Hi guys! Long time no see, as per usual I’m taking my sweet time keeping this blog updated regularly and I appreciate the people who stick around for me as well as the newcomers! I started a second blog as a school project/passion project about Korean Culture (@/Theforgottenwar.home.blog) please give it a read and a follow, I will most likely be posting there far more often than I will be here. Anyway lets get started! 🙂

This is a deep explanation of the Asia Road Racing Championship (AARC) – the largest Asian motorcycle racing championship that started in 1996. All information was pulled from the 200 page riders manual provided by the Asia Road Racing Championship.

The championship tours in Asia but is open to riders from all nationalities. The 2020 season consists of 14 races at 5 circuits rotating among five Asian countries – Malaysia, Australia, Japan, China, and Thailand. The series includes six rounds a season run in a two-race format and the championship title is awarded to the rider who has scored the highest number of points in the year.
The competition bikes can have a limited amount of modifications made to the base production models (Honda, Kawasaki, BMW, Yamaha, Ducat, and TVS are the main bike suppliers). The races are competed by bikes that are close to the production versions – for this reason, Japanese bike manufactures participate actively in the championship. Dunlop is the sole tire supplier for the championship bikes.

The championship is divided into four open-make classes, each class rides the same bikes.
• Asia Superbike 1000
• Supersports 600cc
• Asia Production 250cc
• Underbone 150cc
(cc = cubic centimeter capacity of combustion cylinder, which denotes the power in the engine. More cc, more horsepower)

Riders must have a special license to compete in the races and licenses for all bikes are only issues when the minimum age of the rider has been met:
• Underbone – 13 years old
• Asia Production – 13 years old
• Supersport – 16 years old
• Asia Superbike – 18 years old
To qualify for the race, riders must achieve a time at least equal to 107% of the time recorded by the fastest rider of his class.

The Racing Weekend

STARTING PROCEDURE FOR THE RACES

A lot goes into starting the races and everything is extremely technical. If you’ve ever watched the start-up, you might have noticed these intricate and numerous details that could be confusing to figure out what’s going on. Hopefully this breakdown of the procedures helps!

1) In order to start, riders must complete at least one sighting lap (a non-competitive lap done by racers before the warmup lap before the race).
2) Around 15 minutes before the race starts the pit lane opens for the sighting lap. Riders may complete more than one sighting lap by passing through the pit lane (where they make adjustments and change tires).
3) Around 10 minutes before the race begins the pit lane exit closes. Riders must then go on the grid to start, those who do not may start a warm-up lap from the pit lane under instructions.
4) Once on the grid (after the sighting lap) riders need to stop at the rear of the grid and turn their engines off. Then a team member pushes their motorcycle at a walking pace to their grid positions.
a. the grid is arranged in the 3-3-3 configuration for all classes and a     distance of 9 meters (~ 29 feet) between each row of bikes.
5) Once in grid position, riders can be accompanied by at most five people (one of whom can hold an umbrella) and riders are required to take their helmets off.
6) Riders on the grid may then adjust the machine or change tires to suit the track conditions. All adjustments must be completed by the time the 3-minture board is displayed. If riders wish to continue to make adjustments, they have to return to the pit lane to do so.
(if they do this, they will start the race from the back of the grid).
7) Before the start of the race there is a warmup lap.
8) 3 minutes before the warmup lap, all persons must leave the grid (except maximum two mechanics per machine, the person holding the umbrella, the TV crew and essential officials). Riders are to put their helmets on at this moment.
9) 1 minute before the start of the warmup race – all team personnel except the mechanics will leave the grid. As quickly as possible, the mechanics will assist the rider to push start the machine and then leave the grid.
10) 30 seconds before the start of the warm-up lap – all riders must be in position on the grid with engines on. No assistance from mechanics is permitted.
11) 2 minutes before the start of the race – a green flag is waived to start the warmup lap. The riders make one lap (at an unrestricted speed) followed by a safety car.
As soon as the riders have passed the pit lane, the exit light will turn green and any rider waiting in the pit pane will be allowed to join.
Thirty seconds later the light will turn red and there will be a red flag displayed to close the pit lane exit.
12) Riders then return to the grid and take up their positions with the front wheel up to or behind the front line and between the defining sidelines of the grid.
13) An official stands at the front of the grid holding a red flag. Any rider who encounters difficulties on the grid must stay on their bike and raise their arm (any other delay is not allowed).
14) Once each row on the grid is cleared by an official and the safety car has completed a lap around the track, the official at the back of the grid will wave a green flag.
15) Between 2 and 5 seconds a red light will be displayed. This red light going out signals the start of the race.
A safety car follows behind the motorcycles for the entire first lap.

All that and we are only just now starting the race, so much goes into these competitions!

THE START OF THE RACE

you may think that once the race begins it’s a free for all and the only objective is to cross the finish line first! Well you’d be wrong, there’s so much that the riders have to be aware of while riding. These are just a few of the intricate guidelines riders need to follow.

1) During the race, riders are to ride though the pit lanes (stopping is not allowed). The speed limit in the pit lane is 60km/h (~ 37 mph).
2) All riders must be aware of and obey flag signals as well as instruction boards. Failure to follow prompts results in a penalty.
3) Riders have to drive responsibly (no dangerous riding) both in the pit and on the track. Riders who break this rule can receive either a fine, a ride through, disqualification, withdrawal of championship points, or a suspicion.
4) Riders must maintain driving on the track but if they drift off accidentally, they are allowed to rejoin at a place which does not provide an advantage.
5) Any repairs or bike adjustments made on the racetrack bust be done by the rider alone (no outside assistance.)
6) If a rider needs to drop out of the race, he is to park his bike on the side of the track in a designated safe area.
7) Riders in the top 10 places can have two cameras on their bikes. The cameras and equipment with them have to be on during all practice sessions and the race. These cameras will be supplied to designated teams at, the latest, 2pm the day of the first practice.

POINTS AND PRIZES

The championship points gained by the riders are a combination of all the points gained each race, shown by their finishing place.

Each class also has an entrance fee: Underbone – $350, Supersport – $1,500, Asia Production – $1,070, Asia superbike – $2,350.

Each class of motorcycles at the finish of the race receives prize money and top three places receive a trophy and podium standing.

Underbone 150cc
1. $300.00 + Trophy
2. $200.00 + Trophy
3. $125.00 + Trophy
4. $75.00
5. $50.00

Supersports 600cc
1. $500.00 + Trophy
2. $375.00 + Trophy
3. $250.00 + Trophy
4. $150.00
5. $75.00

Asia production 250cc
1. $400.00 + Trophy
2. $300.00 + Trophy
3. $200.00 + Trophy
4. $125.00
5. $75.00

Asia Superbike 1000cc
1. $1,500.00 + Trophy
2. $900.00 + Trophy
3. $500.00 +Trophy
4. $300.00
5. $200.00
6. $125.00
7. $75.00