The opening day of Round 2 of the 2025 Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit saw Rapido Malaysia-backed teams make a confident statement with strong performances and a united spirit in front of the home crowd.

In the ASB1000 category, A1 Energy BMW’s lead rider Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman showed consistent pace, recording the fourth-fastest time in both FP1 and FP2. Although he slipped to sixth in FP3, Azlan stood out as the top-performing European bike rider of the day, challenging the dominance of Japanese teams. His teammate, Thailand’s Apiwath Wongthananon, also improved steadily throughout the day, finishing eighth in FP3 after refining his setup and pace. Both riders now shift their focus to finding the optimal race package heading into qualifying.

In the AP250 class, SCK Racing impressed on home turf with both riders finishing within the top four. Indonesian rider Irfan Ardiansyah opened with P2 in FP1, while young Malaysian Irfan Haykal started in P4. Haykal then pushed his pace further in FP2 to climb into second position, holding that through FP3. Ardiansyah experienced some difficulty in FP2 but remains positive as qualifying approaches.

In the UB150 category, JRT Racing Team made a strong start with veteran rider Afif Amran setting the fastest time in FP1. Teammate Akid Aziz remained consistent with P5 finishes in both sessions. Afif, however, dropped to P20 in FP2 after being closely followed by other riders looking to benefit from the slipstream. The team is now focused on refining the bike setup ahead of qualifying.

Wildcard entry TKKR Rapido Estremo also drew attention in this category. Supported by Rapido Malaysia as the team’s title sponsor, the squad faced early struggles but quickly adapted and responded with a top-six finish in FP2 after finding a solid setup. This promising result raises expectations for a front-row start in tomorrow’s qualifying session.

Yuzy Racing Team, meanwhile, faced stiff competition from the dominant Yamaha machines but managed to stay within the top 10. SCK Racing faced similar difficulties as both teams continued searching for improvements in this intensely competitive category.

Elsewhere, Voge Racing Team continued their learning curve by collecting crucial setup data throughout the day. Despite technical upgrades by the Voge factory, limited availability of aftermarket parts compared to other major brands remains a challenge. Rapido is actively working with Voge to co-develop performance accessories as part of their long-term development initiative.

Overall, Rapido Malaysia’s teams have delivered encouraging performances that set the stage for a highly competitive weekend. With strong team dynamics and unwavering support from local fans, they are fully geared up for qualifying and race day tomorrow.