Indonesian rider makes a breathtaking final-corner move to edge Kasma Daniel by just 0.078 seconds in Round 5 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship.
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Wahyu Nugroho of Yamaha Racing Indonesia delivered one of the most thrilling finishes of the 2026 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) season after claiming victory in the Supersports 600 (SS600) Race 2 at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit on Sunday.
The Indonesian rider stayed patient throughout the 10-lap contest before capitalising on a small mistake by Malaysia’s Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin at the final corner. Wahyu powered past on the run to the finish line to secure victory with a race time of 22’03.535s, crossing the line just 0.078 seconds ahead of the Hong Leong Yamaha Racing rider.
Yamaha Thailand Racing Team’s Anupab Sarmoon completed the podium in third after another closely fought battle among the championship contenders.
The race began with Anupab making an excellent launch from the start to claim the holeshot, while Yamaha Racing Indonesia teammate Muhammad Faerozi Toreqottullah slotted into second. Race 1 winner Thanat Laoongplio of Honda Racing Thailand initially ran third but suffered a mechanical problem on the opening lap, forcing an early retirement.
With Thanat out of contention, the battle at the front intensified immediately. Kasma Daniel quickly worked his way into the fight after starting fourth, while Wahyu remained close behind the leading group. On lap three, Wahyu set a fast lap of 2’11.241s to stay within striking distance as Faerozi and Kasma overtook Anupab.
One lap later, Kasma executed a decisive move into Turn 1 to take over the race lead, but the advantage proved anything but comfortable.
The middle stages of the race featured relentless overtaking between the front runners. Malaysia’s Muhammad Helmi Azman of Idemitsu Honda Racing Malaysia joined the podium battle after recording the fastest lap of the race with a 2’11.056s on lap five.
Anupab also launched an aggressive attack at the final corner, briefly unsettling Kasma before the Malaysian responded on lap six to regain control of the race. Behind them, Wahyu continued to shadow the leading trio while waiting for the perfect opportunity.
The decisive moment came on lap eight when Wahyu overtook teammate Faerozi to move into third place. From there, he closed the gap to Kasma and Anupab as the trio prepared for a dramatic final lap.
Kasma entered the final sector still leading, but as he defended into the last corner, he ran slightly wide on corner entry. Wahyu immediately spotted the opening, carried better drive onto the main straight and surged past Kasma in a breathtaking sprint to the finish line.
Wahyu crossed the chequered flag first with a winning margin of just 0.078 seconds. Kasma finished second in 22’03.613s, while Anupab completed the podium in 22’03.774s. Faerozi finished fourth ahead of Helmi, who completed the top five.
Speaking after the race, Wahyu praised his team for overcoming a difficult weekend and dedicated the victory to his family.
“Alhamdulillah, I am so proud of my entire team. They worked tirelessly from the moment we arrived, overcoming every challenge even when our freight containers arrived late. A huge thank you to my family and my loving wife back home. Your endless prayers and support mean everything to me.”
Reflecting on the race, Wahyu admitted the opening lap was chaotic but said remaining calm proved to be the key to victory.
“The start of the race was wild and chaotic. Into the first lap, someone made an aggressive dive-bomb move that nearly took us all out. Instead of losing my head, I stayed calm, focused on surviving the opening exchanges and settled into the rhythm of the front group.”
He also credited his teammate’s performance for keeping him motivated throughout the race.
“Seeing my teammate Faerozi fighting at the front gave me extra motivation. I kept my head down, matched the pace of the riders ahead and waited for the right moment to attack. Alhamdulillah, that patience and determination paid off, and we were able to take the victory once again.”
With another dramatic victory at Sepang, Wahyu strengthens his momentum as the 2026 ARRC SS600 season heads into its final stages, while the fierce rivalry between Yamaha, Honda and the region’s top riders continues to deliver thrilling racing for fans across Asia.
TOP 5 FASTEST – RACE 2
- Wahyu Nugroho (Yamaha Racing Indonesia) – 22’03.535s
- Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin (Hong Leong Yamaha Racing) – 22’03.613s
- Anupab Sarmoon (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team) – 22’03.774s
- Muhammad Faerozi Toreqottullah (Yamaha Racing Indonesia) – 22’04.098s
- Muhammad Helmi Azman (Idemitsu Honda Racing Malaysia) – 22’04.352s
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