ARRC 2024, Leg 5: Honda Racing Vietnam’s Consecutive Triumph

The recent Round 5 at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia showcased the resilient spirit of the team’s leading racer, #65 Cao Viet Nam, and the breakthrough performance of young racer #18 Nguyen Huu Tri. Viet Nam (#65) came very close to clinching another race victory, and his podium finish was more than enough to delight his fans.

As of Round 4, held at the Pertamina Mandalika Circuit in Indonesia in late July, Cao Viet Nam (#65) had accumulated 61 points, temporarily ranking 6th with one race win. His junior teammate, #19 Nguyen Ton Anh Phu, was in 12th place with 29 points, while young talent #18 Nguyen Huu Tri held 15th position with a total of 19 points.

A Playground for Classy “Big Boys”

Round 5 was hosted at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia, a typical international racing venue in Southeast Asia. Located next to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, this circuit meets the highest global standards and is capable of hosting F1 and MotoGP races. Other notable events held here include Super GT, World Touring Car Cup, Asia Le Mans Series, Superbike World Championship, and Asia Road Racing Championship – ARRC.

The Sepang Circuit boasts a racing length of 5.543 km, encompassing 15 turns and 8 straights. Its design allows for speeds exceeding 300 km/h. Situated near the equator, the area exhibits distinct weather patterns: scorching sun from morning to noon, followed by heavy rainfall every afternoon. The high humidity adds to the oppressive atmosphere.

After a series of tireless practice sessions and real-world testing at the Sepang Circuit itself, the team proceeded to the qualifying round. #65 Cao Viet Nam achieved a time of 2 minutes and 25 seconds, earning him the 7th starting position overall. #18 Nguyen Huu Tri began the race behind him in 18th place, while #19 Nguyen Ton Anh Phu was unable to participate due to last-minute unforeseen circumstances.

Race Day 1: Young Racer’s Breakthrough

Starting from the 7th position in the third row, #65 Cao Viet Nam aggressively competed from the moment the lights went out. As he entered the first corner, Nam overtook his rival to move up to 6th, but was soon outmaneuvered and dropped back to 7th. Nonetheless, he remained persistent in the chasing group at the front. Meanwhile, starting from 18th at the end of the sixth row, Nguyen Huu Tri opted for a slow and steady approach to maintain a stable performance. This strategy was extremely prudent given the harsh and unpredictable nature of the Sepang circuit, where position changes and unexpected falls are common in the final sprint.

The race dynamics shifted rapidly, and at the final turn before the end of the first lap, racer #88 Candra Hermawan lost control and crashed. Many spectators were stunned to see #65 Cao Viet Nam unfortunately caught up in this unfortunate collision.

However, with an iron will and unwavering determination, he got back on the track within minutes, despite knowing that his chances of a good result had become extremely slim.

Up ahead, #18 Nguyen Huu Tri demonstrated his skill and cunning, racing consistently and improving his position with each turn. He ultimately claimed 7th place overall, a truly surprising outcome. This was also Tri’s best ranking so far this season.

Meanwhile, #65 Cao Viet Nam, with his resilient spirit, refused to give up. Even as his rival retired from the race, he persevered and finished in 20th place overall.

Race Day 2: Efforts Rewarded

Putting aside the less-than-ideal outcome of the first race, #65 Cao Viet Nam refocused and entered Race Day 2 with his junior teammate, #18 Nguyen Huu Tri. Due to an opponent’s injury after the first day, #65 was promoted to the 6th starting position, while Huu Tri began in 17th.

With a more advantageous starting position (second row), racer 65 opted for an aggressive strategy, making bold moves into the corners and accelerating decisively to take the lead. In the first lap alone, Cao Viet Nam climbed from 6th to 4th, then up to 2nd. It took him just one more lap to seize the top spot.

Throughout the next 7 laps, Cao Viet Nam consistently demonstrated impressive racing form, maintaining a top position. However, the pressure from competing racers was intense. There were moments when Viet Nam’s bike entered the corner side by side with a rival, both vying for the number one spot. Trailing behind, #18 Nguyen Huu Tri continued his steady performance, climbing up to 13th.

The turning point came at the final corner before the finish line. Opponents #71 and #36 strategically separated their lines to overtake Cao Viet Nam. To avoid a collision and maintain his position, the “madman” #65 had no choice but to follow suit. As a result of this final slipstream maneuver, Cao Viet Nam finished third and secured another podium appearance. #18 Nguyen Huu Tri crossed the line in 12th place.

Thus far, after 5 official rounds, Honda Racing Vietnam has achieved very promising results, accumulating a total of 138 points. Only one final round remains, which will take place after a 2-month break at the Chang Circuit, considered a “home ground” for #65 Cao Viet Nam. The Asian Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 will conclude in early December, so stay tuned for the exciting developments and cheer on Honda Racing Vietnam!

PA (Tuoitrethudo)