Ryan Larkin on the podium at the Asia-Pacific season-opening R3 bLU cRU

Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia Pacific Championship
Round One – Chang International Circuit, Thailand

The 2024 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia-Pacific Championship season kicked off for 20 young hopefuls earlier this month at Chang International Circuit in Thailand.

This tournament is for riders 12 years and older and provides a stepping stone towards the world championship race. The six-round Asia-Pacific title winner will receive full support to race in next year’s Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup, which runs alongside the World Superbike Championship. Following that, the World Cup champion will receive Yamaha’s support to race in the FIM World Supersport 300 Championship.

To start the season, athletes from six countries have two days of competition at Chang International before free practice, qualifying and the first round races.

As things got more serious in qualifying, riders from Thailand, Australia and China took the first three places in the standings. Tanakit Pratumtong overtook Ryan Larkin for pole position, while China’s Huanni Ke rode a strong session to take third.

Also showing good pace were Theppitak Kraiyafai, Sakchai Kongduangdee and Chaiyakorn Saeong, who took the next three positions, while New Zealand’s Haydn Fordyce had lapped well in the previous round to finish seventh. Many favorites Kakeru Okunuki fell short of expectations and finished ninth.

With the late afternoon air temperature at 41 degrees and the road surface about 12 degrees hotter for Race 1, safety concerns over tire wear led to the race being reduced from 12 laps to 7 ring.

When the lights went down, 17-year-old Australian Ryan Larkin had the best warm-up from the middle of the front row. His advantage quickly disappeared as the nineteen starters tore through the long run to Turn 3.

Tanakit took the lead and the first six were finished as they entered the 180-degree turn. A pattern quickly formed and at the end of lap 2 it was Tanakin from Larkin, Kakeru, Sakchai and Huanni, with Fordyce working hard to catch up after starting seventh. However, it was Kakeru who spent the most time in the fresh air in front of his number 31 machine.

Halfway through the distance, Huanni dropped back as Fordyce replaced him in the leading group. At the start of the final lap, Larkin took the lead, but all five competitors gathered as they reached Turn 3 and then slid into Turn 4. Crucially, Kakeru was the first to enter the technical section. technique at Turn 5, closely pursued. of Larkin, Tanakit, Sakchai and Fordyce as things heated up in the final zone.

All five spread out when it came to the Turn 12 decider but kept a clean sheet and everyone passed without incident. 14-year-old Kakeru was counted out by winning by 0.082 seconds over Larkin. Sakchai completed the podium as the first five passers were separated by less than seven tenths.

Results of race one

1. Kakeru Okunuki (Japan)
2. Ryan Larkin (AUS) +0.082 seconds
3. Sakchai Khongduangdee (THA) +0.509s
4. Tanakit Pratumtong (THA) +0.551 seconds
5. Haydn Fordyce (New Zealand) +0.666 seconds
6. Theppitak Kraiyafai (THA) +2,715s
7. Huanni Ke (CHN) +3.154s
8. Chayakorn Saeong (THA) +3,714s
9. Mytchell Joshua NGO (PHI) +8.812s
10. Natthakorn Kammayee (THA) +17.042s

Second race

The timing of Race 2 on Sunday morning means the ambient and track temperatures will be much more pleasant for the drivers and tires alike

Huanni Ke’s challenge from the front row ended before the lights went out as he started. The rest of the field went without incident, with Larkin and Tanakit leading the first three turns. Sakchai and Theppitak closed in, while Kakeru and Fordyce crossed from the third row.

Sure enough, the winner of Japan’s Race 1 made a nuisance of himself by taking the lead on lap 2. Ominously for his rivals, he was clearly fastest through the second sector. ba is extremely important and appears very comfortable in the lead. Chayakorn Saeong and Natthakorn Kammayee quickly entered the leading group before falling. By round 4, Fordyce had closed in on the leading group to win the six-way battle.

When they started the final lap, the first six were about five seconds clear of the rest. Kakeru kept calm, took the lead, and passed Sector 3 fast enough to have enough space to choose his own path in the final turn. Behind him, Ryan Larkin charged on the inside, but was unable to gain the necessary momentum at the exit, so Tanakit and Sakchai took the remaining podium places.

Larkin finished fourth ahead of Theppitak and Fordyce. Less than a second covers the first six on the road.

Race two results

1. Kakeru Okunuki (Japan)
2. Tanakit Pratumtong (THA) +0.403 seconds
3. Sakchai Khongduangdee (THA) +0.524s
4. Ryan Larkin (AUS) +0.608 seconds
5. Theppitak Kraiyafai (THA) +0.624 seconds
6. Hayden Fordyce (New Zealand) +0.974 seconds
7. Chayakorn Saeong (THA) +6.064s
8. Natthakorn Kammayee (THA) +6.163s
9. Chonlasit Rakbumrung (THA) +15,556s
10. Moses Gerard Reyes (PHI) +15.775s

Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia-Pacific Championship Points

1. Kakeru Okunuki (Japan) 40
2. Tanakit Pratumtong (THA) 30
3. Sakchai Khongduangdee (THA) 30
4. Ryan Larkin (AUS) 30
5. Theppitak Kraiyafai (THA) 21
6. Hayden Fordyce (New Zealand) 21

The next round of the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia Pacific Championship takes place in four weeks at the Thailand Circuit. The next rounds will be held in July (Chang), August (Sugo) and September (Chang) before the series concludes in Australia, along with the Australian Superbike Championship finals in early November.