RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Astra Honda Racing Team (AHRT) riders delivered a promising start to the 2026 Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC), collecting two podium finishes in the opening round at Sepang Circuit, Malaysia, on Sunday, April 13.

The highlight came from Rheza Danica Ahrens, whose daring maneuver in the final corner secured second place in the Asia Production (AP) 250 race. Starting from pole position, he had earlier finished fifth in Race 1. In Race 2, after slipping to eighth, he steadily climbed back into contention.

On a wet track, he seized the decisive moment in the last corner, overtaking three riders at once to clinch the podium. “I focused on adapting to the changing track conditions and maximizing the opportunity in the final turn,” Rheza said. His result places him second in the overall standings with 31 points.

AHRT’s other podium came from Herjun Atna Firdaus, who finished third in the Supersport (SS) 600 opener after a tight battle in the closing laps. He later placed seventh in Race 2, keeping him third in the standings with 25 points.

Teammate Fadillah Arbi Aditama showed progress in his SS600 debut, finishing sixth and then breaking into the top five despite starting from 10th.

In the Asia Superbike (ASB) 1000 class, debutant M. Adenanta Putra delivered consistent results with two seventh-place finishes, earning sixth in the standings.

AHRT General Manager for Marketing Planning and Analysis, Andy Wijaya, praised the team’s resilience: “This is a strong start. Our riders showed fighting spirit and effective strategy, which will be valuable for the long season ahead.”

ARRC 2026 continues with five more rounds, with the next race scheduled at Chang International Circuit in Thailand from May 8–10. ***

A dramatic final-corner move highlighted Indonesia’s strong start to the 2026 Asia Road Racing Championship, with Astra Honda riders delivering multiple podium finishes in Malaysia.

Rheza Danica Ahrens of Astra Honda Racing Team secured a podium finish at the opening round of the 2026 Asia Road Racing Championship at Sepang International Circuit on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

“I am grateful for today’s podium result,” Rheza said in a team statement after the race, as quoted by Antara. He finished second in Race 2 of the Asia Production (AP) 250 class after overtaking three riders in the sector at the final corner, capitalizing on wet track conditions following rain.

The move became a standout moment for the team, which collected two podium finishes in the opening round. Earlier, Herjun Atna Firdaus claimed third place in Race 1 of the Supersport (SS) 600 class.

Rheza had shown competitive pace throughout the weekend. Starting from pole position, he ran at the front in Race 1 before finishing fifth. In Race 2, however, he briefly dropped to eighth place before staging a comeback.

With a measured strategy, Rheza gradually worked his way back into the leading group. His decisive moment came at the final corner, where he seized an opportunity to pass three riders and secure second place.

“At the start, I focused on adapting to the changing track conditions. I tried to manage my strategy and maximize the opportunity at the final corner,” he continued. The result places Rheza second in the provisional standings with 31 points, keeping him firmly in contention for the title.

In the SS600 class, Herjun delivered a consistent performance, finishing third in Race 1 after a tight battle in the closing laps, and seventh in Race 2, enough to maintain a strong position in the standings.

Meanwhile, Fadillah Arbi Aditama showed promising progress in his SS600 debut. After finishing sixth in Race 1, he broke into the top five in Race 2 despite starting from 10th position. “Podium in the first race motivates me for the next rounds. I will aim to return to the podium,” Herjun said.

After two races in Sepang, Herjun sits third in the standings with 25 points, while Arbi is eighth with 21 points.

In the Asia Superbike (ASB) 1000 class, M. Adenanta Putra delivered consistent results in his debut season, finishing seventh in both races and placing sixth overall with 18 points.

General Manager of Marketing Planning and Analysis at Astra Honda Motor, Andy Wijaya, said the results in Sepang provide a strong foundation for the long season ahead. “This is a good start. The riders showed strong fighting spirit and executed their strategies well,” he said.

The 2026 ARRC season continues with five remaining rounds, with the next race scheduled at Chang International Circuit from May 8-10. ***