Asia Road Racing Championship, SS600 class pre race
Chang International Circuit May 31 – June 2, 2019
The Super Sports 600 looks a little different this year with many of the leading protagonists from last year moving up to the newly created ABS1000 class which has meant that nearly half of the field for SS600 are new to this class. A maximum age limit of 25 years has also been introduced which will help younger riders develop in this class.. A total of 18 riders contested the first two rounds but only ten of them contested both the Sepang and Bend races. In those rounds one rider has dominated by taking wins in all 4 races! Peerapong Boonlert, from Thailand, moved up from the 250cc class this season and has not disappointed his Yamaha Thailand Racing Team. In race 1 at Sepang he started from 2nd spot but soon after the start took the lead and stayed there for the remainder of the 10 lap race. Race 2 proved to be the same, after a not so good start he took the lead early and led all the way to the flag. Maximum points in the bag after round 1.
With his two main rivals thus far, Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin and Adam Norrodin, being away for round 2 the Thai rider dominated again with two superb wins. The only thing missing from his races so far is a pole position, perhaps home soil at the Chang International Circuit will be his first.
Other riders to look out for in Buriram will be Andi Farid Izdihar and the aforementioned Kasma Daniel Kasmayuddin and Adam Norrodin.
Roy McIntosh is a freelance writer and photographer based in Buriram.
