Asia Talent Cup (Motorcycling)

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Asia Talent Team

Asia Talent Team

30/09/2016, Asia, Motorcycling, Asia Talent Cup, Article # 19583995
 

Asia Talent Team ready for penultimate round in Jerez

 

The riders head to the famous southern Spanish venue for the penultimate round of the 2016 FIM Repsol CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship

 
Having returned to action at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao at the end of August, after the long summer break, the next stop for the Asia Talent Team’s five young riders is the Circuito de Jerez, where they will compete in two races in the penultimate round of this season’s FIM Repsol CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship.

At Portimao Kaito Toba, Andi Izdihar and Nakarin Atiratphuvapat collected points whilst crashes for Kazuki Masaki and Ayumu Sasaki meant both missed out on the points. Toba took sixth place in Portugal, consolidating his third place in the championship, whilst in 12th place Izdihar got his first points in the series. Atiratphuvapat was on target for a stronger result, but a late penalty for exceeding track limits saw him dropped to tenth.

Portimao marked the first time in 2016 that Masaki missed out on the points but he remains in the championship top ten overall regardless, whilst for Sasaki he still sits sixth in the standings and retains a realistic chance of finishing fourth overall, despite his misfortune at the Portuguese round.

Meanwhile in the recent Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup visit to Aragon Sasaki won Race 2 and secured the title in the competition, whilst Toba was the winner in Race 1. Elsewhere, Masaki and Izdihar managed to fit in a trip to China for the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup where Masaki finished fourth in Race 2 at the Zhuhai International Circuit, with Izdihar on the podium in second in Race 1 to keep his title hopes alive.

Last year at Jerez it was not the best of weekends for the Asia Talent Team as Toba crashed in both races, whilst former rider Adam Norrodin missed out on the points in both contests, with the team’s other 2015 rider Yuta Date salvaging some pride in sixth place in the second race of the weekend.

This year Toba will hope to do much better and Masaki and Sasaki will also look to strengthen their respective top ten championship positions. Izdihar and Atiratphuvapat hope to seize the opportunity to build up more experience at a Grand Prix racing venue.

Two Qualifying sessions will take place on Saturday 1st October at 10:50 Local Time and 13:50 Local Time to decide the grid for Sunday’s two Moto3 Junior World Championship races. Those races (both 16 laps) are scheduled to begin at 11:00 Local Time and 14:00 Local Time on Sunday 2nd October. The races can be seen live here.
 
Download Jerez Race Preview here
Download General Standings here
 
Dorna Sports, who already runs the successful Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup to support young talented riders, has taken its commitment to the next level by creating the Asia Talent Team in order to ensure the career progression of the most talented riders participating in the Asian competition during the 2015 season. The Asia Talent Team is run by Dorna as a part of its New Riders Development Programmes.
Second race in China brings victory for Kunii

Second race in China brings victory for Kunii

19/09/2016, Asia, Motorcycling, Asia Talent Cup, Article # 19446812
Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup 2016 | Yuki Kunii took the first win of his rookie season, in Race 2 at Zhuhai Circuit in first place, 
Sunday, 18 September 2016
Second race in China
brings victory for Kunii
 
Yuki Kunii took the first win of his rookie season in the 2016 Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup, crossing the finish line in Race 2 at the Zhuhai International Circuit in first place, ahead of second placed Gerry Salim and third placed Ai Ogura.
 
Salim started on pole and it was him and Kunii who got away best to content the lead of the race, with the pair of them pulling away to do battle alone at the front from lap 6 onwards. Kunii ultimately had too much and finally secured the win to take maximum points for the first win in the Cup for the Japanese rider.

Behind Kunii and Salim there was a great five-rider battle for the podium between Ogura, Kazuki Masaki, Andi Izdihar, Ryusei Yamanaka and Deniz Oncu, in which Ogura would ultimately prevail. Masaki and Yamanaka completed the top five with a personal best performance of the season so far from Oncu seeing him finish in sixth.
 
It was not the best day for Championship leader Somkiat Chantra, who was unable to follow front group and finished the race in eighth place.
 
Reviewing the second race of the weekend in China, Alberto Puig, Director of the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup, commented, “Well, it was a very interesting race and it was six or seven seconds faster than yesterday. Kunii was really impressive, he was very strong and pushing all through the race. Today we are happier because the front group was bigger than yesterday so we are very satisfied with the performance in Zuhai. The championship is getting tight so the final rounds will be incredible.”
 

With two rounds to go, the results from the visit to the Zhuhai International Circuit mean that standings frontrunner Chantra (130 points) now leads by eight points from second placed Izidhar (122 points). Salim (120 points), Ogura (119 points) and Yamanaka (111 points) complete the current top five, with everything to play for in the upcoming rounds.
 
There are four races remaining in the 2016 Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup, to be held at Twin Ring Motegi (Japan) over the 14th-16th October weekend and at the Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia) over the 28th-30th October weekend.
 
Track Conditions
Air Temperature: 35,5ºC
Track temperature: 59ºC – 58,5ºC
Humidity: 43%
Wind: 2.5 South
Conditions: Dry
 
Download Race 2 Classification by clicking here.
Download Championship Standings by clicking here.
Watch Race 2 Highlights by clicking here
 
Ai Ogura wins Race 1 in Zhuhai

Ai Ogura wins Race 1 in Zhuhai

18/09/2016, Asia, Motorcycling, Asia Talent Cup, Article # 19433664
 
Saturday, 17 September 2016
Ai Ogura wins Race 1 in Zhuhai
 
As the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup riders returned to action at the Zhuhai International Circuit in China on Saturday it was Japanese youngster Ai Ogura who won Race 1, ahead of Indonesia’s Andi Izdihar and Thailand’s Somkiat Chantra.
 
Ogura repeated his 2015 Race 2 win at the Chinese circuit, after a fiercely fought contest which had seen a group of seven riders battling at the front.
 
That group of frontrunners included pole sitter Gerry Salim, who had set a new circuit record for Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup riders in qualifying earlier in the day, along with the three riders who would eventually reach the podium, in addition to Kazuki Masaki, Yuki Kunii and Ryusei Yamanaka.
 
On the ninth lap of 17 around the 4.319km Zhuhai track Masaki crashed out of the lead, with Ogura then taking control to lead all but one of the subsequent laps.
 
On the last lap of the race six riders remained involved in the fight for victory, but Yamanaka crashed out of contention with Kunii also losing time in the incident as his podium hopes were dashed. Ogura stayed cool to cross the line first, for a well deserved second win of 2016, with Izdihar and Chantra joining him on the rostrum.
 
The result means Chantra still leads the standings, now on 122 points, with Izdihar moving up into second place with 113 points and Ogura now in third place on 103 points.
 
In QP earlier in the day Salim’s new circuit record for the competition at this track gave him his first pole of the season, with Izdihar and Chantra qualifying in second and third respectively. Also on Saturday Australian rider Tom Edwards was declared unfit to compete after a crash in FP2 on Friday.
 
Reviewing Race 1 in China, Alberto Puig, Director of the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup, commented: “In terms of speed the race was seven seconds faster than last year and this is very positive, as this is the first time this season that we are faster. The front group was nice, with seven or eight riders fighting but unfortunately we were missing some of the guys due to the crashes. It was a fast race and there was a big difference between the first group and the second group. The front riders are pushing incredibly hard and we are happy with them.”
 
The eighth race of the 2016 Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup takes place at 1.10pmlocal time at the Zhuhai International Circuit on Sunday (18th September), with two more rounds to come before the end of the season at Twin Ring Motegi (Japan) and the Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia).

 
Download Race 1 Classification by clicking here.
Download Championship Standings by clicking here.
Watch Highlights Race 1 by clicking here
 
Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup heads to China

Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup heads to China

16/09/2016, Asia, Motorcycling, Asia Talent Cup, Article # 19416634
 
Thursday, 15 September 2016
Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup
heads to China
 
The Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup riders will be back in action over the 16th-18thSeptember weekend as they head to the Zhuhai International Circuit in China for the seventh and eighth races of their 2016 season.
 
The young riders return to racing in the Cup following a four-month break since the last two races at the Sepang International Circuit in May.
 
This is the riders’ only visit to China this season, following races already in Thailand, Qatar and Malaysia. There are races still to come in Japan and Malaysia again after the Zhuhai round.
 
After six races in the 2016 Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup Thailand’s Somkiat Chantra holds the lead in the standings thanks to his second win of the year last time out in Sepang and with 106 points he is six clear of his closest rival. Four podiums in six races mean Ryusei Yamanaka is second with 100 points, whilst Andi Izdihar sits in third place with 93 points to his name.
 
The 4.319km Zhuhai International Circuit consists of 14 corners (nine right and five left) with a 900m long straight. Built in 1996 the track is located in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong.
 
The weekend’s two races in China will form part of the ‘Pan Delta Super Racing Festival’ event, which combines motorcycle and car racing. The first of the two 17 lap races will commence at 12:00pm local time on Saturday 17th September and the second race begins at 13.10pm on Sunday 18th.
 
What happened in 2015?
In last year’s races at the Zhuhai International Circuit Ayumu Sasaki won the first of two Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup contests at the Chinese round, with the Japanese rider joined by his compatriots Ai Ogura and Yuta Date on the podium.
 
Ogura then completed a good weekend by winning the second of the two races held at Zhuhai ahead of his countrymen Kazuki Masaki and Takuma Kunimine on the rostrum.
 

Download Championship Standings by clicking here.
Watch local rider interview Chun Law by clicking here
 
Asia Talent Cup 2017 Selection Event candidates shortlisted

Asia Talent Cup 2017 Selection Event candidates shortlisted

09/09/2016, Asia, Motorcycling, Asia Talent Cup, Article # 19322774

 

Asia Talent Cup 2017 Selection Event candidates shortlisted

The selection process to find the 22 lucky riders who will have the opportunity to participate in the 2017 edition of the Asia Talent Cup has reached a new and exciting phase
After the registration phase drew to a close on 21st August, with more than 600 applicants registered, and following a thorough analysis and review of the rider applications, the selection committee have compiled a shortlist of successful candidates who will take part in the Selection Event.
 
The selection committee, headed by Alberto Puig, have identified the 152 riders who will be invited to take part in the Selection Event, scheduled to take place at the Sepang International Circuit on Wednesday 26th October, before the last race of the current season of the Asia Talent Cup, which also takes place at the Malaysian venue.
 
This time the selection process will take place over the course of one day, although there are more selected candidates than in 2016. The experience of the selection team from previous editions means the selection process can now be carried more quickly and efficiently.
 
On that one day of riding the young applicants must demonstrate their qualities on a Honda bike at the Sepang Karting Circuit. Subsequently, the selection committee will meet again to analyse all the data and ultimately determine the final 22 names chosen to participate in the 2017 Asia Talent Cup.
 
Communication for the 2017 selection process began on 1st July and the registration period ran from 15th July to 21st August. During this period an intensive communications campaign also took place, with the collaboration of the main Asian circuits and federations, motorcycle riding schools and additional partners and companies.
 
Applications have been registered from riders in many countries across the region, including Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.
 
 
Download Press Release by clicking here.
Click here to download the list of the 152 pre-selected riders
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Asia Talent Team back in action

Asia Talent Team back in action

25/08/2016, Asia, Motorcycling, Asia Talent Cup, Article # 19146330
 

Asia Talent Team back in action

 

The long summer break has finally come to a close and quintuplet of riders is set to hit the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve track once again

 
Back in July, Albacete hosted round five of the FIM Repsol CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship, the series now resuming almost two months later. In Albacete Kaito Toba managed to return to the podium with a third place finish, holding him third in the championship standings. Meanwhile his teammate, Ayumu Sasaki, scored for the fifth race in a row and with 62 points is still a threat for the top three.
 
During the summer break both riders have stayed in shape and in form by racing in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, Sasaki in particular showing very well. Races in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic have seen the duo compete in all kinds of weather conditions, teaching them yet more valuable skills for the remainder of the Junior World Championship. Thanks to nine podium finishes, Sasaki returns to the Asia Talent Team as the Red Bull Rookies title favourite while Toba holds fifth overall.
 
Sasaki and Toba may have taken much of the limelight so far, but Kazuki Masaki should not go unnoticed. The Japanese rider has scored in every single round and is sitting pretty in seventh with 55 well earned points. His ability to stay calm while under pressure will be put to the test in Portugal as racing resumes.
 
In 2015 the circuit of Portimao was not kind to the Asia Talent Team, Toba collecting just a single point. But with a year’s worth of experience for the riders and team, the 4.692km long circuit is sure to bear more fruit in 2016. Toba is the only rider of the five to have ridden the circuit before, but all have proven to be quick studies at the previous rounds.
 
Of all the riders Andi Faird is perhaps the most excited to get back out on track, the Indonesian talent keen to pick up where he left off after securing a debut front row in Albacete. His one-lap pace is certainly there; can he make another step around the 17 corners of the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve?
 
Nakarin Atiratphuvapat is also looking to learn the circuit and build of the flashes of brilliance he has shown on his way to three point scoring finishes. Consistency will be key for the Thai rider in the closing five races of the 2016 season, remaining in the top 15 would be a major achievement.
 
Two Qualifying sessions will take place on Saturday the 27th of August at 09:50 Local Time and 13:20 Local Time to decide the grid for Sunday’s single Moto3 Junior World Championship race. The race (16 laps) is scheduled to begin at 13:00 Local Time on Sunday the 28th of August and can be seen via the link below.

LIVE TIMING - Saturday & Sunday
VIDEO LIVE STREAMING - Sunday Race
 
 
Download our Press Preview here
Download General Standings here
 
Dorna Sports, who already runs the successful Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup to support young talented riders, has taken its commitment to the next level by creating the Asia Talent Team in order to ensure the career progression of the most talented riders participating in the Asian competition during the 2015 season. The Asia Talent Team is run by Dorna as a part of its New Riders Development Programmes.
Applications period successfully finished !

Applications period successfully finished !

25/08/2016, Asia, Motorcycling, Asia Talent Cup, Article # 19146194
 

Applications period successfully finished !

The application process to find new members of the Asia Talent Cup 2017 has ended with record numbers.

Over 600 applicants have requested access to the Selection Event, the event to be selected as one of the 22 riders who will contest the 2017 edition of the Asia Talent Cup.
The campaign began on July 15 with publication on the official website of the championship, utilising various forms of registration through a communication campaign aimed at all young riders in Asia, Australia and New Zealand who aspire to be a World Champion.
 
The selection process to find the 22 young riders who will fill the starting grid of the 2017 championship has begun. A process that has a key date with the Selection Event in Sepang, on the 25 and 26 October.
 
All applications will be carefully analysed by the selection committee, headed by Alberto Puig, Director of the Cup and also responsible for the Asia Talent Team. There will be a first selection of riders, who must pass a series of road tests where the candidates will have all of their actions and general attitude observed. Subsequently, the selection committee will meet again and after analysing what the applicants demonstrated, they will announce the list of finalists for 2017.
 
Those selected will have an intensive winter program of preparation so they can face the 2017 season in top form, the Asia Talent Cup requires riders with a professional approach, from attitude to physical preparation.
 
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta: “The journey started three years ago to lay the groundwork for the promotion of new riders with the Asia Talent Cup. It’s proving successful after seeing the figures of so many young riders from Asia, Australia and New Zealand who have signed up for the 2017 edition. During this time we have achieved excellent results thanks also to the solid work carried out by the sponsors, circuits and promoters who have shared the idea of the Asia Talent Cup as an effective tool to help young drivers form and grow, both athletically and as people.” 
 
The Selection Event will take place before the last race of the season of the Asia Talent Cup at the Sepang International Circuit. It will also be there the name of the 2016 champion is announced after intense rounds of racing in Chang, Qatar, Sepang, Zhuhai and Motegi before returning to Sepang, alongside the MotoGP World Championship.
 
Download Press Release by clicking here.
View the full gallery
If you think you’re a champion, sign up !

If you think you’re a champion, sign up !

15/07/2016, Asia, Motorcycling, Asia Talent Cup, Article # 18630292
 

If you think you’re a champion, sign up !

With this motivational slogan comes a campaign for all young riders in Asia, Australia and New Zealand who aspire to someday be a MotoGP World Champion.
 
Today the selection process for the 2017 Asia Talent Cup begins, online registration on the official website for the championship welcomes all forms of applicants. The registration period ends onAugust 21.
The selection process for the 2017 Asia Talent Cup begins, online registration on the official website welcomes all forms of applicants (the registration period ends on August 21) who meet the requirements of the promoter to apply for a chance to be a part of the Selection Event in Sepang (25 and 26 October 2016).
 
The Asia Talent Cup is the ideal stage to develop as a rider. During the first part of the 2016 season races at the Chang, Losail and Sepang circuits have seen intense and exciting battles go down to the line, a photo finish being used on more than one occasion. Mechanical equality is key – all ride the Honda NSF250R Moto3™ - allowing the riders to show their best on track without worrying about differences in machinery.
 
The Asia Talent Cup has already run for three seasons and throughout this time is has proven to be an effective way to help young riders to form, grow athletically and mature as people too. A key role in the selection process is reserved for Alberto Puig (250cc and 500cc rider in the 90s) whose knowledge has helped him uncover such talents as Casey Stoner, Toni Elias and Dani Pedrosa. Alberto Puig is also responsible for the Asia Talent Team, consisting of five emerging riders from the Asia Talent Cup who compete in this year’s Moto3™ Junior World Championship.
 
These riders are performing exceedingly well. Kaito Toba, who was the 2014 ATC champion, became the first Japanese rider to win a race in the CEV Moto3™ championship. Alongside him is Ayumu Sasaki (champion of the Asia Talent Cup in 2015), Kazuki Masaki, Andi Izdihar and Nakarin Atiratphuvapat.
 
The selection process to fill the 2017 championship grid has begun. A key date in the process is the Selection Event in Sepang on October 25 and 26.

Asia Talent Cup
Selection for 2017: Key dates - 
Registration opens: July 15, 2016 (online www.asiatalentcup.com)
Registration closes: August 21, 2016
 
Publication of the list for the Selection Event:
September 7, 2016 (online www.asiatalentcup.com)
 
Selection Event: 
From 25 to 26 October (Sepang International Circuit)
 
Watch here our promotional video !
Download Asia Talent Cup Selection 2017 Press Release by clicking here.
Download Asia Talent Cup Selection 2017 Media Flyer by clicking here.
View the full gallery
Kaito Toba back on the podium and leading an Asia Talent Team top ten charge

Kaito Toba back on the podium and leading an Asia Talent Team top ten charge

04/07/2016, Asia, Motorcycling, Asia Talent Cup, Article # 18485516
 

Toba back on the podium
in sweltering Albacete

 

The conditions were hot but Kaito Toba’s pace was even hotter, the Japanese rider back on the podium and leading an Asia Talent Team top ten charge

 
From the start of the Moto3 Junior World Championship round in Albacete, Kaito Toba was with the leaders. He stuck inside the top six and did not yield position, not afraid to slip past World Championship riders such as Karel Hanika. As is true of almost every Moto3 Junior World Championship race, the fighting was fierce and there was no chance to rest under the blazing Albacete sun.

As the final laps began, Toba upped his paced and closed in on the podium, slotting into third and working his way ever closer to Marcos Ramirez. Try as he might, Toba’s charge up to second would end, crossing the line in third place and only 0.308s off a return to victory. Not only did Toba return to the podium after a difficult Sunday in Barcelona, he also set the fastest lap of the race, a 1’35.471.

Kazuki Masaki had another solid weekend as well, eventually crossing the line in eighth place. For the entirety of the race he was inside the top ten, battling with his Asia Talent Team teammate Ayumu Sasaki for supremacy. The pair traded positions with the likes of Tony Arbolino and came out on top; Masaki crossed the line in eighth spot and ahead of Ayumu Sasaki in ninth. A great weekend overall for the three Japanese riders, all able to show their progress in the championship.

Nakarin Atiratphuvapat leaves Albacete with two more championship points, finishing inside the top 15 for the third time in 2016. It was a hard day for the Thai rider, having to overcome a number of more experienced riders for his 14th place.

The day proved the hardest for Andi Farid, the Indonesian rider making a magnificent launch off the line. For most of the race he stayed with the leading group, just at their backs, as he looked set to take an incredible first top ten. Unfortunately he crashed before the end, unharmed but forced to ask ‘what could have been?’ Regardless of final result, Farid proved he has the pace.

The Championship will resume on the 28th of August in Portugal. Toba heads into the summer break with 80 points, third overall and the leading Honda rider. Not far off him is Ayumu Sasaki, 62 points placing the Japanese rookie in fifth overall. 55 points have Masaki sat in seventh and only three points behind championship front-runner Albert Arenas. Thanks to his two additional points, Nakarin Atiratphuvapat is 14th overall.
 
Download Race results here
Download General Standings here
 
Dorna Sports, who already runs the successful Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup to support young talented riders, has taken its commitment to the next level by creating the Asia Talent Team in order to ensure the career progression of the most talented riders participating in the Asian competition during the 2015 season. The Asia Talent Team is run by Dorna as a part of its New Riders Development Programmes.
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