PETRONAS SPRINTA FIM ASIAN GRAND PRIX 2008 Round-1

MOVE INTO NEW TERRITORY: THE FIRST 600cc RIDE

The PSYI Team was ready to ride. Everything was in place: the deal was done with the sponsors, the riders and mechanics contracted, tools and transport readied.

Only one problem. No motorcycles.

While veteran Popi Sugianto and rising star Sudarmono were set to make their initial effort on the 600cc. Yamaha four-cylinder machines, the bikes were tied up in Indonesian Customs.

It was thus not until the first high-powered event rolled around that the machines were delivered, meaning that Team riders would be up against the fiercest competition imaginable at Sentul Circuit: Thai, Malaysian, Japanese and Indonesian stars with considerable experience at speed on the multicylinder racers.

Round 1 of the 2008 PETRONAS FIM Asian GP was held at Sentul International Circuit on a clear and hot 25~27 April 2008 – the fact that Popi and Sudarmono would be competing on ‘home ground’ was at least one element in their favour.

Inasmuch as it would be the first time out for both riders on the new machines, there was no pressure to perform. In fact, specific instructions were given to take it easy and become comfortable with the unfamiliar big machines. Sponsors too had made it clear that the first year of competitive effort by Star Racing should form a positive learning curve, with steadily better finishes, as mechanics, tuners and riders became familiar with the new machines.

In spite of it being his first-ever ride on a large-bore motorcycle, Sudarmono, our newest Team member, surprised everyone during the first practice on Friday morning, clocking times as the fastest rider in the First Practice Session, with a surprising 1:34.165 lap time in 1st Qualifying

With around seven hours total riding experience on the 600cc bike, Sudarmono was the fastest Indonesian rider on Friday, marking a 6th Place in standings.

Ride the horse too hard and it might just turn around and bite you. Saturday morning practice saw Sudarmono crash at high speed coming out of the ‘Big S’, in Free Practice, giving onlookers a thrill as the machine cartwheeled in multiple endos. The young rider was unhurt, and claimed a lack of grip in the front end; the suspension was adjusted but this made little difference as Sudarmono threw the machine down the road, hard, during the 2nd Qualifying session.

‘It may be that he is not used to a heavy machine that he can’t control by moving around his body weight. With the 600 it’s more of a physical challenge, especially for a little guy... and he must control his right wrist wisely" observed Benny D.U., after the big crashes.

The Wonosari hotshot was putting on an amazing performance. He struggled out of the gravel pit and went to work on the scratched-up YZF-R6, managing to crash out on the fourteenth lap of the 1st race. Well, he was sure finding the machine’s limits – and his own limits as well, the hard way.

‘Reminds me of the early days of Alex Barros – and the guy we used to call “Crashy” Stoner’, observed veteran GP rider and World Point holder Byron Black.

Sudarmono DNFed in Race 1, on Lap 14 out of 16; Popi finished a commendable 5th [25:45.475], after a shock disqualification of four top finishers for alleged technical violations.

Another spill during the warmup lap for Race 2 put Sudarmono out of contention on Lap 14 (of 16), as the left engine cover had fractured, hot engine oil lathering the rear tire. This was not rider's fault, as no one can be expected to continue to compete with an 'oily rear tire'. He was thus unable to start Race 2.

Veteran rider Popi Sugianto had his hands full as well. He was already familiar with the high-speed power and handling characteristics of big bikes (he had taken part in training sessions at the Johor Bahru, Malaysia Circuit in past years), but the competition from veteran Thai, Japanese and Malaysian riders - not to mention the hot Indonesians - was formidable.

He was also distracted by the gradual loss of damping of the rear suspension unit, after 8-9 laps: specialised racing shocks would clearly be necessary to ensure top performance for future events.

Popi had an uneventful if frustrating day, as his lap times were adversely affected by engine overheating; the aforementioned disqualification of four riders meant that Popi gained a 2nd Place Podium finish in Race 2 [25:37.986, nearly 8 seconds quicker than his Race 1 time].

It was clear after this first SuperSport Class event, which in spite of technical and riding challenges resulted in no injury to riders or major damage to the machines, that intensive practice, lap after lap after lap, would be the only way to ensure steady performance at speed, particularly for the longer FIM Asian GP events.

PETRONAS SPRINTA FIM ASIAN GRAND PRIX 2008 Round-2

FAST & STEADY - LEARN FROM THE LEADERS!

The second time out for the PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Indonesia Racing Team, the entire team was fortunate to be able to compete once more at the race track with which riders and tuners were most familiar: smooth, simple Sentul.

Compare Qualifying Lap Times to note the progress of these two 'freshmen' (Popi had some experience riding multi-cylinder bikes, but in an era years before):

These varied lap times do however not reflect the smoother and more confident riding of these two competitors; in Round 1 Sudarmono was the fastest Indonesian rider, ahead of veterans of FIM Asian GP events. Popi came back strongly in Round 2, obviously feeling the need to better his team-mate.

Best of all, in Round 2 there were NO CRASHES: novice Sudarmono had quickly become comfortable with the performance and handling characteristics of the relatively heavy, wide YZR-600F - compared, of course, to the bebek underbone racer on which he had built his racing reputation. He could throw the lighter bike around easily, using his body weight: on the 600cc he had to learn smoothness and elegance in running at the edge of adhesion.

In Race 1 Sudarmono finished in 9th Place and Popi in 11th; in Race 2 Sudarmono gained 6th Place [25:19.697], almost 18 seconds ahead of his team-mate Popi in 9th Place [25:37.147]. Was this a sign of things to come, from the hard-charging younger generation?

It is so very frustrating for an underbone champ like Sudarmono to be a regular podium finisher, winning trophies every time out, and then to go into a completely different - and much quicker and more perilous - game, in which the leaders leave you far behind. Worse, some of those quicker riders are guys you used to beat in bebek racing!!

Patience, perseverance... continue to learn...

FASTRON-PERTAMAX TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP 2008, ROUND-2

EVERY RACE – A LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Another outing on the big Yamahas, as Team Riders Popi Sugianto and Sudarmono, doing lap after lap in the comfortable and familiar environment of Sentul International Circuit, strengthened the men’s skills and confidence at speed. It was Round 2 of the Indonesian National Championship races.

June 1 dawned hot and sunny, as a number of big bikes assembled at Sentul, ready to show their stuff and fight for the chequered flag, in the 10-lap event. Interest was predominantly focused on the 600cc SuperStock racing class, as riders would be fighting for points and glory (and a little money would come in handy as well!)

Sentul, Indonesia’s only dedicated racing circuit, would be a good place for PSYI mechanics and riders to gain vital experience in racing these new machines.

It has long been known that increasing the number of variables in motorcycle racing jacks up the odds of disappointment. Professional racers – tuners, mechanics, team owners, riders – do not like surprises. They don’t appreciate variables such as weather, wind, machine modifications, tire peculiarities or schedule shifts, all of which can add work and introduce uncertainty.

Race reports in MotoGP sometimes mention that a given rider has demanded ‘last year’s frame’ or ‘the engine we used in previous races’ while the factory and sponsor want to try out a presumably quicker, lighter, steadier and generally more advanced model.

Advanced, yes. Untested in actual racing conditions – ah, that raises alarms.

The same thing goes for race courses. Sudarmono in particular needed to practice among other racers, at speeds he had never experienced on a motorcycle roughly twice as heavy and four times as powerful as anything he had ever ridden before. Better to do so on a familiar circuit: Sentul, where he had raced the lightweight bebek underbone machines for Yamaha and Suzuki, time and again.

Popi was also gaining experience and confidence, but this Indonesian National Championship event was not to be a day of victory for our team, as veteran Suzuki rider Achmad Jayadi stormed ahead from practice, turning a remarkable time of 1:34.965 on his agile GSX-R 600K8.

Popi’s best practice times were a decent 1:36.205 and 1:35.823 (eventually qualifying at 1:35.774 and 1:35.306), while rookie Sudarmono turned a 1:37.65 in Practice and qualified at 1:37.287. He was clearly proceeding cautiously up the learning curve, after the series of spectacular crashes of the previous event.

Only 7 starters meant that there would not be much close racing, and ten laps later the chequered flag saw Sudarmono in a surprising 3^rd Place, ahead of team-mate Popi in 5^th. This earned him 16 Points in the Indonesian National Championship standings.

Sudarmono failed to start Race 2, where Popi gained 20 points for a strong 2^nd Place finish.

A healthy and safe race-learning experience, preparing the Team for coming FIM Asian GP events! The Team expectation of seeing both riders finish among the TOP-5 was successfully met.

Everybody is happy for the rising Novice rider - relief that he has come through well, in this trial by fire.

And on to Sepang - another major adventure for all concerned!

PETRONAS SPRINTA FIM ASIAN GRAND PRIX 2008 Round-3

PILOTING THE YAMAHAS UP THE LEARNING CURVE: ONWARD TO SEPANG

The StockSport 600cc event, one of a number of motorcycle races held as the PETRONAS FIM Asian GP, Round 3, at Sepang International Circuit, on 27 – 29 June 2008, was a pioneering effort for the PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Indonesia Racing Team.

Not only was it the first time any members of the Team had gone racing abroad, it was the first trip overseas for most – though Malaysia is similar to Indonesia in many aspects: the climate, natural setting, history and culture all seem rather familiar to Indonesians.

And there are so many Indonesians working in Malaysia that one may use Bahasa Indonesia without much trouble - or English, for that matter!

Spectacular Sepang Circuit, on the other hand, was a new and eye-opening experience. This relatively new, world-class race course, designed by renowned German race course expert Herman Tilke (who was also the creative force for racing circuits in Shanghai, Bahrain and Turkey), can be run in various configurations. Formula I events use the entire circuit; the FIM Asian GP StockSport 600 races were to be held on the challenging North Course, featuring several long sweepers and numerous gradients.

Fast, safe and smooth, this is the ‘home turf’ for Malaysian racing stars such as Ahmad Fuad Baharudin and Japanese Toshiyuki Hamaguchi, aka ‘The Hammer’, five-time winner at Sepang.

While the members of the PSYI Racing Team had arrived in Malaysia on 26 June 2008, Customs Clearance for the racing motorcycles shipped in from Jakarta meant that it was not possible to retrieve the machines and set them up for free practice on Friday.

During Saturday morning first practice, both riders were faced with the challenge of learning the twists and turns of a new race course. While both performed well, eventually qualifying in the middle of the field, Sudarmono continued to suffer from soreness in his left wrist, the result of a crash sustained during a private dirt riding exercise on Wednesday 18 June near his home in Central Java. Having suffered severe facial lacerations along with the sprained wrist, he was no longer the ‘pretty boy’: he had earned the nickname ‘SudarMONSTER’.

The fourth-fastest Indonesian rider in Qualifying, behind team-mate Popi Sugianto and veterans Ahmad Jayadi and Hendriansyah, Sudarmono was still learning the limits of the YZF-R6 at racing speeds – cautiously, considering his multiple spills at Sentul.

Popi began the race in 11th Place on the grid, Sudarmono in 13th. While there was the inevitable ferocious jousting at the front, with an predictable victory by Japanese star Toshiyuki Hamaguchi, both PSYI riders held steady midfield positions, until Sudarmono retired on Lap 7, with severe wrist pain. His 'comeback' in Race 2 saw him cross the line a respectable 12th (out of 20 finishers). It's the experience that counts (and not smacking your face on the asphalt as well!)

Popi performed well in this premiere outing, riding smoothly and ending up with a respectable 10th Place finish, some 5 km/h slower than the winning Yamaha of ‘the Hammer’. He was fortunate in not experiencing the overheating problems that had limited his performance at Sentul.

Malaysian star Ahmad Fuad Baharudin, ‘Sultan of Sepang’, was invited by PSYI to share his knowledge about his 'home-track' for our two riders on ways to turn faster laps at the unfamiliar course, and after a training session both Popi and Sudarmono exhibited markedly superior performance, improving lap times by nearly a second apiece. Ahmad Fuad's 'Tips and Tricks' was proven to be very useful at the next race at Sepang Circuit in Malaysian Super Series Round 4.

Clean and modern paddock areas, broad runoff gravel traps and an enjoyable ‘rider’s course’ all go to make running at Sepang International Circuit a great experience for riders, mechanics and spectators – but hopefully one with superior finishes for PSYI in future events…

FASTRON-PERTAMAX TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP 2008, ROUND-3

SUDARMONO TAKES COMMAND AT SENTUL

For motorcycle enthusiasts the “Fastron Pertamax Touring Car Championship 2008 – Series 3” was only a minor race, a SuperStock 600cc Class event run at Sentul International Circuit on 5~6 July, sandwiched between car events.

This race was however important for the PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Indonesia Team, as it allowed a newly-confident Sudarmono to lead ruthlessly from start to finish, taking the chequered flag far ahead of any competition. The novice rider is clearly gaining confidence and skill on the big Yamaha.

The only free practice for the motorcycles was a 30-minute untimed session on Friday 4 July, in a weekend so focusing on automobile racing that the Petronas Sprinta Yamaha Indonesia team had to set up the motorcycles in the parking lot: no paddock spaces were made available for the two-wheel racing teams.

Sudarmono’s best Qualifying Lap time of 1:35.458 was a tip-off to the hard attack he planned to mount during the race itself. Sudarmono and Popi qualified 1st and 2nd, which is how they eventually finished the 10-lap race event on Sunday 6 July. Lap times were somewhat erratic, as riders had only been given a short session in which to qualify. Sudarmono’s best was a 1:36.099, and Popi clocked up a 1:36.299, both remarkable lap times in view of this being the first year these gents have piloted multi-cylinder machines.  

A confident Sudarmono led from the start of the event, and by Turn 2 (the fastest bend on the course) after the start he had already gained some ten meters over 2nd Place Popi, who was in turn just ahead of Suzuki star Ahmad Jayadi. He went on to win the race [16:13.556], an event in which there were only 8 finishers.

Veteran rider Matteo G. reported that at one point Sudarmono went into the final turn at Sentul too deep but managed to recover control and get through the turn safely (this is where he had crashed in his first race outing on the YZF-R6).

By this point Popi was gaining a little on the leader, his Team partner. When Sudarmono was aware of his firm control of the lead he backed off somewhat and rode a smooth, steady race, showing full control of the YZF-R6.

Popi was passed by Ahmad Jayadi, who outbraked him into the ‘small S’ bend, on Lap 3. Several laps later Jayadi made a mistake at precisely the same point, hurtling into the gravel trap while Popi reclaimed 2nd Place 16:18.536, or 4.960 seconds behind his team-mate]. Jayadi attempted to catch him but never came close, for the remainder of the 10-lap event finishing 7.072 seconds behind novice Sudarmono.

This was the second victory for young Sudarmono, who was clearly going quicker and quicker on his Yamaha 600. 2009 promises to be a very interesting and competitive season – let’s see if Indonesia can muscle its way among the race leaders…

MALAYSIAN SUPERSERIES 2008, Round-4

WE CAME TO WIN AND WIN WE DID

A second trip to Malaysia targeted two events, both important for different reasons. Riders, tuners and mechanics were building vital experience, gaining familiarity with the YZF-R6 and its peculiarities under the extreme stress of road racing.

Think of it this way: riding one of these sports machines on a race course puts tremendous demands on all reciprocating parts: valves, tappets, pistons and rings, conrods and crank.

30 minutes at racing speeds – typically around 15,000 ~ 16,000 rpm – is equivalent to six months of normal road riding, even if nothing breaks or blows up. These engines are known to be reliable and strong, even when subjected to the abnormal stresses of road racing.

Remember: these are sports motorcycles, not million-dollar one-off racing machines, designed to run one race only before being torn down and rebuilt (exotic engines designed with no regard for cost, and manufactured from 'unobtanium'). What’s more, the aggressive young riders on the FIM Asian GP teams routinely wound up engines to redline on acceleration and may as well have over-revved them downshifting: they practiced and they raced the four-cylinder Yamahas, Hondas, Suzukis and Kawasakis pretty viciously.

(One naturally wonders if they would have ridden so hard, with so little care for engines and transmissions, if these had been their own motorcycles…)

There was a Free Practice Session on Friday 11 July, soon after the Indonesian gang piled out of the Garuda Indonesia 737 flying up from Jakarta to the international airport – actually just over the hill from Sepang International Circuit.

Familiar faces from other teams, men and women in race administration, and the media were already dropping by to say hello and exchange news with the PSYI guys; practically everyone stayed at the same dowdy hotel in the town of Sepang, which also brought all the competitors closer together.

One rationale for the participation of the Petronas Sprinta Yamaha Indonesia Team in Round 4 of the Malaysian SuperSeries 2008 event, taking place on 11 ~ 12 July 2008, was to make up for the PSYI Team’s having missed the first event of the year; it would also be a handy opportunity for Popi and Sudarmono to gain competitive riding experience in an international setting – and without the pressure to perform that the FIM Asian GP series naturally contains.

Both Team riders were fast and smooth at Sepang, and proceeded to practice with considerable confidence – Popi and Sudarmono were already familiar with the twists and turns of the complex North Circuit. Machine settings learned from the previous event also made tuning easier and added to the reliability of the YZF-R6.

Track buzz was all about the anticipated victory of local star (and Malaysian Super Series champion) Mohamad Syahnas Shahidan; nobody had ever heard of the Indonesian riders.

It was thus an unpleasant surprise for many MSS fans when the dour Sudarmono, freshly recovered from his off-road riding injuries, qualified 1st and his teammate Popi took 3rd position on the grid, sandwiching Syahnas in between them.

It also broke a lot of local hearts when the unknown Indonesians went on to win both Races, but not after lap after lap of fierce competition with Syahnas, who was, after all, a Sepang star with plenty of experience at high speeds in heavy traffic around this track.

Race 2 was pretty much decided from the start, when Sudarmono shot forward with a spectacular ten-meter jump on the rest of the pack. He was soon challenged, time and again, by Syahnas, who swapped leads with the young Indonesian rider four or five times during the 15-lap event.

By this time Syahnas was aware of the Indonesian threat, as Mono had taken the chequered flag in Race 1, with Popi right behind him.

Race 2 was good, exciting entertainment for faithful MSS spectators as Sudarmono outbraked Syahnas several times going into Turn 4, a 90-degree uphill right-hander, and Syahnas passed him right back coming out of Turn 6, a fast right-hand sweeper coming onto the main straight. The two were clearly equally matched – but remember this was Sudarmono’s first-ever year on the big machines!

Sudarmono put on an extra burst of speed on Lap 14, pulling 1.5 seconds on Syahnas (who was briefly trapped behind a back-marker). Time and again one of the really fast riders would come up behind one of these guys tootling along right on the racing line, going about 50 km/h slower; the fast rider is faced with an immediate decision as to whether to pass on the inside or around the outside, and if he is swapping lead positions with another two or three fast guys behind him it can get dangerously exciting.

This is what happened in the MSS race: Syahnas got stuck behind the back marker, for a fraction of a second, as Sudarmono whizzed past the guy on the outside. Syahnas tried his best but could not gain back the lead before Mono crossed the Finish Line, three turns later. He had completed Race 2 in 17:29.8, almost precisely three seconds quicker than his win in Race 1.

Fellow PSYI rider Popi was trying to keep up with the ‘fast duo’, but the repetition of a previous engine overheating condition was a serious distraction. This actually came as a sharp surprise to the Team, inasmuch as Popi’s machine had run at a normal temperature during Race 1. Popi finished Race 2 at 17:34.431, several seconds slower than he had achieved in Race 1 – most probably the result of overheating.

Victory and dual podium places at this second-tier event was a big boost - an important psychological benefit for the PSYI Team riders, building confidence and experience, particularly in riding in close quarters on the large-displacement, multi-cylinder machines.

These two riders would need such experience – and fortitude! – going into the serious battle of the next event, Round 4 of the FIM Asian GP races, due to take place at Johor Bahru Circuit, Malaysia, on 18 ~ 20 July 2008 just a week after the MSS event.

PETRONAS SPRINTA FIM ASIAN GRAND PRIX 2008 Round-4

BATTLE IN THE SOUTH: THE UPS AND DOWNS OF JOHOR BAHRU

Following their unexpected – and most welcome – podium victories in the MSS events at Sepang, Sudarmono and Popi, along with the rest of the Team, arrived from Sepang in the late afternoon of 12 July, to take part in the FIM Asia GP Round 4 events, from 18~20 July. All were able to enjoy a few days of ‘R & R’, following the long drive down to Johor Bahru, near the southern tip of peninsular Malaysia, near the border with Singapore.

It was back to the big time: the classic European-style race course at Johor, enjoyed by some and dreaded by many, was perceived as a definite challenge for the relatively inexperienced PSYI Team riders. Complex banked turns with varying camber, sudden rises and falls tend to load and unload the tires under acceleration and hard braking: Johor Bahru is thus what is known as a ‘rider’s course’ (as opposed to a ‘power course’ where long straights and tight turns give more weight to horsepower and handling than rider skill).

Further, Johor is the ‘stomping ground’ of the sharpest FIM Asian GP riders, particularly ‘Hammer’ Hamaguchi and the fast Malaysians. The Japanese riders make their second home in nearby Singapore and know every bump and turn at Johor; while Popi had ridden the complex circuit once previously, on a ‘try-out’ in 2004, both he and Sudarmono were faced with having to quickly learn to navigate its 12 bends at racing speeds.

Sudarmono in particular expressed frustration at not being able to practice enough to go flat out – but with lap times of 1:37.006 / 1:37.819 he was still able to qualify 9th (the first Indonesian rider, just behind the ‘fast crew’ of experienced FIM Asian GP riders) while Popi’s times of 1:37.558 and 1:37.457 earned him a grid position of 12th, respectable in view of the conditions. The track was somewhat gritty, with much dust and gravel threatening unpleasant slides through the turns, and bumpier than the two newcomers (accustomed to the smooth surface of Sentul) were used to.

In Qlf 1 Sudarmono was 2.5 seconds adrift of pacesetter, Toshiyuki Hamaguchi, while in Qlf 2 that figure was 3.4 seconds: ‘the Hammer’ was setting a very hot pace by this time, in his determined effort to come from behind and retake the FIM Asian GP 2008 championship.

Popi qualified in 12th and 9th (first Indonesian rider), while battling the overheating effects that had plagued his machine at Sepang.

When Sudarmono’s engine was disassembled for inspection it was discovered that a compression ring had fractured, scoring cylinder wall No. 1. It was thus decided to mount the spare engine the Team had brought along in Sudarmono’s motorcycle.

Another ambiguous factor was the track’s being damp in patches, making it dangerous to corner hard, and during Qlf 2 the rain began coming down, hard. Nevertheless, PSYI riders managed to gain starting positions mid-field, about the same as they had in the previous FIM Asian GP event at Sepang.

Team Management was pleased to note that the best time for Sudarmono was quicker than that of Indonesian star Ahmad Jayadi, and that both PSYI riders qualified ahead of Mohammad Fadli and Hendriansyah, two other very talented Indonesian riders. This was taken as a sign of increasing skill and confidence of PSYI riders with the YZF-R6 racing motorcycle.

Practice days had been characterised by a thick overcast, with broken patches of blue sky and occasional light rain; race day dawned clear and hot, with only a thin cirrocumulus overcast. Friday afternoon had seen a fierce monsoon rain brew up around 16.00, giving rise to a concern that unpredictable conditions could emerge – favouring the ‘homeboy riders’.

Novice SuperSport rider Sudarmono gained vital experience riding the YZF-R6 in heavy race traffic, at an unfamiliar course, and fulfilled Team expectations and PSYI objectives with a 13th and 8th Place finish (gaining one place after the technical disqualification of Japanese star Inagaki).

Popi’s race results were marred by the recurring engine overheating problem. Nevertheless the fact remained that while it was anticipated that during the year he would be the ‘senior rider’, showing young rookie Sudarmono the way to ride the SuperSport class, since the MSS events it has clearly been the other way around! Part of the adventure of racing is such unpredictable performance

As for Sudarmono, he came to realise that he would have to improve his physical condition to achieve the stamina necessary for racing these relatively heavy, production-based motorcycles, along with the stalwart mental state necessary to sustain a sharp competitive attitude. Based on his dramatic performance thus far, Team Management looked forward to steady improvement in his placings in upcoming races. It has been a very educational year for the young gentleman thus far.
 

FASTRON-PERTAMAX TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP 2008, ROUND-4

A NEW STAR SHARPENS THE CHALLENGE

Life got very exciting during the 2-day competition at Sentul International Circuit, held on 23 ~ 24 August 2008, as part of the scheduled touring car championships; the PSYI Team was there to take part in a SuperStock event included by the organisers.

Team Management determined that participation would fulfil several objectives:

1. To allow further testing and upgrading of the YZF-R6 motorcycles, using the data and experience gained during earlier events in the series. The Team actually began testing, with its riders, on Tuesday 19 August.
   
2. To acquaint Harlan Fadhillah, a small-displacement championship-level rider, with the YZF-R6 on a race course. This would be the first outing on an ’08 YZF-R6 in Super-Stock motorcycle for Harlan, who is being positioned as a potential team rider in future PSYI racing efforts.
   
3. To ascertain, in a non-FIM Asia GP points event, the relative strengths of all three team riders, inspiring each one to sharper levels of effort. Sudarmono and Harlan were traditional adversaries in the harsh environment of Indonesian underbone racing; Popi as the veteran rider and historic team leader, was expected to set the pace for the other two boys.

There was concern reported about the recurrent overheating problems in the YZF-R6 motorcycles of Harlan, in spite of unusually pleasant weather at Sentul (hot spells with afternoon overcast and gentle winds). This problem seems to have been limited to Popi’s YZF-R6, and various measures have been taken to lessen it.

At the start of the event Sudarmono, who had set a scorching 1:34.633 Qualifying Lap, streaked away from all other riders, with a tight grouping of Popi and Harlan jousting for second position. Indonesian star Achmad Jayadi’s Suzuki motorcycle was notably slower than the PSYI 600cc machines, and he continued to fall behind in the event, which quickly spread out: Sudarmono far in front, Popi and Harlan competing vigorously, and the back-markers way behind in the rear.

Team management noted how Sudarmono exhibited new confidence and control throughout practice and the race event: he was smooth and fast. His practice times were consistently 1.0~1.3 seconds quicker than those he racked up at Sentul when still learning to ride the YZF-R6.

Popi, responding to competitive pressure from his teammates, was just under a second quicker than his previous times, at 1:35.997 (admittedly, he was also a newcomer to the multi-cylinder class), and Harlan showed an energetic and competitive spirit from his first day out, when he was able to record a Qualifying Lap time of 1:36.231, running on a new tire.

Team management was pleased to note that there were no crashes during the practice sessions, from Tuesday to Qualifying on Saturday.

Sudarmono was Harlan’s ‘racing guide’ on the 1^st and 2^nd day: by race day Handsome Harlan was looking confident, fast and steady on the big multi-cylinder Yamaha.

The severe competitive pressure from a brand-new Team member may have resulted in Popi eventually sliding off the course and falling, on the 4^th Lap of the event (on the complex ‘spoon’ of the 3^rd corner). He remounted and completed the Race, finishing dead last, in 10^th position. Immediately afterwards Popi attributed his crash to an incorrect rear sprocket choice, which is being studied carefully by the Team.

It was observed that Harlan was braking early for the ‘Small Chicane’ at Sentul (Turns 6~7). When asked about this he claimed that late braking would result in increased machine overheating.

Note that all Team machines were running with PETRONAS Sprinta 5000 oil, and experienced no problems whatsoever. All riders claimed, however, that after the sixth lap clutch behaviour was different, compared to earlier laps. While Harlan’s bike ran with OEM clutch springs, Sudarmono’s and Popi’s bikes were fitted with YEC-springs.

It was truly Sudarmono’s day, as he sped off, then set a safe, fast pace to win the race, and 25 National Championship points, by a clear margin of six seconds over second-place Harlan (20 points). A spectacular performance and strong confidence was exhibited by Mono, quickly learning the limits of the YZF-R6.

As detail development of these machines and further rider experience adds up, it is expected that better results in later FIM Asia GP events will ensue, particularly in 2009 events.

FASTRON-PERTAMAX TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP 2008, ROUND-5

MONO, RAIN-MASTER, WINS AGAIN

Many experts were surprised when prime Indonesia's motor racing venue was moved from Ancol to Sentul, in the early 1990s.

Ancol, located along the Java Sea coastline, next to the water sports entertainment complex in North Jakarta, had an exciting but somewhat dangerous road course. When it was decided to build at Sentul, next to an exit to the Jagorawi Toll Road to the city of Bogor, it made sense from the point of view of access, open, rolling countryside and the proximity to urban developments.

The problem with holding motor racing events in Bogor Regency is its 4233mm average rainfall - one of the highest in the world! To cope with this (in more prosperous times) Sentul Circuit hired a pawang hujan, a retired Indonesian military officer who was said to have mastered occult techniques to control the weather, to dissuade the rain during racing events. (Lest you have your doubts about such 'weather voodoo' please note that international 5-star hotels in Bali are known to employ these practitioners to prevent fifty thousand dollar 'garden weddings' from being rained out!)

Alas the pawang has retired, and on 1~2 November 2008, the clouds moved right in from the southeast, to greet Round 5 of the Fastron-Pertamax Touring Car Championship.

Organisers hosted an adjunct motorcycle race, without allowing much track time for the two-wheel competitors. While free practice on Friday wasn't even timed, this was not an issue, as Popi, Sudarmono and the newly-hired Harlan had already become quite familiar with the performance characteristics of the YZF-R6 at the simple, flat West Java circuit.

Saturday saw the PSYI Team excel in timed practice, with a now-typical running order of Sudarmono-Popi-Harlan securing the first three spots on the starting grid. Mono, now quite confident with the relatively heavy 600cc motorcycle, posted a comfortable 1:35.429 in Qualifying, which no other rider could even come close to.

Popi's 1:36.065 was just a hair faster than newcomer Harlan's 1:36.649, showing that 'Handsome Harlan' was proving to be a quick learner on the four-cylinder 600, on just his second time in competition .

Once again, the PSYI Team was 'camping out' in the parking lot, as the preferred pit areas were all taken up by the four-wheel teams. The mood was relaxed, but this would intensify as the race drew closer.

Warm, sunny mornings and heavily overcast afternoons threatened to drown out the racers. Just before the start of the SuperStock 600cc race, a fine drizzle began to fall, on the Sighting Lap.

Would the organisers decide to start the race? It was in the balance. The decision was quickly made to go for it, and as the flag fell the nine starters sped off, the three PSYI leaders diving into Turn 1 cautiously but competitively: there's nothing like racing against your teammates to show your potential. The uncertainty of the weather meant that all had to ride judiciously.

As before, Mono was off and gone, gaining 20 meters on Popi and Harlan by the second Turn of the first lap. The two green-and-white-clad PSYI riders were swapping places, fighting for second.

An alert had gone round earlier, during practice, advising riders that Turns 4 & 5, coming out of the right-hand 'spoon' at the bottom of Sentul, had become quite slippery with accumulated dust and rubber; several riders nearly came off during Qualifying. This is where Popi, jousting with Harlan for Second Place, slipped and suffered a high-side on Lap 2 of the 10-lap event, crashing out of competition. He damaged the Yamaha's fuel tank and slightly sprained his shoulder; it was impossible for the veteran campaigner to remount and continue racing.

Mono went on to win the event, unchallenged; Harlan, riding steadily, finished well ahead of Indonesian national star Achmad Jayadi, on a Suzuki, in Third. Final race times for the leaders, of 17:13.432 and 17:13.084, reveal how Harlan had been gradually gaining on the leading Mono during the latter stage of the race. As the rain had begun to let up, riders opened up a dry racing line - but the track was still wet and treacherously slippery on either side!

This race was an important experience for the PSYI racers; while they are accustomed to racing the underbone bebek machines in the wet, riding a big multi-cylinder motorcycle at high speeds on a slippery surface is a very different matter. Mono rode fast and steady, secure as never before; Harlan kept his wits about him, showing reliability at speed. Popi showed his fighting spirit and did his best for the Team.

Stepping off the rain-drenched Podium, PSYI Team members prepared themselves for FIM Asian GP events at Zhuhai Circuit, another 'point and shoot' course emphasizing hard braking and tight maneuvers. The rain began to fall so furiously that the car race following the SuperStock event was cancelled!