Tough Luck for Aji, Valuable Lessons for Furusato in a Demanding ThaiGP Race
Chang International CircuitUnder really hot conditions and an unusually interrupted race, the Moto2 race at the Thai Grand Prix proved to be a true test of resilience, adaptability, and strength. Starting from a strong P9, Mario Suryo Aji showed promising pace early on, but his race came to a premature end after a crash on lap two eliminated his chances of converting weekend speed into points.
On the other side of the garage, rookie Taiyo Furusato delivered a determined performance in what became a survival-style race featuring two red flags. Despite briefly holding P15 and fighting inside the points zone, he ultimately crossed the line P16—just one position away of scoring. Still, the weekend marked another important step in his adaptation to the highly competitive Moto2 category, with the paddock now turning its focus to the next round in Brazil, a circuit new to the entire field.
A weekend of contrasting fortunes delivered both frustration and optimism: lost opportunity for Aji after a strong start, and another developmental milestone for Furusato as he continues adapting to the category’s intensity. With a new circuit ahead and valuable data collected, the team now shifts focus toward translating potential into results at the next Grand Prix.
It was extremely hot and very demanding for the riders, and we even had two red flags during the race. Mario crashed early and couldn’t restart, which is unfortunate because he showed strong pace all weekend. The positive point is that he’s not injured.
Taiyo Furusato focused on gaining experience in Moto2. These were complicated race conditions, but he managed to finish, which is important because this category is completely different from what he was used to before. P16 isn’t ideal, honestly, but the key thing is that he learned and took another step forward.
I want to thank all the staff for their hard work in these demanding conditions, and also our sponsors and fans for their support. Now we look ahead to the next Grand Prix, where nobody has experience with the track. It will be interesting to see how we perform there.
It was extremely hot and very demanding for the riders, and we even had two red flags during the race. Mario crashed early and couldn’t restart, which is unfortunate because he showed strong pace all weekend. The positive point is that he’s not injured.
Taiyo Furusato focused on gaining experience in Moto2. These were complicated race conditions, but he managed to finish, which is important because this category is completely different from what he was used to before. P16 isn’t ideal, honestly, but the key thing is that he learned and took another step forward.
I want to thank all the staff for their hard work in these demanding conditions, and also our sponsors and fans for their support. Now we look ahead to the next Grand Prix, where nobody has experience with the track. It will be interesting to see how we perform there.
I’m happy to finish such a difficult race because the conditions were really tough, especially with the heat and the interruptions. It was a very challenging experience, but I learned a lot today. I was fighting close to the points positions for several laps, which gives me confidence that we’re moving in the right direction.
Of course, finishing P16 is frustrating because the first point was very close, so in that sense it feels like a missed opportunity. Still, this race showed me where I need to improve — especially managing tyres, race rhythm, and decision-making in these long, demanding races. I want to thank the team for their work all weekend. We will keep pushing, analysing the data, and preparing for the next round so we can come back stronger and fight for points.
I’m happy to finish such a difficult race because the conditions were really tough, especially with the heat and the interruptions. It was a very challenging experience, but I learned a lot today. I was fighting close to the points positions for several laps, which gives me confidence that we’re moving in the right direction.
Of course, finishing P16 is frustrating because the first point was very close, so in that sense it feels like a missed opportunity. Still, this race showed me where I need to improve — especially managing tyres, race rhythm, and decision-making in these long, demanding races. I want to thank the team for their work all weekend. We will keep pushing, analysing the data, and preparing for the next round so we can come back stronger and fight for points.
It’s a shame to end the race like this. The crash was purely my mistake. Still, we’ve been fast all week and showed strong pace, so we need to keep that momentum and move forward quickly.
I want to thank the team and apologize because I couldn’t bring them the result they deserved today. We still have time before the next round, and this is a bad day, not a bad start. The target now is to repeat this weekend’s performance level but reach the chequered flag next time.
It’s a shame to end the race like this. The crash was purely my mistake. Still, we’ve been fast all week and showed strong pace, so we need to keep that momentum and move forward quickly.
I want to thank the team and apologize because I couldn’t bring them the result they deserved today. We still have time before the next round, and this is a bad day, not a bad start. The target now is to repeat this weekend’s performance level but reach the chequered flag next time.
