Aussies impress at Motegi – BLU CRU Asia Pacific Championship

2025 R3 BLU CRU Asia Pacific Championship
Round Three, Motegi

Round three of the 2025 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia-Pacific Championship was contested at Japan’s Mobility Resort Motegi.

Japan’s Hinata Okada set the pace in Free Practice with a benchmark time of 2:21.820, narrowly ahead of Australians Hunter Corney and Varis Fleming.

Okada maintained his momentum into qualifying, storming to pole position with a blistering 2:16.032. He was joined on the front row by Australian duo Valentino Knezovic and Phoenix O’Brien.

Race One

Race One saw Hinata Okada extend his dominant form with a commanding performance, leading all 10 laps to claim a flawless victory. The Japanese rider maintained composure under pressure, eventually crossing the line 0.597 seconds ahead of his closest challenger, Australia’s Hunter Corney.

Nearly 13 seconds further back, fellow Australian Phoenix O’Brien secured third place, making it a double podium finish for the Aussie contingent.

Thanakit Pratumtong and Nikolas Lazos rounded out the top five, with less than a tenth of a second separating the two. Varis Fleming took the flag in 11th.  New Zealand’s Haydn Fordyce was 12th, Jed Louis 14th and Valentino Knezovic 17th.

Race One Results

Race Two

Hinata Okada completed the double at Motegi with a hard-fought victory in Race Two, narrowly edging out Valentino Knezović in a nail-biting finish by just 0.087 seconds. Hunter Corney joined them on the podium once again, finishing just half a second behind in third.

Phoenix O’Brien improved on his Race One result with a determined ride to fourth, well ahead of Thailand’s Pratumtong in fifth and Varis Fleming in sixth.

Malaysia’s Louis delivered a career-best international result in ninth, while New Zealand’s Fordyce crossed the line in 12th.

Disaster struck for Nikolas Lazos, however, crashing out, while competing for fourth and being airlifted to hospital with a suspected fractured vertebrae in his neck along with a concussion.

Okada has extended his championship lead to 141-points, now 45-points clear of Corney, with Knezovic third on 89-points.

Pratumtong (78) and Lazos (58) round out the top five, O’Brien sixth on 51-points. Fordyce 10th on 39, Louis 16th with 13-points.

Rider Quotes

Hunter Corney (2-3)

“”As the lights went out, I got a decent launch and tucked in right behind Okada. The first few laps were frantic we were three-wide through turns 1 and 2. By lap 4, Valentino Knezovic slipped past me into P2, but I stayed glued to his tail, waiting for my chance. On lap 6 I dove up the inside at turn 11 and reclaimed second. The momentum gave me clear air, and I put in a string of 2:16s to close back up on Okada. It was a battle but in the end crossed the line in P2.

Another GP circuit ticked off the bucket list, Round 3 Yamaha R3 Asia Pacific at Twin Ring Motegi. Race 2 was even more eventful. I got a strong launch and made a move into the lead by lap 2. Leading at a legendary track like Motegi was unreal I kept my head down, focused on clean exits and late braking. I held P1 for a couple of laps and tried to break the tow, but the group was tight and the pressure was constant. Mid-race, the tyres started to wear and I had to fight hard to stay in the top 3. On the last lap, I got shuffled back to P3 in a drag to the line. Thank you to the amazing Yamaha Blu Cru Asia Pacific crew for the last 2 weeks it has been very memorable trip. Now to have a few days off and spend it with dad in Tokyo doing some tourist things before heading back to Twin Ring Motegi for Asia Road Racing Championship TVS Racing.”

Valentino Knezovic

“Back to back weekends in Japan after round 2 at Soortsland Sugo, we headed down for Round 3 at Mobility Resort Motegi — which packed a weekend full of highs, lows, and everything in between. Practice: Was a tough session for me lacking a little bit of confidence with it raining last minute then drying and raining again all in the same session, this has me placing P14 and 6 seconds of the pace, but not giving up and focussing on Qualifying.

“Qualifying: Felt strong straight away and put it P2 in qualifying, just 0.2 off pole. Bike was feeling dialled and I was ready to go racing.

“Race 1: Tough one. Went down early in the race but got back up and finished P17. Once again putting the negative behind and was eager to show what I had in the tank for Race 2. Race 2: Bounced back with a strong ride and fought my way to P2! Super happy to be back on the podium and finish the weekend on a high.

“Huge congrats to the boys who rode really well, and a get well soon to Nikolas Lazos after having a hefty stack in race 2. Massive thanks to everyone in my corner — the team, family, sponsors, and supporters. We keep learning, improving, and pushing forward. Next stop: Phillip Island in September combined with ASBK. Announcements coming soon… hint: going to be a busy August.”

Jed Louis (14-9)

“Round 3 here in Japan has been run and done here at Twin Ring Motegi MotoGP Circuit. What an amazing experience this has been. I can’t thank Yamaha Motor Australia and Yamaha Japan enough for this amazing opportunity. This track is really cool. I gelled with it straight away. I found a good pace and felt I could build on this in this 23 rider round. Practise – P11 (wet), Qualy – P11 (dry) and found 7secs/lap from my previous wet laps.

“Race 1 I got a good start and went into turn 1 from the start line trying to out-brake my mates, I braked way too late and ended up running off the track. I regained the race but I was in P23. I knew I had to push hard from here. I put my head down and just worked on each rider one at a time. Thankfully, I made my way back into 14th and the championship points.

“Race 2 – WOW!!! What an experience. My bike didn’t start with only eight minutes to go until pit exit.  I was able to remain calm as because mum and dad ensured me it would be alright. I’ve also seen this team in action at another round getting one of my racing mates bikes on the start line! The team from Yamaha Thailand Racing Team are AMAZING! They sent me out on a spare bike not set up for me for the warmup lap, then a team of mechanics met me, my mum and dad at the start line and set my whole bike up to match the bike I’ve been racing for the last two rounds. This was mind-blowing. I was able to finish this race in the top 10. I completed the race 9th. My best international finish yet! I would like to thank my Mum, Dad, Yamaha Japan, Yamaha Australia, Taka-San, Gaew, Aom, Yuki-San, Yamato-San for this great opportunity… A huge shout out to Mochizuki San, and his whole team of mechanics for getting me on the track in under nine minutes.  This guy and his team are absolutely amazing. A special thanks to my amazing coach, Damo (Damian Cudlin). The belief in me since we’ve met and the things you’ve taught me over the last 17 months I’ve been riding road bikes is unbelievable. Thanks. And to these amazing people that back me all the way, THANKYOU!”

Nikolas Lazos (5-DNF)

“We had a bit of an accident…I ended up getting airlifted to hospital and we had suspected fractured vertebrae in neck, shoulder and finger. On top of that concussion. I was treated with absolute urgency from the Yamaha Blu Cru Asia Pacific team and the medics at the Motegi track. I had Taka and Shin meet me at hospital to make it easy for our family. They really did make things better for explaining. I prefer to come back to hotel room so we just got back. I’ll get up in morning and see how I feel and make a decision for flying back to Australia tomorrow. Thank you for all your support. Also thank you to ZEUS Helmets TH for saving my head. I’ll be needing a new one for sure. Sorry Yamaha for binning a bike. I have my memorabilia. I heard the bike is bent in half. By the way… I was coming fourth in the race. Well done to all the winners. See you at Phillip Island after I recover for a few weeks.”

Race Two Results

2025 R3 BLU CRU Asia Pacific Championship Standings

Valentino Knezovic, Hinata Okada and Hunter Corney will get to experience the legendary Suzuka 8 Hours as observers from August 1–3, 2025. The race will be a true test of endurance and skill at the iconic Suzuka Circuit.

Meanwhile, Valentino, Hinata, and Thanakit Pratuntong will also join other selected young talents at the Yamaha BLU CRU Master Camp in Valencia from August 27–31, learning directly from their Yamaha heroes.