The second round of the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup saw Yuki Kunii take the win on the drag to the line, after compatriot Ryusei Yamanaka just lost out. Haruki Noguchi completed an all-Japanese the podium in P3 after another tight race for the impressive IATC class of 2017.
There was drama at the start of the Warm Up lap as double Buriram winner and points leader Deniz Oncu couldn’t get off the line, getting started from pitlane and then lining up at the back of the grid for the start. With Kunii starting from pole, the race was on for Oncu to make it up through the field – and the Turkish rider sliced back to the front to know on the door to the top five after only a couple of laps.
After a slightly difficult start for Kunii off the line, the Japanese rider fought back straight away on the inside of Turn 1 to take it back from Can Öncü and Gerry Salim. As the grid settled into formation, Yamanaka was out front initially, before the poleman fought back to take over at the front.
Chopping and changing positions with only two seconds covering the top five, by 7 laps to go Deniz Öncü had hit the front for the first time as his comeback hit full speed, with Yamanaka, Can Öncü, Hendriansya and Salim alongside the Buriram winner at the head of the field.
It was a Japanese attack on the last lap, before Kunii found a way past Yamanaka on the penultimate corner to take the lead – despite the risk of slipstreaming to the line. As the top group straightened up on the way to the final flag, Yamanaka dived out from behind his compatriot just before the line – but it was Kunii who held onto it by a few thousandths. Noguchi took an impressive third place, completing an all-Japanese podium.
