A tense fight for supremacy between Kakeru Okunuki and Tanakit Pratumtong in Race 2 at SugoSportsland was cut short by a red flag incident on lap 11 of 12. From the start, Kakeru, Tanakit and Ryan Larkin again got away well and immediately opened a widening gap on Natthakorn Kammayee, who was leading the rest. Larkin was unable to match the pace of the two riders in front, but had a cushion back to Natthakorn, Pasin Chompoorat, Sakchai Kongduangdee and Zhan Junhao. By lap 2, Sakchai was on the move, overcoming Pasin and Natthakorn and starting to close in on the Australian ahead of him in third.
Tanakit kept the pressure on the leader, while Sakchai and Pasin got past Larkin on lap 4. Behind them, Natthakorn was falling into the clutches of wildcard Junhao. By that time, Larkin had recovered and got the better of Pasin, who was in turn being caught by Chayakorn Saeong. A relentless Tanakit finally slipstreamed into the lead as they crossed the line at half distance. He held it well at first, but Kakeru responded to get in front again under braking for Turn 9 and looked like he would pull away. Behind Tanakit, Sakchai continued his charge, lapping faster than the leaders and recording the fastest time of the day before high-siding heavily at the chicane on lap 8. That left Larkin in third, though under a credible threat from Chayakorn. On lap 9, Tanakit found his second wind and closed onto the rear wheel of Kakeru.
At the end of lap 10, Tanakit’s pace looked like it might have been too much for the Race 1 winner, and duly got through to the lead. Off camera though, Chalath Natthapongpipat went down and brought out the red flag, denying us the spectacle of gloves-off last lap scrap for glory. As the timekeepers wound back the clock to the end of lap 10, Kakeru was awarded the win by 0.126s from Tanakit. Behind them, Ryan Larkin bagged his second podium of the day by a slender 0.055s from Chayakorn. Chinese wildcard Zhan Junhao left his mark on the series by following up an impressive fourth in qualifying with a fifth-place finish, five seconds clear of Natthakorn, who completed the top six. The unfortunate Sakchai was left with suspected fractures to his right arm and ankle after his mishap. In championship terms, Kakeru maxed out the home advantage, moving his points total to 118, 26 ahead of Tanakit on 92. Next up is Ryan Larkin with 85.5, then Theppitak Kraiyafai on 79.5, Haydn Fordyce on 77.5, Chayakorn on 77 and Sakchai on 73. Round 5 of the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia Pacific Championship will be on August 6-8 at Chang International Circuit.
Comentários