Motor Sports

Kasma wins Asian race in Buriram

KUALA LUMPUR: The Negaraku played proudly in Buriram, Thailand, as Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin clinched an impressive win in the penultimate race of the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) today.

The Yamaha Racing Team Asean rider began from pole, but it was title favourite Zaqwan Zaidi who got the better start and led in the opening lap of the ASB1000 class race.

Kasma, however, worked his way up the pack and by the fifth lap was in the lead which he held to the finish, crossing the line in 21 minutes and 0.576 seconds.

Thai duo Anupan Sarmoon (+0.611s) and Apiwath Wongthananon (+2.274s) crossed the line second and third.

Zaqwan (+2.730s) and Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (+10.397s) were fifth and sixth respectively.

The result put Kasma back in the championship race, and he is third in the overall standings with 140 points, six points adrift of second placed Zaqhwan.

Championship leader Haruki Noguchi (154 points) is not competing in the final two races of the season following a crash and spine surgery in the Japan Road Racing Championship earlier this month.

"I really didn't expect to win today as I knew the Thai riders would be really fast here," said Kasma.

"I would like to dedicate this win to my team and my family."

Things, however, did not go to plan for SuperSports 600 championship leader Helmi Azman who placed ninth today.

Indonesia's Andi Farid Izdihar kept his championship hopes alive after winning in 20:04.379s with Thailand's Nakarin Atiratphuvapat (+1.050s) and Azroy Hakeem Anuar (+1.204s) coming in second and third.

Helmi remains in the lead going into the final race tomorrow with 147 points while Andi is only 14 points adrift in second. Nakarin is third on 124 points.

The Underbone 150 race today witnessed Filipino April King Mascardo winning in 16:26.574s with Izzat Zaidi Salehan (+0.181s) and Syafiq Rosli (+0.213s) coming in second and third.

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