What a motorcycle race! Finishes don’t get much better than that as Ryota Ogiwara claimed a debut Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup victory following an outstanding fight for the win during Race 2 at the Indonesian GP. The #16 beat Zen Mitani and Riichi Takahira on the run to the line by 0.016s and 0.017s respectively in a photo finish, as we’re treated to another fantastic race in 2024.

Just as it was in Race 1, the holeshot belonged to Ogiwara as an all-Japanese front four got to the front in the early stages, with Mitani, Takahira and Seiryu Ikegami getting good starts. After a handful of laps, Farish Hafiy joined the party and not too long after, Kiattisak Singhapong reeled in the leaders like he did in Race 1 too.

Plenty of overtakes were occurring as the top six jostled for positions, and that soon became seven with the impressive Alfonsi Daquigan clawing his way up to the podium fight before the Philippines star crashed out at the final corner in the closing stages.

A mistake from Hafiy at Turn 10 with three laps to go saw the Malaysian run wide and out of podium contention, so that meant it was five riders in the hunt for victory on the final lap. Takahira led the way from Ogiwara and Mitani, as it all came down to Turns 16 and 17 – again. Ogiwara found his way to the front but Mitani – who was P4 with three corners to go – pounced up to P2 at Turn 16. Then, the #2 tried to go for a race-winning overtake at Turn 17. Mitani was up the inside of Ogiwara, who didn’t back down, as the duo and Takahira dived behind the bubble and had a mini drag race to the line. Ogiwara won by a slender 0.016s, with a photo finish confirming Mitani beat Takahira to P2 by 0.001s.

Ikegami missed out on a podium by less than a tenth in P4, with Singhapong 0.184s away from the win in P5. Hafiry had to settle for P6, as there was a good battle further down inside the top 10 with seventh place Sarthak Chavan finishing just ahead of Levi Russo and Rintaro Takamoto. Wildcard rider Davino Britani unfortunately crashed out of that group at the final corner, which allowed Tanachat Pratumtong to pick up P10.

So that’s it from Mandalika for another year! Round 3 didn’t disappoint as we look forward to getting to Japan for Round 4 in less than a week’s time.