Tee-Idea Claim Podium at Home Race, Yamaha Thailand Racing Team Ready for Asia Championship Round 3 in Japan
Yamaha Thailand Racing Team delivered strong performances at Chang International Circuit, with Idea-Kritpat winning the Asia Production 250cc Race 2 and Tee-Anupap securing podiums in SuperSport 600cc to close the gap to the championship le
The 2026 Asia Road Racing Championship Round 2 concluded with outstanding performances by Yamaha Thailand Racing Team at Chang International Circuit in Buriram province, cheered on by enthusiastic Thai motorsports fans. In the SuperSport 600cc class, experienced Thai rider Tee-Anupap Samul, piloting YAMAHA YZF-R6 number 500, secured podium finishes in both races, finishing third in Race 1 and second in Race 2, accumulating 60 points and closing the gap to the championship leader to just 12 points.
In the Asia Production 250cc class, rising star Idea-Kritpat Khemkham from Yamaha Thailand Racing Team and wildcard rider Gus-Theernaai Thuptim showcased excellent teamwork on the YAMAHA YZF-R3. Idea-Kritpat faced challenges in Race 1 after a 200 rpm engine reduction penalty, finishing fifth, but returned stronger in the decisive Race 2, leading from start to finish to secure a home victory with a combined time of 18 minutes 41.804 seconds. Gus-Theernaai, starting from grid 12, demonstrated impressive progress, finishing sixth in Race 1 and fifth in Race 2.
After two rounds, Idea-Kritpat leads the Asia Production 250cc standings with 86 points from three race victories, holding a 22-point advantage over second place. Yamaha Thailand Racing Team maintains first place in the team championship with 112 accumulated points. The championship will continue on June 12-14 at Mobility Resort Motegi in Japan, where Thai fans can support the three Yamaha Thailand Racing Team riders in their pursuit of Thailand's eighth Asian championship.
Veeraphong Thanakitjanon, General Manager of Motorsports at Thai Yamaha Motor, praised the team's overall performance: "The Buriram round was very satisfactory. Our riders collaborated excellently with the team across both categories. Idea won Race 2 while Tee secured podiums in both races, which is better than last season. Data from Race 1 enabled us to improve bike setup and strategy for Race 2 across all three riders. We're already preparing our plan for the Japan round. In the AP250 class, we face a challenge as Idea's large point lead of over 50 points will result in an additional 200 rpm engine reduction next round, which the team must prepare for carefully."
