Two races were the name of the game for the 2024 FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli with the Junior Talent Team eager to start the season strongly. After a weekend of mixed weather, the conditions remained dry with high track temperatures but cool air temperatures playing its part in proceedings. There were mixed fortunes for the riders but points for Danial Shahril and Amon Odaki meant a positive start.

Starting from P15, Shahril was among the leading group in Race 1 and looked to be on course for a good result. However, the Malaysian’s race would come to an end on Lap 11. Thankfully, the #57 was ok and ready to take part in Race 2. A good start saw the Asia Talent Team rider running with the front group once again, and he carved his way through to finish in an impressive P10. It would be Shahril’s best result in Misano and a strong building block ahead of Estroril.

His Asia Talent Team compatriot and rookie, Amon Odaki made his JTT debut this weekend, and he also performed well in Race 1 but the Japanese rider’s race would come to an end on Lap 14. He started from P29 after a difficult qualifying, but the #56 put in an inspired ride and steered clear of trouble to take points on his rookie weekend with a P14 finish. It was a positive end to the first weekend for Odaki.

Jakkreephat Phuettisan (Honda Racing Thailand) would go from the 8th row of the grid for both races and the Thai rider charged through to P16 in Race 1, missing out on points on his debut by three tenths of a second. Looking to go one better later on, an incident on Lap 1 put the #20 out of the race. All-in-all a weekend of learning for Phuettisan and showed good pace.

Zen Mitani, wildcarding with Asia Talent Team Honda, qualified one place behind his JTT stablemate and finished one place behind Phuettisan in Race 1 with P17. Race 2 saw the #32 bag another top 20 result with P18 and he finished nine seconds closer to the winner. The wildcard showed steady progress throughout the weekend.

The Junior Talent Team moves onto Round 2 at Circuito do Estoril for the FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship on the 5th of May, where the JTT hopes to welcome back Arbi Aditama to Astra Honda Racing Team.