Honda Racing Vietnam Team delivered a powerful performance once again, claiming a prestigious award by securing a spot on the victorious podium at the Pertamina Mandalika racetrack in Indonesia during the 4th leg of the Asian Motorcycle Racing Championship (ARRC) on July 27-28, 2024.

The Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit is located on the island of Lombok, right next to the world-famous “tourist paradise” of Bali. The circuit is known for its mild and pleasant climate, characterized by strong winds. Covering an area of 120 hectares, the Pertamina Mandalika racetrack boasts a 4.313-kilometer-long main track with 17 turns (6 left turns and 11 right turns) that meet the highest FIM grade A standards set by the International Motorcycling Federation. With a seating capacity of 50,000 people, which can be expanded to accommodate up to 195,000 spectators, this venue has hosted some of the most prestigious racing events on the planet, including MotoGP, Superbike World Championship, Asia Talent Cup, and Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC)

Honda Racing Vietnam Team made their debut at the Mandalika circuit on July 26 for practice sessions and started the qualifying round on the morning of July 27. Following the qualifying round, all three members of the Honda Racing Vietnam Team started from less-than-ideal positions: #65 Cao Viet Nam at 9th place, #19 Nguyen Ton Anh Phu at 14th, and the young racer #18 Nguyen Huu Tri at 17th.
As the warm-up lap came to an end, 27 racers lined up neatly at the starting line, all holding their breath in anticipation. When the lights went out, they simultaneously revved their engines to begin the 4th leg of the 2024 ARRC with high hopes. #65 Cao Viet Nam, an experienced racer, displayed his composure from the get-go.
Viet Nam consistently maintained his position within the top 10 and kept a favorable distance from the leading racers, ready to make his move when the opportunity presented itself. Meanwhile, his younger teammate, #19 Nguyen Ton Anh Phu, unfortunately, suffered a fall at the last turns of the first lap and had to retire. Further back, #18 Huu Tri temporarily dropped to 19th place.
After five laps, as the first day of racing progressed towards the second half, #65 Cao Viet Nam continued to perform exceptionally well, seeking an opportunity to break into the top 5. There was a moment when “The Mad” climbed up to 6th place, but he was soon overtaken by his competitors and dropped back to 8th. At this point, Huu Tri #18 remained persistent and moved up to 16th place after eight laps.
The tense situation kept the spectators on the edge of their seats. The most unexpected twist of the race came in the last 30 seconds: the leading racers fiercely competed against each other. Seizing the opportunity, #65 Cao Viet Nam suddenly accelerated powerfully, overtaking a string of opponents to secure a spot among the top 4 leaders while also creating a gap between himself and the chasing pack.
In the last 20 seconds before the finish line, a moment that left the audience in awe, #65 Cao Viet Nam bravely attacked and surpassed #36 Muhammad Faerozi and #38 Arai Agaska, both racers from Yamaha Racing Indonesia, to secure 2nd place, which guaranteed him a spot on the podium.
Those were the final thrilling moments before the racers crossed the finish line, completing 10 laps. The results of the first day of racing brought glory once again to Cao Viet Nam, who claimed 2nd place on the podium. The last time he hoisted the Vietnamese flag on the podium was two months ago at Leg 2 of the 2024 ARRC in China, at the Zhuhai racetrack. Meanwhile, his younger teammate, Nguyen Huu Tri, finished in 17th place.
The second day of racing was predicted to be highly competitive, especially with the home team racers, including the two from Astra Honda Racing Team, who did not meet their expected results on the first day. Right after the start, the “madman” #65 Cao Viet Nam was pushed out of the top 10, running just ahead of his teammate #19 Nguyen Ton Anh Phu in 11th and 12th places, respectively. The younger teammate, #18 Huu Tri, maintained his starting position at 17th.
Viet Nam’s impressive second-place finish on the first day also increased the competitive pressure from his rival racers with each passing lap. Nonetheless, the trio of Vietnamese racers demonstrated resilience and perseverance on every meter of the racetrack, striving to bring home valuable points for their team. On the second day, Cao Viet Nam finished 10th, Nguyen Huu Tri 16th, and Nguyen Ton Anh Phu 22nd.
Thus, after four legs of the 2024 ARRC, #65 Cao Viet Nam has accumulated 61 points, temporarily ranking 6th with one leg victory and one podium finish in second place. Racer #19 Nguyen Ton Anh Phu is in 12th place with 29 points, while his young teammate #18 Nguyen Huu Tri is in 15th place with a total of 19 points.
Now, the trio of Vietnamese racers, (#65) Cao Viet Nam, Anh Phu (#19), and Huu Tri (#18) from the Honda Racing Vietnam Team, will take a well-deserved break and continue their training for a month before heading to Malaysia to compete at the “tropical sanctuary” of Sepang, a challenging and somewhat fateful racetrack. Don’t forget to follow and support the Honda Racing Vietnam Team, and let’s hope for more good news at Leg 5 of the 2024 ARRC in September!
Anh Phan (Tuoitrethudo)

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