Voight third in opening Asia Talent Cup test for 2020

2020 Asia Talent Cup Sepang Test

Two days of testing for the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup has now concluded at Sepang International Circuit with 14-year-old Japanese rider Taiyo Furusato beginning 2020 on top, the rookie seriously impressing on his debut. More experienced compatriot Kanta Hamada was second overall, just 0.061 back, with Australian 13-year-old Harrison Voight completing the top three.

On Day 1, it was Syarifuddin Azman who was fastest in the near-perfect conditions. The Malaysian left it until late in the day – the eighth 20-minute session of track time – but topped the timesheets by 0.172 from Harrison Voight. Those two are veterans, but rookie Taiyo Furusato was already up into P3 on Tuesday and impressing, ahead of fellow Japanese rider Gun Mie. The experienced Herjun Firdaus from Indonesia completed the top five.

On Day 2, the conditions were slightly cooler and cloudier but the rain stayed away once again, allowing the grid to get in another six 20-minute sessions – followed by a race simulation and race start. By the end of play Furusato was again a headline act as the Japanese rookie’s 2:16.863 sees him top the combined timesheets, with Hamada running him close to make it a 1-2 for Japan. Harrison Voight was third overall, but 0.379 from the top.

Gun Mie was fourth, Azman ended the test fifth overall and Firdaus sixth. Shoki Igarashi took seventh, with rookies Sharul Sharil, Fadillah Aditama and Herlian Dandi completing the top ten.

Thurakij Buapa of Thailand was P11 overall, with Indian rookie Mikail Salih only half a tenth behind and taking 12th. Azyran Wahyumaniadi, Watcharin Tubtimon and Thanakorn Lakharn lock out the fastest fifteen ahead of returning Rei Wakamatsu.

Australian rookie Carter Thompson, at 12 years of age the youngest rider in the field, was within two-tenths of what would be a points-scoring position in a race. Due to his small size Thompson needs to carry an extra 10 kg of weight on his ATC machine to help with parity.

There were incidents and crashes for many on the grid during the test, but all riders were ok and back out with two exceptions. Unfortunately Australian 14-year-old Max Gibbons suffered a compressed vertebra as a result of a Day 1 fall and didn’t ride on Wednesday. Alfred Sablaya of the Philippines crashed and injured his hand on Day 2, with surgery planned.

The IATC will be back in action in a few weeks in Qatar as they gear up for Round 1 at Losail International Circuit, racing alongside MotoGP from the 6th to the 8th March.

Asia Talent Cup Sepang Test Times

1. Taiyo Furusato JPN 2m16.863
2. Kanta Hamada JPN 2m16.924
3. Harrison Voight AUS 2m17.242
4. Gun Mie JPN 2m17.349
5. Syarifuddin Azman MAS 2m17.355
6. Harjun Firdaus INA 2m17.644
7. Shoki Igarashi JPN JPN 2m17.721
8. Sharul Sharil MAL 2m17.926
9. Fadillah Aditama INA 2m18.086
10. Herlian Dandi INA 2m18.423
11. Thurakij Buapa THA 2m18.623
12. Mikail Salih IND 2m18.670
13. Azryan Wahyumaniadi INA 2m18.773
14. Watcharin Tubtimon THA 2m18.853
15. Thanakorn Lakharn THA 2m18.867
16. Rei Wakamatsu JPN 2m18.934
17. Carter Thompson AUS 2m19.063
18. Harris Herman MAL 2m20.813
19. Kantapat Yabkanthai THA 2m20.899
20. Max Gibbons AUS 2m21.666
21. Alfred Sablaya PHL 2m24.305

2020 Asia Talent Cup Entry List