THAILAND SMILES TO SUPERMOTO ASIA @ NAKHON CHAI SI, THAILAND

2 and 3 September 2017 welcomed the 2017 FIM Asia SuperMoto Championship to one of the highly prestigious global motorsport circuit, the Thailand Circuit Motorsport Complex, witnessed a significant change to the SuperMoto landscape in Thailand. The Thai community and families across the world flocked to the circuit over the race weekend to see the beginning of another fantastic Asia SuperMoto season with 17 riders from 13 countries competing for standing points and the championship title. While it can be considered as a good omen to steal the opening round trophy, the journey is still far away from the ultimate crown this season.

Last weekend we saw some great and not-so-great rides by the riders with some flying through the triple dirt section and long straights but held back the rest with under expectation performance on the track. United Kingdom’s Lewis Cornish, Thailand’s Trakarn Thangthong and the Netherlands’ Marcel Van Drunen took the top position with high flying performance across the track despite the changes in condition on the dirt track.

The threatening weather from a scorching sun to a cloudy weather and a torrential downpour at night turns the tide as riders braved through the rutted dirt track without a full understanding of the dirt’s condition. With a 4:6 ratio of dirt track against tarmac, the off-road section became the game changer of the championship.

This was evident when Malaysia’s ace and 2016 overall champion missed a few whoops and ran into trouble at the third dirt section, in addition to a total brake malfunction in Moto 2. The frustration led him to mistakes as he missed the first dirt section two laps before the chequered-flag, riding straight into the asphalt, giving him a time penalty. Muhd Habibullah currently stands at the fourth overall positioning.

However, Lewis’ adaptability to the circuit with a double holeshot for Moto 1 and Moto 2 gave him an advantage as he leads the pack with an empty course in the first lap, leaving the second and third grid positioning Trakan and Habibullah to an ardent battle. Soon after the crash by Habibullah at Moto 2, Trakarn sped and challenged Lewis for the top spot, but it was Lewis that outshined the 2015 overall champion for a solid win at the opening round.

Meanwhile, Habibullah’s Malaysian counterpart, Khairi Zakaria also faced multiple challenges when Netherlands’ Marcel Van Drunen targeted him as the opponent on track. The brawl between the duo soon became the spectator’s favourite with when they constantly battle for the third positioning, but it was Marcel that aced the fight and fled for his next opponent soon after distancing himself from Khairi.

Other notable riders will be Indonesia’s Farhan Hendro and Philippines’ Kenneth San Andres. Both riders had a slow start during the free practice session on Friday and Saturday morning, but they unleashed their skills during Moto 1 and Moto 2, making them two of the most promising riders this SuperMoto season.

“The opening round was an astounding start to the season. Top riders across the world recognise the championship as a prestigious race to uplift their portfolio. With an increasing standard and extended outreach this season, I believe that our global fans will be treated to one of the best motorsport races in 2017,” said Satheswaran Mayachandran.

The 2017 FIM Asia SuperMoto Championship season will be streamed live on twenty3.tv powered by E-Plus Global, an Over-The-Top platform that provides HD Live Streaming and Video-on-Demand (VOD) for every round of the championship.

The 2017 FIM Asia SuperMoto Championship will commence at Stadion Manahan, Kota Surakarta, Central Jawa, Indonesia on 14 and 15 October 2017.

For more information, visit www.supermotoasia.com or watch the race live for f ree in HD on www.twenty3.tv powered by E-Plus Global Sdn Bhd.

FIM Asia SuperMoto Championship is promoted by Asia Supersports Group, a consortium of three companies namely Bikenation Motorsports Sdn Bhd, Trade My Superbike and E-Plus Global Sdn Bhd; sanctioned by FIM Asia and FMSCT; and supported by Malaysia Major Events, a division of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia), Malay Mail, Kelab Blogger Ben Ashaari and TX Sports.

ABOUT FIM ASIA
Founded in 1904, the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme is an international organisation, which was created to control and develop the sporting and touring aspects of motorcycling and to assist motorcycle users in those fields. The FIM as defined in the statutes is the supreme and sole international authority empowered to control international motorcycling activities organised under its jurisdiction throughout the world and as such acts as the supreme court for the settlement of disputes which may arise from the organisation of such activities. The official titles of World Championships, Continental Championships and FIM Prize events in all disciplines of the motorcycle sport belong to the FIM. FIM Asia is comprised of 28 National Motorcycle Federations in Asia where they organize a large number of events and Championships in over 30 Asian countries.
www.fim-live.com

ABOUT MALAYSIA MAJOR EVENTS
Malaysia Major Events (MME) is a division of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia (MoTAC). MME was established under the Government’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) to identify, promote, facilitate as well as support viable international events to be staged in Malaysia. With its main objective to enhance Malaysia’s economic growth and profile, MME is also tasked to identify and support major event bids for sports, arts, lifestyles and entertainment events and provide assistance to home-grown and home-hosted events in order to further strengthen Malaysia’s global appeal as the venue of choice for major events in the region. MME also acts as a conduit between the public and private sectors in ensuring seamless processes are achieved through synergistic relationships with diverse event stakeholders in staging successful events in Malaysia.

Follow us on www.facebook.com/MyCEB, twitter @MyMajorEvents and Instagram @mymajorevents
www.mymajorevents.com.my

ABOUT ASIA SUPERSPORTS GROUP SDN BHD
Asia Supersports Group Sdn Bhd (ASG) is a group established with decades of motorsport and event experience in the industry. Pioneering in the sports of SuperMoto, ASG has catapulted to international fame with its organisation of the annual FIM Asia SuperMoto Championship. The group’s passion for motorsport also led to the establishment of the Malaysian SuperMoto Championship which has successfully elevated the hybrid sport’s status in Malaysia. By championing quality race production for fans and enthusiasts, the group is now a step closer to achieving its goal as a top global motorsport promoter.
www.supermotoasia.com

ABOUT E-PLUS GLOBAL SDN BHD
Incorporated in 2004, E-Plus is a full-fledged, one-stop events management company. This multi award-winning agency is the brainchild of a dynamic team that provides innovative and creative ideas in both event planning and execution events for clients, both locally and internationally. Recognised as one of the top and more experienced agencies in the region, the company continuously seeks to elevate industry practices through its unique, creative and innovative ideas. Listed on the National Stock Exchange of Australia earlier this year, E-Plus (NSX:8EP) operates mainly from Malaysia, has offices in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand and is a member of the distinguished Association of Global Events Suppliers (AGES).
www.eplusglobal.com

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