Since 2015, Honda Vietnam (HVN) has been continuously promoting and sponsoring racing events to develop this sport internationally. The Vietnam Motorcycle Racing Championship (VMRC) is gradually asserting its position as a professional and largest racing championship in Vietnam. With the resounding success of VMRC 2022, VMRC 2023 is expected to be a highly competitive and exciting competition with the participation of outstanding racers who have excellent skills and are carefully selected by international experts.
Mr. Koji Sugita, General Director of Honda Vietnam, speaking at the opening race of VMRC 2023.
In response to the desires of motorsport fans, the VMRC 2023 race heated up right from the first race, officially kicking off at Dai Nam racetrack last weekend with 5 thrilling races featuring 64 racers.
The Dai Nam racetrack has become a familiar playground for each VMRC racing season. The racetrack has a total length of 2,200 m, with the longest straight stretch being 400 m, with 7 right turns and 4 left turns. A total of 11 turns on the Dai Nam racetrack in the first race. The high number and continuous frequency of turns require racers to focus on racing and have high physical strength.
Race 1 of VMRC 2023 took place in favorable weather conditions with mild sunshine and a temperature of just over 31 degrees. This is an ideal weather for racers to comfortably demonstrate their talents, thereby bringing exciting and fiery races.
Vietnam Talent Cup – NSF 100 category
The opening race of VMRC 2023 was the Vietnam Talent Cup – NSF100 category, which aims to nurture and discover young talents with potential to compete at international tournaments. This category is a competition among 12 young racers aged 13 to 17, including 1 foreign racer and 1 Vietnamese overseas racer. In favorable weather conditions, young racers with youthful energy demonstrated intense competition on the Dai Nam racetrack.
Taking advantage of the pole position in the qualifying round, racer Nguyen Trung Kien (wearing number 40) excellently finished in first place after 8 laps. This result marks the great effort of Trung Kien as in the previous season, racer number 40 did not stand on the podium many times. In the meantime, Jordi Nam (wearing number 77) maintained the second position, while the third position belonged to Tran Ngo Khoa (wearing number 06).
Blade 110 category
After the NSF100 category, the racetrack became more lively with the noise coming from the improved Honda Blade bikes. The temperature at this time was still 31 degrees, but the heat at the Dai Nam “cauldron” was continuously increasing. In the Blade 110 category, there were a total of 12 racers competing. Unlike the format for the Talent Cup, the audience at Dai Nam could easily feel the powerful and forceful exhaust sounds of the Blade 110, easily creating a sense of excitement on the racetrack. Moreover, the racers in the Blade 110 category also brought extremely dramatic competitions with acceleration and experienced slipstreaming maneuvers.
Right from the start, the first three racers in the Blade 110 category, Le Tran Kim Thanh (wearing number 04), Nguyen Thien Duy (wearing number 60), and Hoang Van Thanh (wearing number 41) all took advantage of the qualifying round to secure the top 3 positions and maintained a close battle until the final lap. At the end, Van Thanh with smooth turns and good acceleration won the first place, followed by Thien Duy and Kim Thanh. Meanwhile, other racers also showed their determination and individual technical improvements in this year’s race.
Winner X 150 category
The Winner X 150 category was the third race at Race 1 of VMRC 2023. This category always has intense and thrilling racing competitions. And it reflected accurately this time as well. Except for Huynh Minh Sang (wearing number 28) who maintained the advantage from the qualifying round to finish first, the second and third positions were not occupied by the top starters. Le Khanh Loc (wearing number 68) had an excellent race, climbing from 9th to 2nd place, while Nguyen Nhat Linh (wearing number 58) finished third.
Right from the start, the racers showed great determination to achieve surprises, through powerful and courageous starts from some racers. However, the final results were quite predictable as the top three racers who finished first were the same as those who achieved the best qualifying positions.
Throughout the race, racer Tran Gia Huy (wearing number 79) consistently took the lead in the race, despite the pressure from the chasing group of racers behind. Meanwhile, the competition for second place between Dang Chi Khoi (wearing number 71) and Nguyen Minh Tri (wearing number 73) was equally intense with exciting and fiery battles. At the end of 10 laps, Tran Gia Huy finished first, followed by Dang Chi Khoi and Nguyen Minh Tri.
CBR 150R category
Next is the CBR 150R category – one of the categories that speed enthusiasts are always looking forward to, to witness the breathtaking acceleration and high-speed performances of passionate racers. This category had 12 racers participating, including a special appearance of female racer Vo Huyen Thien Thu (wearing number 66). Right from the start, the race saw position changes from the first corners. However, similar to the Winner X 150 category, the CBR 150R category continued to be a battle among the top 3 racers who dominated the previous season: Nguyen Vu Thanh (wearing number 19), Nguyen Nhat Truong (wearing number 96), and Nguyen Hoang Dang Khoa (wearing number 17).
Although starting from the fourth position in the qualifying race, Dang Khoa excellently took the first place, followed by Vu Thanh and Nhat Truong. It can be seen that Dang Khoa, with his strong determination and stable turns, easily moved up to the top despite facing racers with better qualifying results. Dang Khoa is considered a surprise and can be said to be the variable in the CBR 150R category as he effectively defended his leading position. He didn’t make any mistakes throughout Race 1 of VMRC 2023.
UB 150 category
Finally, the competition in the UB 150 category. This category always provides thrilling and intense racing. And this time was no exception. Except for Huynh Minh Sang (wearing number 28) who maintained the lead from the qualifying round to finish first, the second and third positions were not occupied by the top starters. Le Khanh Loc (wearing number 68) had an outstanding race, climbing from 9th to 2nd place, while Nguyen Nhat Linh (wearing number 58) finished third.
In addition to the thrilling races in the 5 categories, Race 1 of VMRC 2023 also featured exciting side activities including the “Kid Training Mini Racetrack” and the “Gymkhana” competition for the audience. It was designed specifically for young racers aged 3 to 12 who are passionate about speed. The mini racetrack consists of 2 activities: balance bike racing for children aged 3 to 6 and CRF50 riding experience for children aged 7 to 12. Meanwhile, with the “Gymkhana” competition, the audience had the opportunity to get closer to the professional sports motorcycles, thereby increasing their awareness of legally organized professional racing competitions.
Thus, the first race of the VMRC 2023 season officially concluded with the outstanding performances of young and promising racers. See you all motorsport enthusiasts at Race 2 in July.
Anh Quan (forum.autodaily.vn)
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