Knezovic takes early points lead in bLU cRU Asia-Pacific Championship

2025 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia-Pacific Championship

Round One – Chang International Circuit

Qualifying honours at the opening round of the 2025 Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Asia-Pacific Championship went to Japan’s Hinata Okada, who stole the spotlight with a record-breaking 1:57.310 pole position.  Australia’s Valentino Knezovic pushed hard to take second place on the grid.

Race One

Valentino Knezovic took victory in the season-opening bout after 12 intense laps by a bike length over Thanakit Pratumtong, who also had Hinata Okada and Markus Maxwell Mays in close company at the chequered flag.

Hunter Corney rounded out the top five a few bike lengths further back from the top quartet.

New Zealand’s Haydn Fordyce came home in seventh, with Australian Nikolas Lazos ninth. Fellow Aussie Jed Louis took 15th while countryman Phoenix O’Brien was the final finisher.

Race One Results

Race Two

The second and final bout of the opening round witnessed a spectacular fight between Hinata Okada against the Aussie pairing of Valentino Knezovic and Hunter Corney. The triumvirate continuously exchanged the lead throughout the race. Thanakit Patoomtong was also a strong contender, consistently challenging the front-runners.

Over the final laps Knezovic and Corney engaged in a thrilling duel for the top position. However, Okada seized the opportunity to make a decisive move, overtaking both of them to secure the lead when it mattered, leaving the Aussie duo to battle it out to the line for second place honours. Ultimately, Corney ran a little wide on the final corner and Knezovic capitalised to claim that second place and with it the early championship lead.

Valentino Knezovic

“It’s been such a good week and then to get a race win and a second on the weekend just made it even better. Everything has been super organised, and the races were unreal. It was so close and there were guys going everywhere, so you really had to think about your strategy and not make any mistakes.”

Kiwi Haydn Fordyce finished ninth.  Aussies O’Brien 10th, Lazos 12th and Louis 13th.

Valentino Knezovic leads the championship with 45 points, closely followed by Hinata Okada with 41 points. Thanakit Patoomtong remains a strong contender in third place with 33 points, while Hunter Corney and Thailand’s Markus Maxwell May round out the top five with 27 and 24 points respectively.

Fordyce is just outside the top five on 16 points in sixth. Lazos is 10th with 11-points, O’Brien 13th with six, and Louis 16th with four points.

Next stop on the R3 Asia Pacific Championship calendar is Japan – Sportland Sugo, June 27-28, 2025.

Race Two Results

2025 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia-Pacific Championship Standings after Round One