Makoto Tamada scores double in Asian Road Racing

Makoto Tamada (file photo)

Chennai, July 14 (IANS) Musashi Boon Honda Racing achieved a perfect 1-2 finish as Makoto Tamada recorded a double victory with teammate Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman in tow in the action-packed SuperSports 600cc races in Round 3 of the Asia Road Racing Championship here Sunday.

Tamada earned his maiden victory for the season in Race 1. Despite making a slight mistake at the start of the 16 lap race, the former MotoGP rider caught up with Azlan, who was tussling for P1 with Petronas Yamaha rival, Mohd Zamri Baba.

Azlan and Zamri tussle saw them coming into contact in Lap 9 and Tamada capitalised on the opportunity to steal the lead and claim his first win. Azlan settled for second and Zamri third.

Race 2 did not fare so well for the Japanese as he high-sided after piloting the race for nine laps, forcing race officials to call out the red-flag and ultimately call off the race.

Despite all the drama, Tamada was still crowned champion as results were taken based on riders’ position on Lap 9, but with half points. Tamada came in first followed by Azlan and Zamri.

“Race 2 felt a bit off from the start as I felt the grip was not strong enough. Nevertheless, I could still ride comfortably. Somehow I lost control of the bike and crashed coming out of a turn. My back and leg still hurts from the impact but I consider myself lucky to escape without any major injuries,” Tamada said.

Picking up 30 points from this leg, Azlan now leads the SuperSports 600cc standings with 120 points followed by Tamada second, 88.5 points, while Zamri sits in third place with 81.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Afif Amran regained control of the Underbone 115cc points table thanks to a victory and a second place finish.

The Petronas Hong Leong Yamaha rider, who broke the lap record Saturday, won Race 1 just ahead of Indonesian title contender Hadi Wijaya (R9 Racing Team), who finished second while Hadi’s teammate Ferlando Herdian completed the podium.

Feeling extremely motivated, the 18-year-old Afif was hoping to further extend his championship lead in Race 2 with another possible win but instead found himself outgunned by compatriot Mohd Affendi Rosli (Harian Metro Y-TEQ SCK Honda Racing), who took the chequered flag in the final seconds of the race. Afif was forced to settle for second place while Hadi Wijaya finished third.

Bagging 45 points from this leg, Afif (104) took the lead from Wijaya (103). Norizman Ismail sits third overall with 82 points.

Japan’s Hiroki Ono bagged a double win in the Asia Dream Cup to extend his lead in the championship standings with a tally of 145 points, inclusive of five wins. India’s Sumit Lucas Toppo finished eighth and 12th while compatriot Arunagiri Prabhu came in 10th and ninth in the Dream Cup double-header.

Round 4 of the Championship will take place at the iconic Suzuka International Circuit in Japan from Aug 30 to Sep 1.

The results:

SuperSports 600cc (Race 1, 16 laps): Makoto Tamada (JPN, MBS Honda Racing) 1 (27 mins, 47.541 secs); Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (MAS, MBS Honda Racing) 2 (27:47.776); Md. Zamri Baba (MAS, PHL Yamaha) 3 (27:53.879). Race 2 (9 laps): Tamada 1 (15:36.927); Azlan Shah 2 (15:37.218); Baba 3 (15:38.166).

Underbone 115cc (Race 1, 10 laps): Ahmad Afif Amran (MAS, PHL Yamaha) 1 (19:59.312); Hadi Wijaya (INA, R9 Racing) 2 (19:59.536); Ferlando Herdian (INA, R9 Racing) 3 (20:00.256). Race 2: Md. Affendi Rosli (MAS, HM Y-TEQ SCK Honda Racing) 1 (20:06.603); Amran 2 (20:06.635); Wijaya 3 (20:06.912).

Asia Dream Cup (Race 1, 10 laps): Hiroki Ono (JPN) 1 (19:33.9); Md. Dwi Satria (INA) 2 (19:34.1); Khairul Idham Pawi (MAS) 3 (19:34.2). Race 2 (8 laps): Ono 1 (15:48.891); Gerry Salim (INA) 2 (15:49.197); Md. Fitri Ashraf Razali (MAS) 3 (15:49.640).