Toba victorious, Date still leads championship

There was Japanese dominance in Sunday’s second round of the 2014 Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup in Indonesia, with seven Japanese riders filling the top eight places at Sentul. It was Kaito Toba who made it two different winners from the opening two races.

The Sentul International Circuit was the scene, with the riders having to contend with immense heat around the 3.960-kilometre, 16-turn layout. Thailand’s Nakarim Atiratphuvapat had clinched pole position, although the best start came from Wilmar Hammar who on the opening lap was up to seventh place from 18th on the grid. Compatriot Muklada Sarapuech also pulled off an outstanding race, setting fastest lap and battling with the leaders from ninth on the grid – but once again she would hit trouble in the closing stages.

Crunch point came when Atiratphuvapat and Sarçapuech collided, breaking up the leading group which left the fight for the top spot between Kaito Toba, Ryo Mizuno and Yuta Date; they would take the chequered flag in these positions to fill the podium. Behind, Hammar would surprise to finish fifth while local rider Andi Izdihar completed the top ten.

Sunday’s result in Indonesia means that Date continues to top the championship standings, thanks to victory in Qatar and third place this weekend to have amassed 41 points. He leads the tied Kitami and Sasaki by 13 points, with Mizuno a further one point adrift.

Round 3 of the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup will take place at Zhuhai in China on 15 June.