Asia Talent Cup 2022 – Losail Test, Doha
The 2022 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup has kicked off with a successful two-day pre-season test at Losail International Circuit setting the scene for another great year of competition.
By the end of play in Doha, it’s the rookies on top too – with the top three all making their full-time debuts in 2022 and split by just 0.027 on the timesheets.
The rider in P1 was Amon Odaki, with the Japanese rider putting in a 2:11.313 to beat compatriot Shinya Ezawa to the top by just 0.012.
Third place in the test was close too, with Mandalika wildcard and new full-time rider Veda Ega Pratama, from Indonesia, just 0.027 off Odaki.
Australian Carter Thompson, the first returning rider on the combined timesheets, was just under half a second off the top, with fellow returning rider Gun Mie of Japan just another tenth in arrears.
Then came another rookie 0.075 further back: Thai rider Jakkreephat Phuettisan. Returners Hakim Danish and Rei Wakamatsu were next up, ahead of a good test for Qatari wildcard Hamad al-Sahouti in P9. The local rider will also race in the season opening round at Losail next weekend.
Thanakorn Lakharn completed the top ten, with the gaps remaining small and the three riders behind still within a tenth of the Thai rider.
Marianos Nikolis was 13th fastest, while fellow Aussie Cameron Swain was 18th overall.
It was two days of solid track time for the field, with eight 20-minute sessions on Day 1 and another six on Day 2 allowing them to get into the groove. That’s in addition to time set aside to run through the start procedure, with the grid now ready and raring to line up and race.
Round 1 of 2022 takes place alongside the Grand Prix of Qatar, with Race 1 on Saturday at 14:35 (GMT +3) and Race 2 set for Sunday at 11:50. Make sure to tune in!
ATC Test Results
| Pos | Rider | Time | Gap |
| 1 | Amon ODAKI | 02:11.313 | – |
| 2 | Shinya EZAWA | 02:11.325 | 0.012 |
| 3 | Veda Ega PRATAMA | 02:11.340 | 0.027 |
| 4 | Carter THOMPSON | 02:11.801 | 0.488 |
| 5 | Gun MIE | 02:11.910 | 0.597 |
| 6 | Jakkreephat PHUETTISAN | 02:11.985 | 0.672 |
| 7 | Hakim DANISH | 02:12.064 | 0.751 |
| 8 | Rei WAKAMATSU | 02:12.104 | 0.791 |
| 9 | Hamad AL-SAHOUTI | 02:12.192 | 0.879 |
| 10 | Thanakorn LAKHARN | 02:12.292 | 0.979 |
| 11 | Farish HAFIY | 02:12.313 | 1.000 |
| 12 | Thanat LAOONGPLIO | 02:12.317 | 1.004 |
| 13 | Marianos NIKOLIS | 02:12.378 | 1.065 |
| 14 | Emil IZDHAR | 02:12.680 | 1.367 |
| 15 | Reykat FADILLAH | 02:12.771 | 1.458 |
| 16 | Farres PUTRA | 02:12.920 | 1.607 |
| 17 | Aan RISWANTO | 02:13.661 | 2.348 |
| 18 | Cameron SWAIN | 02:14.989 | 3.676 |
| 19 | Kavin QUINTAL | 02:16.284 | 4.971 |
Race Simulation
A race simulation also saw Carter Thompson well places into the season opener, showing strong pace over race duration, topping the simulation ahead of Thanakorn Lakharn and Gun Mie. Cameron Swain was 14th.
Race Simulation Results
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Total | Gap |
| 1 | Carter THOMPSON | AUS | 28:55.564 | – |
| 2 | Thanakorn LAKHARN | THA | 29:04.830 | +9.266 |
| 3 | Gun MIE | JPN | 29:11.692 | +16.128 |
| 4 | Jakkreephat PHUETTISAN | THA | 29:17.565 | +22.001 |
| 5 | Reykat FADILLAH | INA | 29:17.667 | +22.103 |
| 6 | Hakim DANISH | MAL | 29:17.870 | +22.306 |
| 7 | Farres PUTRA | MAL | 29:17.916 | +22.352 |
| 8 | Farish HAFIY | MAL | 29:19.242 | +23.678 |
| 9 | Rei WAKAMATSU | JPN | 29:19.286 | +23.722 |
| 10 | Emil IZDHAR | MAL | 29:20.480 | +24.916 |
| 11 | Amon ODAKI | JPN | 29:22.225 | +26.661 |
| 12 | Hamad AL-SAHOUTI | QAT | 29:23.572 | +28.008 |
| 13 | Veda Ega PRATAMA | INA | 29:24.673 | +29.109 |
| 14 | Cameron SWAIN | AUS | 29:24.741 | +29.177 |
| 15 | Shinya EZAWA | JPN | 29:34.227 | +38.663 |
| 16 | Aan RISWANTO | INA | 29:34.248 | +38.684 |
| 17 | Marianos NIKOLIS | AUS | – | – |
| 18 | Kavin QUINTAL | IND | – | – |
| 19 | Thanat LAOONGPLIO | THA | – | – |
