Dominant Performances and Late Surges Define Rotax Asia Trophy Opener at Bira

In Junior MAX, the battle at the front remained tightly contested throughout the weekend. Peerapongpan Sutumno set the early pace, topping qualifying and winning both Heat 1 and the Super Heat. However, despite his consistency, it was Patthapol Kaewkarnjanasate who delivered when it mattered most, securing victory in the Final. Sutumno finished second, while Nattawat Sutumno completed the podium.

The MAX DD2 and DD2 Masters category saw one of the most commanding performances of the event. Ananthorn Tangniannatchi dominated every session from qualifying through the heats and Super Heat, maintaining control to secure a convincing win in the Final. Ng Yi Tang and Thomas Jacob George rounded out the podium, following consistent performances across the weekend.

Micro MAX delivered a more unpredictable outcome. Daniel Yoon controlled the early stages, topping qualifying and winning both heats. However, momentum shifted in the later stages, with Sreathaphat T. Raphatarabuawong taking the Super Heat victory. In the Final, Pannapat Prawatrungruang emerged as the race winner, ahead of Achira Pienpuk and Michael Bishev, highlighting the category’s competitive depth.

Mini MAX was defined by complete dominance from Chinnaphat Vejabhuti. After topping qualifying, he maintained an unbeaten run through both heats, the Super Heat, and the Final to secure a clean sweep. Chen-Yi Chou and Isaac Yoon completed the podium, unable to match Vejabhuti’s consistency across sessions.

In Senior MAX and Senior MAX Masters, Panu Stienmonkong delivered another flawless performance. Leading from qualifying through all race sessions, he controlled the weekend to take victory in the Final. Krish Gupta and Ratcharat Ananthakhan secured second and third respectively, consistently featuring at the front across the heats and Super Heat.

Across categories, the opening round at Bira highlighted a clear trend: while early session pace proved critical, the ability to execute under pressure in the Final ultimately defined the winners, setting up a competitive season ahead in the Rotax Max Challenge Asia Trophy.