-
2017.12.4
Punchana Kulrojchalalai finishes his Champion season winning Race 2
December 3, 2017
With #78 Punchana Kulrojchalalai (Thailand) taking the 2017 SUZUKI ASIAN CHALLENGE title in Race 1 yesterday, all riders went for the win in Race 2. The final race of the 2017 season, held in Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand was held on the hottest day of the race weekend.
The race started as if people were seeing a replay of Race 1. The top rankers lead the field again, with #27 Nur Al Fath Sam Ahmad (Indonesia) and #76 Chepy Armansyah (Indonesia) in the leading pack. The whole field ran in a pack, and was expected to do the same until the final lap. However, 6 riders ran away from the 2nd group and battled until the finish line for the win. #16 April King Mascardo (Philippines) saw that the leading group was running away, and pulled out of the 2nd group. He ran his personal best to catch up with the leading group, and with 2 laps to go caught up, making it a 7-way battle to the finish line.
#17 Tetsuya Fujita (Japan) cleared the final corner of the final lap, but it was Kulrojchalalai that crossed the finish line by a nose. Kulrojchalalai won Race 2 and finished his season with a win.
#78 Punchana Kulrojchalalai | Race 2 Winner
“I made a mistake yesterday by changing my sprocket setting, so I changed it back. I concentrated on the final corner of the final lap, and I was able to go in to that corner 3rd, and was able to finish on top. I have never raced in a single platform race before, and SUZUKI ASIAN CHALLENGE was a great learning experience for me. I have started to race in a 250cc series this year in Thai, and my next aim is to become a Champion in a 250cc bike.”Yukio Kagayama | SAC General Manager
“The riders showed us what they have been learning throughout the season, and ran an exciting but a clean race. Punchana raced like a Champion, and the other riders challenged the Champion well. It was good race to finish the season. I would like to that ARRC, Dunlop, and all our sponsors for supporting us throughout our 3rd season. I would also like to thank the riders, the mechanics, the operation staff, and our fans for a wonderful season!”
Shunji Yatsushiro | Rider Coach
“The final race was clean race, with all the riders being fair, and showing us the sportsmanship we have been teaching them for the whole year. The riders this year were very talented, and there were not many things to teach them. The race time have improved significantly today compare with the previous races here, and proved to us that they have putting what they learned in good use. I also felt that the riders, the mechanics, and the staff have been communicating well this year, and I believe that the SAC program itself has improved as well.”
