Pratama Doubles Up Following Final Lap Drama

Veda Pratama made it two wins from two at the Mobility Resort Motegi as drama unfolds in a damp Race 2 between the Indonesian and Amon Odaki on the final lap. The returning Shinya Ezawa took P2 on home turf with Jakkreephat Phuettisan claiming a debut podium in P3, with storylines popping up everywhere on Sunday in Japan.

The first of which involved Riichi Takahira. It was a disastrous start to the day for the Japanese rider as he crashed at Turn 3 on the first sightling lap, then once he’d got going from pitlane at the start of the race, Takahira unfortunately crashed out at the final corner.

At the front, there were as many as 11 riders in the victory chase at one point. Okadi, Zen Mitani and Ezawa were fighting at the front in front of their home fans, and so was Ryota Ogiwara, but once again with a handful of laps to go, Pratama made his way to the front.

A gap quickly appeared but Odaki reeled the #7 in and it all came down to Turn 11 at the bottom of the hill. Odaki was late on the anchors and shoved it up the inside of Pratama. Odaki ran slightly wide but stayed on track, but as Pratama grabbed the tighter line to try and wrestle the place back, contact was made between the duo and Odaki went down.

Pratama went on to win by just over two seconds as Ezawa and Phuettisan claimed podiums in Japan, as further – unseen – drama unravelled behind as Mitani and Reykat Fadilah went down on the final lap.

Hamad Al-Sahouti and Farish Hafiy rounded out the top five in Race 2, with Ogiwara, Burapa Wanmoon, Hafizd Rasyadan, Farres Putra and Ahmad Darwisy completing the top 10.

That’s it from Japan! We now look forward to a trip to Indonesia as Pratama gets ready for a hero’s welcome at his home race while boasting a healthy 40-point lead in the title chase.