Yuki Takahashi broke the SuperSports 600cc lap record at the Losail Circuit.

By Sports Reporter/Doha
 

Japan’s Yuki Takahashi got off to a perfect start when he smashed the SuperSports 600cc lap record at the Losail international Circuit in Qatar as Round 5 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship got underway on Thursday.
Running on extra-hard Dunlop compounds, the Honda-man was unquestionably the man to beat as he dominated the first two practice sessions before blazing to a new lap record of 2’04.413s in FP3, erasing the benchmark previously held by teammate, Zamri Baba (2’04.437s).
Ratthapong Wilairot (AP Honda Racing Thailand) delivered the next best effort in 2’05.150s, 0.737 seconds adrift Takahashi followed by Makoto Inagaki (YELLOWCORN Akeno Speed Racing) third with a personal best of 2’05.173s.
Tomoyoshi Koyama (T.Pro Yuzy Honda NTS) was fourth fastest with Yuki Ito (PETRONAS Hong Leong Yamaha) completing the top five.
Yuki Ito initially aimed to bridge the gap with Takahashi but suffered a massive crash in the opening stages of FP3, forcing race officials to call out the red flag and halt the session temporarily.
 “I’m glad everything worked out and that we managed to break the lap record here today,” said Takahashi.
The Musashi Boon Siew Honda Racing rider added, “It was not easy however. We faced difficulties finding a good setup to bring out the most of the extra hard compounds and it was not until FP3 that we found the right direction. Making things more complicated, I found it very hard trying to adapt riding under the floodlights because the last time I raced here was two years ago during my Moto2 days.”
Speaking about his expectation for Friday’s qualifying, Takahashi added, “For sure it will be tricky because the session will take place during the day when the temperature is very high. I need to focus and the team will do their best to improve the bike’s setup so I can get a good start position.”
Meanwhile Apiwat Wongthananon declared that he is ready to make up for the errors in Thailand by setting an explosive pace in the Asia Production 250cc practice.
The AP Honda Racing Thailand who missed out on the chequered flag moved from fourth in FP1 to third in FP2 before leaping to the top of the timesheets in FP3, clocking the fastest lap out of 26 riders in 2’23.969s.
Teammate, Nakarin Athiratphuvapat who took a double victory at his home race in Thailand was second fastest with 2’24.243s while championship leader, Takehiro Yamamoto (TRICKSTAR Racing) registered third with 2’24.379s.
In the Underbone 130cc, Indonesia’s Ferlando Herdian outpaced compatriot, Gupita Kresna to take the lead for Friday’s SuperPole after he appeared quickest in the Underbone 130cc qualifying.
The BKMS Indonesia Racing rider shaved off two seconds from the practice sessions to wrap up the qualifying quickest in 2’33.181s while Manual Tech KYT Rextor’s Gupita dropped down to second having clocked his best lap in 2’33.219s.
Mohd Amirul Ariff Musa (T.Pro Yuzy Honda NTS) also picked up the pace to register third in 2’33.834s with Rezza Fahlevy (RPM Racing) and Sasitharen Sukumaran rounding up top five.
The remaining five riders who made the SuperPole cut were Faito Factory Racing duo, Wahyu Aji Trilaksana and Anggi Permana Putera, Ahmad Fazrul Sham (HORSE OIL William Racing Team), Mohd Adib Rosley (RCB Yamaha YY Pang Racing Team( and Affendi Rosli (PETRONAS Hong Leong Yamaha).