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2015.8.29
SUZUKI ASIAN CHALLENGE Round 4 opens at Buriram
Three rounds of the SUZUKI ASIAN CHALLENGE (SAC), SUZUKI’s rider developement program for Asian riders, produced and operated by Yukio Kagayama have been held so far in the 2015 season. Now, the series moves to Buriram, Thailand at the Chang International Circuit. The circuit, which opened in 2014, is 4,554 meters in length and consists of several long straights and 12 turns.
SAC uses a single platform SUZUKI FU150’s (Satria in Indonesia, Belang in Malaysia, and Raider in Thailand, Philippine, and Vietnam), with a livery that resembles the SUZUKI MotoGP Team. It is being held in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC), which is the pinnacle of motorcycle racing in Asia.
17 riders from 9 countries is participating this season. The riders have shown improvement as each round is held. In the last 3 rounds (6 races), SAC showed 4 different winners. #98 Patis Chooprathet (Thailand), #43 Andreas Gunawan (Indonesia), #33 Jagan Kumar (India) and #83 Takeru Murase (Japan).
Two races are held in each round, and the first day of Round 4 was held on August 28th. With the exception of local rider, Chooprathet, it was the first time for the other riders to run on this circuit. However, it didn’t take long for them to get used to the track, and by the end of the day, the riders showed competitive running.
Currently top-ranked Gunawan lead both sessions, with Chooprathet, Murasa, #99 Adhi Chandra (Indonesia), #88 Nazirul Izzat Muhammed Baharuddin (Malaysia), and #45 Muhammad Aiman Nabil leading the pack.
Qualifying and Race 1 is scheduled for Day 2.
Yukio Kagayama | General Manager
I would like to thank our sponsors and fans that we are able to reach the later half of our 2015 season. The circuit has opened last year, it is the first time for most riders to run here, and I wish the learn the track as soon as possible. SAC is now in its 4th round of its inaugural season, and the riders have improved and we see less crashes than the first round. Race 1 will be held tomorrow, and I am confident that you will all witness their improvement.Hideyuki Ogata | Rider Coach
It’s been 2 months since the last round at Suzuka, and many of the riders have been preparing well for this round, showing improvement. It’s the first time for most riders to be here, but they have adapted to the course well. They have started to know the SUZUKI FU150’s better, and I think it’s the result of this. I am looking forward to see them race.
