• 2015.7.5 Team KAGAYAMA SUZUKI Asia gets their first podium finish at Suzuka

  
  Round 3 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship took place July 3rd-5th at the prestigious Suzuka Circuit in Mie, Japan.

  Once again, Team KAGAYAMA SUZUKI Asia, spearheaded by General Manager Yukio Kagayama, arrived at Suzuka with high spirits. This would be the first time to team will show their two SUZUKI GSX-R1000, #25 Rafid Topan Sucipto and #41 Noriyuki Haga, to the home fans. This will be Haga’s run at Suzuka since the machine’s shakedown test in March, and Topan’s first ever outing in Japan.

  The team showed progress on the first day with dry track conditions. Topan, suffered from the fact that this was his first ever outing at this difficult race track, but by Free Practice 2, he was able to close down the time with the leaders. However, he crashed at the very end of the session, and injured his left hand.

  Qualifing took place in a full wet course, and Haga marked a 2’27.618 to qualify 4th. Topan was able to mark a 2’30.099 which put him the 14th grid, despite the injury.

  Race 1 took place on the same day, also in full wet condition. Haga made a super start from the second row, and found himself taking the whole shot. He would drop back to 3rd in the early stages of the race. Race leader, Yuki Takahashi (Honda) crashes out and made Haga move up to 2nd. Haga fought with Tomoyoshi Koyama (Honda) until the very last lap, but was overtaken at the back straight. Haga finished 3rd in the race, and gave the team its first podium finish in the Championship.

  Topan, who struggled with his injury and a first-time track, finished 16th.

  Noriyuki Haga | #41
  “The SUZUKI GSX-R1000 have improved so much since the test in March. I changed the setting too many times in the last two races, so this week I concentrated on not doing that. This was the first wet race of the season, but I was able to make a good start and achieve a podium finish. I will try to do the same in Race 2”

  Rafid Topan Sucipto | #25
  “The two chicanes at Suzuka is very difficult. But the feeling of my SUZUKI GSX-R1000 is great, and I am happy with the progress and the result considering that this is my first time here. I injured myself on day 1 and I regret that I couldn’t push 100% at the race. The setting was a little off too, so I will change the setting for race 2, and hope to get points for the team”

  Yukio Kagayama | General Manager
  “My hats are off for Haga. With that magnificent start and his riding during the race, he proved to the fans and his rivals how fast he can be. I still haven’t been able to provide him with a machine that can win in dry conditions, but I thank him for getting the podium which was the team’s first aim. He did all this on his own. I hope I can provide him with a machine that can win soon.

  Topan finished the race for us, despite his injury, and the team was able to gather important data which will be a plus for the next race. We have an another race tomorrow, and lot of fans and sponsors are here at Suzuka. I hope we can show them what they want to see, and I plan to support the team in every way I can to achieve that.”

  

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