Set at Mobility Resort Motegi in Japan during Round 3 of the 2026 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC), this report captures the dominant victory by Spanish rider Vicente Perez Selfa in Race 2 of the TVS Racing International Championship.
The 8-lap contest opened with Portugal's Pedrinho Matos taking the holeshot and leading early on. Vicente settled into fourth position, biding his time as the lead group pushed through the opening turns. On Lap 3, the Spaniard launched his attack, setting a blazing fastest lap of 2'06.366s to take command of the race.
Once at the front, Vicente executed a completely different strategy from the previous day—pushing hard right from the start to break away from the pack. He continuously shattered his own lap records, dropping to 2'05.579s on Lap 4, 2'05.000s on Lap 5, and a staggering 2'04.997s on Lap 6. His relentless pace stretched his lead to over 3.5 seconds, effectively extinguishing any hopes of a late comeback from his pursuers.
Cruising through the final laps in total control, Vicente crossed the finish line in 16'53.063s to secure a commanding victory, finishing a comfortable 2.652 seconds ahead of Pedrinho Matos in second and South Africa's Oratilwe Phiri in third.
After the race, Vicente credited his adjusted strategy for the win, expressing satisfaction with how flawlessly everything came together. With newfound confidence from his dominant performance, the Spaniard thanked his crew and set his sights on carrying this winning momentum into the next round.
Set at Mobility Resort Motegi in Japan during Round 3 of the 2026 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC), this report captures the thrilling Race 1 battle in the Asia Production 250 (AP250) class, where home hero Hiroki Ono defended his turf to secure a memorable victory.
Launching from the front row, Hiroki (HONDA RACING VIETNAM) wasted no time asserting control, surging into the lead ahead of fellow countryman Riichi Takahira and pole-sitter Fahmi Basam. However, the race quickly transformed into a high-stakes tactical chess match. The lead changed hands repeatedly among a tight pack as Fahmi, Riichi, and Irfan Ardiansyah took turns at the front, pushing the pace on the demanding Japanese circuit.
The battle took a dramatic turn on Lap 8 when Fahmi crashed out of contention, removing one of the key race favorites and intensifying the fight at the sharp end. Across the final two laps, Hiroki and Riichi engaged in an electrifying duel for local supremacy, exchanging positions while carrying the hopes of the home crowd.
On the final lap, Hiroki held a defensive masterclass at the front, keeping his cool to cross the finish line in 21'34.483s. He held off a late-charging Irfan Ardiansyah by a mere 0.161 seconds, with Thailand's Krittapat Keankum rounding out the podium.
An emotional Hiroki dedicated the hard-fought win to his team and local supporters, expressing deep gratitude for the fans whose cheers fueled his push to the chequered flag on home soil.
Set at Mobility Resort Motegi in Japan during Round 3 of the 2026 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC), this report captures the dramatic Race 1 encounter in the Underbone 150 (UB150) class, where Filipino rider John Emerson Inguito ended a three-year win drought.
The race turned into a classic UB150 melee right from the green light. Starting from third on the grid, John (4S1M EVO YAMAHA Racing Team) found himself locked in a massive lead group where positions shifted constantly. Pole-sitter Dimas Juli Atmoko controlled the opening laps before a flurry of lap records and lead changes broke out—featuring charges from April King Mascardo, M. Syirat Sauki, and Adytya Fauzi, who set a blistering race-best 2'17.151s lap.
Everything came down to a breathless final lap. John timed his definitive move to perfection, using precise positioning at every corner to defend against a hungry pack of rivals. Crossing the line in 18'39.610s, John secured a dramatic victory, leading his teammate Rendi Odding by just 0.111 seconds for a memorable 1-2 finish for the 4S1M EVO YAMAHA Racing Team.
The triumph was deeply emotional for John. Exactly three years after taking his maiden UB150 victory on Japanese soil at Sportsland Sugo, he returned to the top step of the podium in the very same country. A relieved and thankful John dedicated the victory to his family, friends, and fellow Filipinos whose prayers supported him through his long wait for victory.
Set against the backdrop of Mobility Resort Motegi in Japan, this race report captures the fierce qualifying battle at Round 3 of the 2026 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) in the TVS Racing International Championship.
The track action heated up early as riders pushed their machines to the limit. South Africa's Oratilwe Phiri drew first blood in Practice 1, setting an early benchmark of 2'06.171s and clocking the session's highest speed. The pace quickened in Practice 2 when India's Chiranth Vishwanath surged to the top, becoming the first rider of the weekend to break into the 2'05s bracket.
As the action moved to Qualifying Group A, Portugal's Pedrinho Matos raised the bar even higher, stunning the paddock with a blistering 2'04.976s lap—the first sub-2'05 time of the event. But the final word belonged to Spain's Vicente Perez Selfa in Group B. Backed by key setup changes from his crew, Vicente timed his charge to perfection, laying down a decisive 2'05.190s lap to snatch top spot in the overall combined standings and secure pole position.
Reflecting on his performance, Vicente praised his team’s relentless work and strategic execution, noting that the bike felt better with every stint. With the top five riders separated by less than six-tenths of a second, the Spaniard expressed quiet confidence in his race pace while gearing up for an intense battle for victory.
