Conditions at Sugo were warm and bright for the 8:30 start for Race 1. Ryan Larkin and Tanakit Pratumtong made good starts from the front row to get ahead of pole sitter Kakeru Okunuki. Within a few turns, though, the Japanese rider had got to the front and crossed the line at the end of the first lap half a second clear of Tanakit and Larkin. Behind the front three, Nathakorn Kammayee and wildcards Zhan Junhao and Pasin Chompoorat were at the front of a chasing group of nine that included championship contender Haydn Fordyce, who was making up ground after starting from row 4. The pattern continued until lap 5 when a crash by Moses Reyes brought out the red flag. The Philippine rider was unhurt. After a short delay, the race was restarted to be run over five laps. This time, Kakeru made a better start
and resisted the challenge of Larkin and Tanakit as the front three peeled into turn one. By the time they were through turn 3 and heading up the hill, a gap was already opening up to Natthakorn in 4th, who again found himself at the head of the chasing pack.
At the end of the first lap, Kakeru had a half-second advantage once again. An error on lap two, though, allowed Tanakit to close in, as Larkin in third fell back. On lap three the Thai rider was on the back wheel of Kakeru and slipstreamed past him to cross the line in front. The Japanese rider fought back, retook the lead and managed to edge far enough away to avoid a move under braking or allow Tanakit to get in his slipstream. Behind them, Larkin was in a safe third, ahead of a lively contest between Natthakorn, Junhao, Pasin and Sakchai Khonduangdee. At the checkered flag, it was Kakeru by 0.548 from Tanakit, with Ryan a further 4.7 seconds back to complete the podium. In a heated battle for fourth, Junhao fell at the chicane, and Sakchai came through from Pasin, Natthakorn and Chayakorn Saeong, who crossed the line separated by 0.6s. A further second back, Theppitak Kraiyafai was 8 th from Fordyce and Kerkrit Chansuta, who completed the top 10. Kakeru’s win extends his points total by 20 points to 98, 23 points ahead of a hotly contested quintet who are separated by just 4.5 points. Tanakit is 2nd on 75, Sakchai 3rd on 73, Fordyce and Theppitak are 4 th and 5 th , both on 71.5, and Larkin is 6th on 70.5.
Comments