nikolis – Asia Talent Cup 2021
Representing Australia will be Carter Thompson, Marianos Nikolis and Cameron Swain. Thompson is a 2020 entrant, with Nikolis 2021, while Swain is a new entrant in 2022.
2022 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup Provisional Entry List
Carter & Hudson Thompson on the mend after rough weekend at The Bend
ASBK racing brothers Carter and Hudson Thompson have been released from hospital following their accidents at the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul.
Carter had looked like he’d be taking the challenge to Yamaha Finance R3 Cup and Dunlop Supersport 300 points leader Ben Baker this weekend after he qualified first in the Yamaha Finance R3 Cup and second in the Supersport 300 class.
Carter Thompson – Image by RBMotoLens
Carter has been a stand-out talent in the Australian Superbike Championship for the past three years having won the 2019 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup, and being crowned 2020 R3 Cup champion.
He has also raced in the Asia Talent Cup where he has been successful, and will next year race in the European Talent Cup with the AGR Racing Team.
Carter Thompson
Carter kicked off his weekend with a fourth in race 1 of the R3 Cup. However in the first Supersport 300 race while leading he crashed an turn 14 on lap 4 but walked away from the accident.
Race 2 of the R3 Cup saw Carter have a major crash on lap 2 turn 13 with the race red flagged and Carter requiring medical assistance.
He was taken to Murray Bridge Hospital and then later transferred to North Adelaide’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken right collarbone and severe concussion before being released.
Hudson Thompson
Hudson, who debuted in the Oceania Junior Cup this year, finished fifth in race 1, and scored the fastest lap time of race 2 with a time of 2:34.794 before he crashed at turn 6 on lap 4 in a pack of riders.
Hudson Thompson
Nathan Thompson, his father, first feared he had broken his left ankle, but said it appears he has suffered ligament damage and was released from hospital Sunday night. Nathan said he believed that Carter’s initial impact with the circuit was the cause for the collarbone injury.
Nathan Thompson
“It’s been a tough weekend, they are feeling sore and sorry for themselves,” and that Hudson’s accident was just racing accident with no one to blame. “Thankfully Hudson’s ankle isn’t broken but he can’t weight bare on the ankle, and it looks like major ligament damage. He’s hobbling around here on crutches and looks like he’s going to be okay.
“Carter’s crash was pretty big, he remembers everything up until half a lap before the crash and is in good spirits with a broken collarbone and pretty severe concussion, so we will pop down to Westmead Hospital to make sure there is no dramas. He hit pretty hard initially and the bike is nearly a write-off. Thankfully his helmet did its job, but there are a few big cracks in it.”
Carter Thompson in action at The Bend before the fall – Image RbMotoLens
The Asia Talent Cup visited Mandalika International Street Circuit over the weekend, for a four-race round, split between Friday, Saturday and Sunday, offering maximum track time and 100 championship points, with Danial Sharil the most likely contender to reign in Taiyo Furusato.
Asia Talent Cup 2021 – Mandalika
The grids for Races 1 and 2 were set from qualifying last weekend when the subsequent races were postponed until this weekend, so it was Danial Sharil on pole, Carter Thompson second – the Australian within a tenth of Danial Sharil – and Masaya Hongo completing the front row.
Race 1 turned out to be another classic, with a victory for Taiyo Furusato. It all came down to a duel against Danial Sharil and the last two corners, with Furusato sweeping round the outside to take back the lead and then defend to the flag. It was another 25 points for the 16-year-old Japanese rider and his five victories in a row put him 46 points clear ahead of Race 2, meaning he could wrap up the crown on Saturday. Gun Mie completed the rostrum after only just losing touch with the lead duo on the last couple of laps.
Gun Mie and Taiyo Furusato battle it out
Furusato then made it six on the trot in Saturday’s Race 2, the rider claiming the 2021 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup title with the result. He was pushed all the way by Danial Sharil as the two put on another spectacular duel, and once again Gun Mie completed the podium as he proved the only rider able to go with the two at the front.
After a cancelled Race 3 on Saturday, Furusato made it a clean sweep on Sunday with another win. It was another duel against Danial Sharil, however, with the Malaysian incredibly close over the line but not quite able to take to the top step. After a huge group battle for the rostrum just behind the two, it was once again Gun Mie coming out on top for third – but the number 5 had his work cut out on Sunday.
Furusato made it three from three with Sunday’s Race 3
The Mandalika round saw Furusato crowned champion ahead of Sharil and Mie, with 14-year-old Aussie Carter Thompson fourth overall in the standings.
Carter Thompson – P4 (Championship)
“Fourth overall in the championship, unfortunately didn’t end the way I would like with a DNF in the last race, but happy to end the championship with fourth overall. What an amazing two weeks we had in Indonesia. As the 2021 ATC season ends and my bike is packed away, I would like to thank everyone involved in this championship. The work everyone puts in to get us there and on track is unbelievable. What an amazing experience it is and one I am extremely grateful to be a part of. Thank you for a great season.”
Fellow Aussie Marianos Nikolis finished the season 11th, while Tom Drane was 14th.
Tom Drane – P14 (Championship)
“Finishing 14th in the Asia Talent Cup championship for 2021. I am extremely grateful for the experience and opportunity. It has been a great two weeks, finishing the last race in P12 and doing a PB. Well done to my Aussie team mates on their placings and Furusato for taking out the championship. See you all back in the land of Oz.”
ATC Race 1
At lights out it was Danial Sharil who took the holeshot from pole, the Malaysian quick off the line ahead of Masaya Hongo and Carter Thompson.
Masaya Hongo
There was a close shuffle just behind, including for Furusato, but everyone got away cleanly and soon enough, there was a lead group forming: Danial Sharil, Hongo, Thompson, Furusato, Hakim Danish, Azryan Dheyo, Gun Mie and Herjun Firdaus.
Early drama for Kanta Hamada then saw one experienced runner out of the race, with the Japanese rider suffering contact at Turn 10 and going down. Back at the front, it was now a six rider train too as Firdaus and Dheyo lost touch with the leaders.
Drama for Danial Sharil then saw the Malaysian suffer a moment and run wide, slotting back in at the back of that group and two seconds off the lead – just as Furusato remained steadfast at the front, shadowed by Gun Mie.
The group lost another frontrunner not long after though as Hongo crashed out, making it five riders in contention for three spots on the podium and one victory.
Fadillah Aditama crashed out of the second group late in the race
By five to go, Danial Sharil was back with Furusato and Mie at the front as Thompson and Danish ended up in a lonelier fight for fourth. By three to go though, Furusato was pulling the pin. The Japanese rider was pushing on in his quest for a fifth win from five, but Danial Sharil was able to go with him – setting up another classic duel between the duo.
Furusato led onto the last lap as Danial Sharil shadowed, and the Malaysian waited patiently for the right time to strike: Turn 13. Slicing up the inside and taking over, all he had to do was defend – but Furusato was ready to attack.
Sailing around the outside of Turn 16, the Japanese rider hit back in some serious style, then able to close the door at the final corner and keep it pinned to the line. That’s five races, five wins, and a 46-point lead.
Race 1 Finish
Danial Sharil takes another podium in second and will be looking to hit back on Saturday, with Mie also back on the rostrum despite losing touch in the latter stages. Thompson takes fourth after duelling Danish, the Malaysian crashing out from behind the Australian on the penultimate lap.
Wildcard Reykat Fadillah took fifth a little ahead of a group battle, with Firdaus taking P6 ahead of Sharul Sharil and another home hero and wildcard in Veda Pratama. Tetsuta Fujita took P9 in some clear air, with Thurakij Buapa, who beat Rei Wakamatsu on the drag to the line, completing the top ten.
Aussies Drane and Nikolis came home in 13th and 14th respectively.
Dheyo and Fadillah Aditama crashed out from the second group late on, with Herlian Dandi and Watcharin Tubtimon also suffering DNFs.
ATC Race 1 Results
Pos
Rider
Nat
Gap
1
T. FURUSATO
JPN
–
2
D. SHARIL
MAS
0.218
3
G. MIE
JPN
1.453
4
C. THOMPSON
AUS
8.465
5
R. FADILLAH
INA
20.456
6
H. FIRDAUS
INA
21.323
7
S. SHARIL
MAS
21.533
8
V. PRATAMA
INA
21.858
9
T. FUJITA
JPN
31.180
10
T. BUAPA
THA
37.716
11
R. WAKAMATSU
JPN
37.865
12
T. LAKHARN
THA
39.660
13
T. DRANE
AUS
46.897
14
M. NIKOLIS
AUS
1’19.376
ATC Race 2
At lights out, Danial Sharil held the hole shot and it was another clean getaway for the field, but the breakaway began early: the Malaysian put the pedal to the metal to start making a gap, with only Furusato and Mie able to tag on and hunt him down. That left a huge group fight behind and a trio in the lead.
Race 2 Start
At one point Danial Sharil had nearly a second in hand, but the two on the chase were able to reel the Malaysian back in to create another as-you-were. Mie was hanging in there too, the Japanese rider still close as the final lap began.
Onto that last lap, Furusato led Danial Sharil and forced the Malaysian to take to the outside, the number 15 holding firm and the number 21 suffering a small twitch too.
They stayed glued together until the next key chance, Turn 10, and this time Danial Sharil chose the outside, looking for the switchback. But he couldn’t quite make it stick, instead lining up another attack through 12 and 13 and making it through – briefly.
Furusato and Sharil
But Furusato answered straight back and sliced up the inside, the number 15 then able to keep the door firmly shut and stay ahead on the drag to the line, taking win six of six.
Danial Sharil was forced to settle for second and will be gunning to convert race his last chance at the top step on Sunday, with Mie losing some ground on the final lap after a big wobble behind the leading duo.
The huge group fight behind split into some different battles by the flag, with Masaya Hongo beating Carter Thompson and Herjun Firduas in a three-way fight for fourth.
Herjun Firduas
Tetsuya Fujita had a lonelier finish in P7, ahead of another close trio completing the top ten: wildcard Reykat Fadillah, Rei Wakamatsu and Herlian Dandi, with Sharul Sharil just missing out in P11.
Drane finished 15th, with Nikolis nine-seconds further in arrears in 16th.
Fadillah Aditama crashed out, as did wildcard Veda Pratama, riders ok.
Saturday’s second race cancelled
The third race of the weekend was due to be held Saturday afternoon, however severe weather conditions caused the cancellation of Race 3. The ATC therefore gets back on track on Sunday for their third and final race of the weekend. The grid will be set by the results of the qualifying session that took place earlier on Saturday.
ATC Race 2 Results
Pos
Rider
Nat
Gap
1
T. FURUSATO
JPN
–
2
D. SHARIL
MAS
0.146
3
G. MIE
JPN
2.039
4
M. HONGO
JPN
10.648
5
C. THOMPSON
AUS
10.957
6
H. FIRDAUS
INA
10.986
7
T. FUJITA
JPN
12.480
8
R. FADILLAH
INA
13.582
9
R. WAKAMATSU
JPN
13.600
10
H. DANDI
INA
13.782
11
S. SHARIL
MAS
14.165
12
T. BUAPA
THA
23.541
13
A. DHEYO
INA
23.808
14
W. TUBTIMON
THA
24.019
15
T. DRANE
AUS
24.108
16
M. NIKOLIS
AUS
33.731
17
T. LAKHARN
THA
34.326
ATC Race 3
Danial Sharil got the holeshot from second on the grid, with Furusato slotting into second and a small gap opening up for the Malaysian in the lead. That only got bigger as the number 21 got the hammer down, with Furusato leading the chase.
Race 2 Start
Carter Thompson and Tetsuya Fujita were early crashers, and that left the group a little smaller but with Furusato at the front of it as Danial Sharil continued his breakaway. Bit by bit, the gaps got bigger in the freight train though, and soon enough it was that familiar duel at the front.
It stayed that way as Furusato was able to tag onto the back of the number 21 machine in the lead, and this time the fireworks started a little earlier as the two traded positions.
Over the line to start the last lap it was Furusato back into the lead though, and at Turn 1 Danial Sharil held off and held station, planning a different attack on take three…
Taiyo Furusato
The plan was forced to change, however, as the Malaysian headed well wide at Turn 10, and it looked like it could be over then and there. But he dug deep for the rest of the lap to get back on terms with Furusato, and coming out of the final corner on the drag to the line it was incredibly close.
Not quite close enough though, and once more he was forced to settle for second as Furusato took the flag for a magnificent seventh win.
As they duelled at the front, the smaller groups behind had become one big fight for third, and it was Mie who came out on top, seeing off an early attack from Masaya Hongo and then able to make a little breathing space over the line.
Race 3 Finish
Home hero Herjun Firdaus made some moves on the last lap to take fourth too, with less than a tenth in hand over Hongo. Fadillah Aditama was within a tenth too, and it stayed close in the freight train as Herlian Dandi, Reykat Fadillah and Veda Pratama took seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively.
Drane had his best result of the weekend in 12th, but unfortunately Thompson was a DNF.
Rei Wakamatsu completed the top ten, getting the better of Sharul Sharil in that duel.
The bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup head to Broadford for Round 2 over the weekend, with Carter Thompson winning the round on a countback following three races. Carter Thompson, Agus Grenfell and Tom Drane all finished the weekend on 56-points, with Marianos Nikolis and Jacob Roulstone completing the top five, both on 42 points.
Carter Thompson, Angus Grenfell and Tom Drane claim top honours at Round 2
Saturday kicked off with Cros Francis topping qualifying with a 1:12.029 enough for pole, while Kiwi Cormac Buchanan and Jacob Roulstone completed the front row. Angus Grenfell head the second row from Carter Thompson and Jacob Hatch.
Oceania Junior Cup Race 1
Race 1 on Saturday saw Roulstone emerge in first position followed by Grenfell from the start, as Thompson made up two places to slot into third. Francis couldn’t capitalise on his pole position as he was bundled back to fourth, but in a perfect example of the hard-fought nature of the Oceania Junior Cup Francis had catapulted to the lead by the end of the second lap. Tom Drane also made his way up to the lead group of six.
Jacob Roulstone
The field largely held station until lap four where the arguing over the lead began, with the lead group of six going hammer-and-tongs into turns one and two, each rider fighting to be last of the late-brakers.
Jacob Roulstone, Cormac Buchanan and Angus Grenfell
Lap six and Wakefield Park winner Thompson had really hit his straps, passing Grenfell for the lead. The racing was tight right down through the order, with the field splitting into three major ‘trains’ of riders. The top six were really showing their class as the leaders built up a ten second lead from the chasing field.
Carter Thompson
As the leaders reached for the finish line the lead group of six was covered by just over half a second, with Drane taking the honours from Francis who backed up his overall second place from Wakefield Park admirably.
Glenn Nelson and Jacob Roulstone
Roulstone finished fourth and Thompson, looking dangerous in the closing laps, was bundled back to fifth. Glenn Nelson rounded out the top six.
Cros Francis
Race 1 Top 10
Tom DRANE
Cros Francis
Angus GRENFELL
Jacob ROULSTONE
Carter THOMPSON
Glenn NELSON
Jacob HATCH
Marianos NIKOLIS
Alex KENWORTHY-JONES
Zak PETTENDY
Oceania Junior Cup Race 2
The opening race of Sunday closely mirrored the day before, with a number of ‘trains’ forming and competition fierce all the way up and down the field. A lead group of four emerged off the start, with Jacob Roulstone, Cros Francis, Grenfell, and Glenn Nelson battling for the lead through most of the race.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup at Broadford
The chasing pack was led by Saturday winner Tom Drane who settled into fifth off the start, ahead of Cormac Buchanan and Alex Kenworthy-Jones. By lap six Drane had broken away from the second group and was looking to tag onto the back of the leaders, building a gap over the chasing pack now led by Thompson.
Jacob Roulstone, Cormac Buchanan and Angus Grenfell
At the finish it was Roulstone a mere fifteen hundredths ahead of Francis, still looking for his maiden victory in the Oceania Junior Cup despite a second place overall at Wakefield Park. Grenfell also reprised his third place from Race 1, finishing three tenths off the win to round out the podium.
Angus Grenfell
Glenn Nelson in fourth just missed out on the podium by under a tenth of a second, while Drane in fifth couldn’t quite bridge the gap to the leaders by the time the chequered flag came out. Thompson led the rest of the field home in sixth, more than four seconds further back.
Cros Francis and Jacob Roulstone
Race 2 Top 10
Jacob Roulstone
Cros Francis +0.156
Angus Grenfell +0.312
Glenn Nelson +0.388
Tom Drane +0.708
Carter Thompson +5.515
Cormac Buchanan +5.675
Alex Kenworthy-Jones +5.981
Marianos Nikolas +6.335
Reece Oughtred +6.617
Oceania Junior Cup Race 3
Roulstone once again decided to put his stamp on the race early, leading the field across the line to begin lap one, with Buchanan in second and Grenfell completing the leading group of three, with Drane, Reece Oughtred and Nelson pursuing a second further back.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Race 3
Buchanan’s running at the front didn’t last long, unfortunately, as he fell at turn two on lap two, bringing out the red flag.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
The race was subsequently shortened from twelve to ten laps and the field lined up again to take the restart. After the restart Grenfell took the lead ahead of Nelson. Francis was the big benefactor from the red flag, making his way back to third ahead of Roulstone and Oughtred.
Reece Oughtred
The battle at the front of the field raged intensely as the riders tried to make the most of their second-chance opening laps, with the lead group expanding to include almost half the field in the first four laps. When the action did settle down a little, Roulstone worked his way back to the front, with Nelson hot on his heels. Francis managed to hold down third from Oughtred and Thompson.
Glenn Nelson
Lap six and the field had bunched back up at the front with Thompson overtaking for the lead ahead of Nelson, and Oughtred finding his way past Francis. Roulstone was back in fifth and Grenfell in sixth. Race 1 winner Drane was stuck back in ninth.
Jacob Roulstone
On lap nine the riders made their way down through the esses on the approach to the penultimate corner, and in the squeeze Francis and Thompson appeared to make contact.
Jacob Roulstone, Cormac Buchanan and Angus Grenfell
Francis was sent into a low-side and in the following chain reaction Roulstone and Nelson also crashed. The red flag went out once again and the race was declared, with Thompson awarded the victory ahead of Grenfell, Oughtred, Marianos Nikolis, Archie McDonald, and Drane.
Nelson, Roulstone and Francis were all involved in the Race 3 crash
Race 3 Top 10
Carter Thompson
Angus Grenfell +0.235
Reece Oughtred +0.468
Marianos Nikolas +1.089
Archie McDonald +1.134
Tom Drane +1.559
Max Gibbons +12.020
Jai Russo +12.090
Hunter Diplock +12.208
Zakary Pettendy +12.559
Carter Thompson, Angus Grenfell and Tom Drane on the Round 2 podium
Oceania Junior Cup Round 2 Overall Top 10
Carter THOMPSON – 56
Angus GRENFELL – 56
Tom DRANE – 56
Marianos NIKOLIS – 42
Jacob ROULSTONE – 42
Cros FRANCIS – 40
Reece OUGHTRED – 39
Archie McDONALD – 34
Alex KENWORTHY-JONES – 33
Glenn NELSON – 32
Round 3 of the 2019 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup takes place at Morgan Park Raceway, Warwick, Queensland, 5-7 July 2019.
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