Sepang marks the start of the Asia Talent Cup season
Winter is over. Long ago was the season finale in Malaysia, Japan’s Ayumu Sasaki showing well after being proclaimed champion of the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup in Motegi a week earlier. The selection events for the third edition of Cup are also complete and it’s time to start preparing for the season.
Thus, on the 9th and 10th of February, shortly after the MotoGP riders have also gotten their 2016 season underway, the riders of the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup will gather at the Sepang circuit to meet their Honda NSF250s before the season gets underway. The first race of the year is scheduled for the 12th and 13th of March at the Chang International Circuit of Buriram (Thailand).
The test will also be a determining factor in the final composition of the participants in the Cup as there have been several additions. Among the participants this year are several protagonists from the second edition: Masaki and Ogura from Japan, Salim and Izdihar from Indonesia and Thailand’s Chantra.
Also taking part in the test are four riders whose incorporation in the Cup is subject to their performance during the two days at Sepang: Lachlan Taylor (Australia), Idham Khairuddin (who participated in the 2015 Cup) and Chun Kit Law (China). Australian Tom Edwards will be absent due to injury.
Participating in the Sepang pre-season test are:
- 2 Kazuki Masaki Japan
- 3 Can Oncu Turkey
- 4 Gerry Salim Indonesia
- 5 Yuki Kunii Japan
- 6 Irfan Ardiansyah Indonesia
- 7 Deniz Oncu Turkey
- 9 Ai Ogura Japan
- 10 Dwiki Hardhiana Suparta Indonesia
- 11 Muhammad Izam Ikmal Malaysia
- 12 Ryusei Yamanaka Japan
- 13 Faldhan Novayaser Mardani Indonesia
- 14 Bahattin Sofuoglu Turkey
- 15 Shogo Kawasaki Japan
- 17 Alif Akbar Utama Indonesia
- 18 Somkiat Chantra Thailand
- 19 Riku Sugawara Japan
- 21 Basyiruddin Samhan Mashuri Indonesia
- 22 Ahamed Kadai Yaseen India
- 23 Andi Izdihar IndonesiaÂ
