barrygrussell
Senior Member
Round 7 of the FMSCT All Thailand Superbike Championship started yesterday at Chang International Circuit in Buriram. Riders in 10 racing classes settled in and sharpened up with two free practice sessions each on day one in preparation for the serious business of qualifying on Saturday afternoon.
The numbers of bikes and people packing the paddock point to a record number without referring to the entry list, which could total of 250 when the final numbers are counted. As soon as pit exit opened for the first session, 25 Honda CBR 300s snarled their way onto the track with similar numbers for the other mid-engined classes. The grids for the Supersport and Superbike professional classes won’t reach those levels, but the 300 and 400cc classes are where the numbers are – and some truly breathtaking racing that doesn’t give officials and spectators time to blink.
The Honda Moto 3 Thailand Talent Cup visits Buriram again and features 12 of the Kingdom’s best young riders. A.P. Honda protégé, Chip Nakharin, is on hand this weekend to mentor those who aim to follow his path to success.
In Superbike SB-1 the story of the season so far has been Apiwat gaining the upper hand over his Thailand Yamaha teammate, Anucha. While there has been nothing to choose between their lap times and, it is Apiwat’s confidence that has given him six wins from six starts. Anucha, who was peerless in 2015, has had just enough problems to take the edge off his confidence. An engine blow-up in the first round at Buriram and injuries from a heavy crash in the ARRC round at Suzuka were the main early season setbacks. It is also worth remembering that, despite his youth, Apiwat does not lack big bike experience. He was racing superbikes five years ago, at a time when Anucha was fettling his own CBR 250 and fighting for sponsorship.The championship has been further energised by Power Speed BigWing’s Suhathai, a hard and fast competitor who will ride the wheels off anything he gets to throw a leg over. He has been putting his Honda between the Yamahas this season and has earned the second place in the championship he now occupies. These three have put daylight between themselves and the Kawasakis of SPW’s ‘CK’ and Aekkachai, both of whom will be looking to restore some pride this weekend.
Superstock 1000 ST-1 has seen a similar story in the Thailand Yamaha garage between last year’s champion, Anon, and his stable mate, Anuparb, who took the winning edge from the start of the season. Anon is fighting hard, winning a round at Nakhonchaisri, but is finding it a struggle. Kawasaki’s Ben Fortt has missed two rounds with shoulder ligament damage but comes back this weekend with plenty of work to do. Whiz Racing’s Joe Badipak has been benefiting from the mentoring of Ben Reid (BRP Racing Academy) and slipped into third place in the championship. LU PROMAX Thailand’s Suhasachai is also threatening in the same competitive space as Fortt and Badipak.Supersport 600 is the most open of the pro-championships, with three different winners so far and four riders capable of winning. This weekend the battle for the top step of the podium will be between Thailand Yamaha’s Prawat, who leads the championship, PTT Challenger’s Tingnote and Power Speed Big Wing’s Vorapong. Honda BigWing Rama3’s Chusak, the winner of three rounds, is also in the mix, though appears to be struggling with his machinery. Tingnote and Vorapong are effectively wild cards, having not entered the early rounds, but they took the first two places at Buriram in August, ahead of Prawat. Tan Ratchada also catches the eye in this class. She won the respect of the paddock by deciding to step up to the professional level and is working hard to make an impact at the top. She is already leading the second group and is tough and talented enough to fight her way to the front.
With a high probability of rain during the three days (we had one shower on Friday) the weather could make things even more interesting.
Declaration of interest: Barry Russell is Jury President for the FMSCT All Thailand Superbike Championship
The numbers of bikes and people packing the paddock point to a record number without referring to the entry list, which could total of 250 when the final numbers are counted. As soon as pit exit opened for the first session, 25 Honda CBR 300s snarled their way onto the track with similar numbers for the other mid-engined classes. The grids for the Supersport and Superbike professional classes won’t reach those levels, but the 300 and 400cc classes are where the numbers are – and some truly breathtaking racing that doesn’t give officials and spectators time to blink.
The Honda Moto 3 Thailand Talent Cup visits Buriram again and features 12 of the Kingdom’s best young riders. A.P. Honda protégé, Chip Nakharin, is on hand this weekend to mentor those who aim to follow his path to success.
In Superbike SB-1 the story of the season so far has been Apiwat gaining the upper hand over his Thailand Yamaha teammate, Anucha. While there has been nothing to choose between their lap times and, it is Apiwat’s confidence that has given him six wins from six starts. Anucha, who was peerless in 2015, has had just enough problems to take the edge off his confidence. An engine blow-up in the first round at Buriram and injuries from a heavy crash in the ARRC round at Suzuka were the main early season setbacks. It is also worth remembering that, despite his youth, Apiwat does not lack big bike experience. He was racing superbikes five years ago, at a time when Anucha was fettling his own CBR 250 and fighting for sponsorship.The championship has been further energised by Power Speed BigWing’s Suhathai, a hard and fast competitor who will ride the wheels off anything he gets to throw a leg over. He has been putting his Honda between the Yamahas this season and has earned the second place in the championship he now occupies. These three have put daylight between themselves and the Kawasakis of SPW’s ‘CK’ and Aekkachai, both of whom will be looking to restore some pride this weekend.
Superstock 1000 ST-1 has seen a similar story in the Thailand Yamaha garage between last year’s champion, Anon, and his stable mate, Anuparb, who took the winning edge from the start of the season. Anon is fighting hard, winning a round at Nakhonchaisri, but is finding it a struggle. Kawasaki’s Ben Fortt has missed two rounds with shoulder ligament damage but comes back this weekend with plenty of work to do. Whiz Racing’s Joe Badipak has been benefiting from the mentoring of Ben Reid (BRP Racing Academy) and slipped into third place in the championship. LU PROMAX Thailand’s Suhasachai is also threatening in the same competitive space as Fortt and Badipak.Supersport 600 is the most open of the pro-championships, with three different winners so far and four riders capable of winning. This weekend the battle for the top step of the podium will be between Thailand Yamaha’s Prawat, who leads the championship, PTT Challenger’s Tingnote and Power Speed Big Wing’s Vorapong. Honda BigWing Rama3’s Chusak, the winner of three rounds, is also in the mix, though appears to be struggling with his machinery. Tingnote and Vorapong are effectively wild cards, having not entered the early rounds, but they took the first two places at Buriram in August, ahead of Prawat. Tan Ratchada also catches the eye in this class. She won the respect of the paddock by deciding to step up to the professional level and is working hard to make an impact at the top. She is already leading the second group and is tough and talented enough to fight her way to the front.
With a high probability of rain during the three days (we had one shower on Friday) the weather could make things even more interesting.
Declaration of interest: Barry Russell is Jury President for the FMSCT All Thailand Superbike Championship
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