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2016.4.3
Haga and Patis finishes a difficult weekend for Team KAGAYAMA SUZUKI Asia
The season opener for the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) was held March 31st to April 2nd at Johor Circuit in Malaysia. Team KAGAYAMA SUZUKI Asia, in its second year, with #41 Noriyuki Haga of Japan, and #98 Patis Chooprathet of Thailand.
With an unexpected struggling results for qualifying and Race 1 on Day 2 of the race weekend, the team restructured its strategy, but lack of pre-season testing did not help the team for the final day.
Haga, starting at the back of the grid, due to a crash on the first lap of the qualifying session, made his way up the field. Haga managed to lead the third group by the end of the race, but finished 13th. Patis, being his first Supersports 600 race, struggled to find speed, but finished his first race in this highest category of motorcycle racing in Asia.
Although the race weekend was a difficult one, the team managed to get 5 points. Round 2 of ARRC will be held May 6th to the 8th at Chang International Circuit, located in Buriram, Thailand.
Patis Chooprathet | #98I was not able to find the best set-up today, and could not find the speed I wanted. But I was able to finish the race and see the other riders, and I need to learn more. The next race is at Buriram, which is in my home country, so I will do my best there.
Noriyuki Haga | #41I changed my setting from Race 1, and improved in my lap time, but the others also improved theirs, so it did not lead to a good result. We have places where we need to change, so we will need to analyze and re-structure our strategy for the next round.
Yukio Kagayama | Team ManagerI would like to thank our sponsors, especially Suzuki and Dunlop, that we were able to finish the season opener. Haga had a mishap in qualifying, but his experience gave us precious points in the Championship, and I will do my best to provide him with a competitive machine in the next round. Patis is still young, and needs a lot of experience, but he finished Race 2, and that was another learning experience for him. His potentials are still hiding, and I would like to support him.
