Anupab Sarmoon claimed a dramatic SS600 Race 2 victory at the 2026 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship in Mandalika after a thrilling last-lap incident reshaped the podium.
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The Supersports 600 (SS600) category delivered one of the most thrilling races of the 2026 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) season as Anupab Sarmoon of Yamaha Thailand Racing Team claimed a dramatic Race 2 victory during Round 4 at the Mandalika International Circuit in Indonesia.
What looked set to be a fierce battle between the frontrunners took an unexpected turn on the final lap when a crash involving the race leaders reshuffled the podium. Staying composed throughout the race, Anupab capitalised on the opportunity to secure a hard-earned victory.
The race began with Wahyu Nugroho of Yamaha Racing Indonesia taking the early lead. However, Mckinley Kyle Paz of Hong Leong Yamaha Racing produced an impressive opening lap after charging from seventh on the grid to move into first place by the end of Lap 1. Close behind were teammate Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin and Thanat Laoongplio of Honda Racing Thailand, setting up an intense four-way battle at the front.
The lead changed several times during the opening laps as the riders exchanged positions while pushing the pace. On Lap 4, Wahyu regained the lead with a fastest lap of 1’38.658s. Thanat responded immediately on the following lap with an even quicker 1’38.205s before taking over at the front on Lap 6.
While the spotlight remained on the leaders, Anupab quietly worked his way through the field. After dropping to fifth in the early stages, the Thai rider steadily increased his pace and posted consecutive fastest laps of 1’38.074s and 1’37.929s. His strong pace allowed him to climb into second place behind Thanat by Lap 8.
The decisive moment arrived on Lap 11 when Kasma launched an attack on Thanat for the race lead. As the two riders battled aggressively for position, Anupab seized the opportunity to overtake both competitors and move into first.
The drama reached its peak on the final lap when Kasma and Thanat collided and crashed while fighting for victory. Their misfortune cleared the way for Anupab to cross the finish line first with a winning time of 19’44.949s.
Behind him, Mckinley maintained a consistent pace to secure second place in 19’45.242s, while Herjun Atna Firdaus of Astra Honda Racing Team completed the podium after finishing third in 19’46.586s.
Speaking after the race, Anupab thanked his team for their unwavering support throughout the weekend.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to my team and everyone who has supported me through the highs and lows. Today’s race was incredibly challenging right from the beginning. I didn’t get the best launch and ended up losing ground early on, slipping back into fifth. It was frustrating, but instead of panicking, I decided to stay calm and study the situation.”
He explained that patience played a key role in securing the victory: “I was in a leading group filled with exceptionally fast riders. The pace at the front was relentless, so I used most of the race to learn their lines and adapt my riding. When it came down to the final laps, I knew it was time to put everything on the line.”
“The biggest takeaway from today is just how fantastic our overall package is. I am genuinely so happy, relieved, and proud of how everything came together. I cannot thank my team enough for making this unforgettable result possible,” he said.
The dramatic Race 2 result has added even more excitement to the SS600 championship as the 2026 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship heads into its next round with momentum firmly on Anupab’s side.
SS600 Race 2 – Top 5 Results
- Anupab Sarmoon (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team) – 19’44.949s
- Mckinley Kyle Paz (Hong Leong Yamaha Racing) – 19’45.242s
- Herjun Atna Firdaus (Astra Honda Racing Team) – 19’46.586s
- Wahyu Nugroho (Yamaha Racing Indonesia) – 19’46.638s
- Muhammad Helmi Azman (Idemitsu Honda Racing Malaysia) – 19’46.939s
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