2020 was a challenging year for humanity due to the outbreak of COVID-19. In Vietnam, although the epidemic was successfully controlled, the whole country remained on high alert, and sports activities had to be ready for potential pauses if the situation became more complex. This included the Vietnam Motorcycle Racing Championship (VMRC) 2020.
After three smooth and thrilling stages, the audience of VMRC 2020 thought they would witness the luckiest season in Asia, enjoying a complete championship. However, in November of last year, the epidemic showed signs of complex development again, prompting the organizers to cancel stage 4 in support of the country’s anti-epidemic program. This decision, though regrettable for all racers, organizers, and Honda Vietnam, prioritized the health of the community, which was the utmost importance for the VMRC championship.
It wasn’t until December 2020 that the epidemic situation was brought back under control. At this time, both organizers and Honda Vietnam (as the largest consulting and sponsoring unit of the championship) were preparing to revive the VMRC 2020 championship. The determination to fulfill the promise of the most complete VMRC 2020 season led to the quick decision to hold stage 5 of the championship on January 24, 2021, at the Dai Nam race track.
Following the events of stage 3 in November, speed enthusiasts have been eagerly looking forward to hearing the roar of Honda machines on the racetrack. Stage 3 can be considered one of the highest-quality stages in VMRC, with racers making notable progress and technical adjustments proving effective. The competition has reached a new level, intensifying the overall VMRC ranking.
In the Honda NSF100 – Vietnam Talent Cup category (the first and only professional category that currently uses a motorsport model for racers under 18 years old), the past three rounds have been extremely exciting with the outstanding performance of racer Nguyen Ton Anh Phu, who has earned 41 points. Anh Phu has consistently demonstrated superiority and dominance in each stage, especially during stage 3 when he made a “crazy” comeback to secure the first-place position.
Anh Phu, however, cannot afford to feel secure just yet. Tran Le Minh Phu and Vietnamese-American racer William Vinh are right behind him with 35 and 30 points, respectively. Many predictions suggest that the podium for the return phase of the NSF100 category will continue to be a battleground for these three racers.
Moving on to the Blade 110 category, significant improvements have been made, especially during stage 3. The Blade 110 bikes were enhanced with better suspension and steering systems, resulting in an even more impressive performance. It’s worth noting that the racers in the Blade 110 category this year are very young and have performed exceptionally well.
After three rounds, racer Phan Minh Phung has asserted his dominance in the Blade 110 category with 48 points, far ahead of second-place racer Tran Nguyen Phuong An with 31 points. At this stage, Minh Phung is almost certain to claim the championship title with a 17-point lead, which is quite a challenging gap to overcome.
The MSX 125 category, by the third round of VMRC 2020, has become the category with the largest engine displacement in the championship. Honda Vietnam made a bold move by introducing the latest version of the Honda MSX 125, increasing its engine displacement to 170cc, making it the most powerful bike in the VMRC 2020 championship.
After three rounds, racer Nguyen Duc Thanh has demonstrated near-total dominance in the MSX 125 category with two first-place finishes and one second-place finish. Duc Thanh has proven himself worthy of being part of the Honda Racing Vietnam team.
Meanwhile, the Winner 150 category is also making a strong impression. The Honda Winner X bikes in the VMRC 2020 season have been improved in terms of the steering and transmission systems, resulting in smoother rides and better acceleration.
The current situation in this category is extremely intense, with the top five racers being separated by just four points. Nguyen Ngoc Nhan currently leads the category with 33 points, followed closely by To Ha Dong Nghi and Le Vu Truong Giang, both with 32 points. Nguyen Tien Thanh and Nguyen Hoang Dang Khoa are also in close competition, with 30 and 29 points, respectively. Given this situation, the return round of the Winner 150 category is expected to be “blazing and challenging”.
Finally, in the UB130 category, the participating teams have presented a more professional image this year, showcasing impressive machines. This category gathers the “elite” racers who are currently considered to be at the highest level in Vietnam, such as Bui Duy Thong, Le Khanh Luc, Nguyen Anh Tuan, and Doan Truong Lai, among others.
The competition is fierce in this category, with Le Hung Huu Tin leading the standings with 37 points, followed by Le Trong Vinh with 33 points, Huynh Minh Sang with 31 points, and Le Khanh Loc with 28 points. Predicting the champion of the UB130 category has become very difficult, as the racers’ levels in this category are quite similar, and the teams always bring surprises with each stage.
Teams such as Thien Le Racing, Phu Tung AE DNA, and Dong Nghi Racing Team currently lead the team standings in the UB130 category. With their strength and professionalism, the race for the championship team of VMRC 2020 has turned into a three-horse race among these three teams.
With stage 4 canceled, the championship now only has two stages remaining, and stage 5 will be the turning point, crucial for the pursuing racers to maintain their hopes. As for the leading racers and teams, completing stage 5 means they are on the verge of achieving the VMRC 2020 championship. Therefore, there will be no more concessions or overly cautious calculations. The audience eagerly awaits the racers’ performances.
Returning after a two-month hiatus since stage 3, the racers’ performances have raised some doubts. However, both Honda Vietnam and the teams have stated that they continued the racers’ training programs as usual, thanks to their preparation of plans to cope with the epidemic. Moreover, in the past two months, Honda Racing Vietnam’s technical team has fine-tuned the participating bikes, promising to deliver even more powerful and faster machines.
Stage 5 of VMRC 2020 will officially take place on January 24, 2021, at the Dai Nam race track, sponsored by Honda Vietnam. The race will once again be a fierce competition across five categories: Vietnam Talent Cup (NSF100cc), Blade 110cc, MSX 125cc, Winner 150cc, and UB 130cc. It is guaranteed to bring a fierce, passionate, and exhilarating “Speed Day”.
The race will be livestreamed on the official Vietnam Motor Racing Fanpage at https://www.facebook.com/Vietnam-Motor-Racing-813850712144385. Please visit this fanpage to stay updated on the latest developments and results of VMRC 2020.
Trang Nguyen (Forum.autodaily.vn)
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