After a thorough screening last year at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, only 17 riders were selected to participate at the 2017 Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup.
Started in 2014, the competition aims to give the young talented grassroots racers (age 13 to 20 years old) an opportunity to be recognized and develop their skills in the competitive two-wheel world of road racing.
From total of 114 young aspiring riders, only 17 riders were qualified to compete. Sixteen-year old Koko Masaharu Tadachi will represent the Philippine flag together with young rider Mckinley Kyle Paz. Both Tadachi and Paz came from Taytay Rizal, are eyeing to bring the Philippine pride in the two-wheel international competition.
Tadachi won his podium last year at the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) held at Sentul International Circuit in Indonesia. While Paz took his podium in 2014 at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan.
Here are the list of riders who will compete at the 2017 Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup:
Muhammad Haziq Bin Mohamad Hamdam (Malaysia)
Syarul Yusloe Bin Suhaimi (Malaysia)
Muhammad Erfin Firmansyah (Indonesia)
Lucky Hendriansya (Indonesia)
Bima Febrinda Arifin (Indonesia)
Surya Nayayana Renaldo Surojo (Indonesia)
Riefsa Firdaus Hakim (Indonesia)
Kritchaporn Kadwsonthi (Thailand)
Reid Terrence Battye (Australia)
Takuto Suzuki (Japan)
Koji Hirama (Japan)
Haruki Noguchi (Japan)
Kai Saito (Japan)
Maxi Hattori (Japan)
Koki Suzuki (Japan)
Azroy Hakeem Bin Anuar (Malaysia)
Koko Masaharu Tadachi (Philippines)
Reserved riders:
Herjun Atna Firdaus (Indonesia)
Mckinley Kyle Paz (Philippines)
Yuuchiro Fukuda (Japan)
Muhammad Shafiq Ezzariq (Malaysia)
Bui Duy Thong (Vietnam)
Rajiv Sethu (Indoneisa)
Broc Anthony Pearson (Australia)
The Cup is co-managed and led by renowned and successful talent scout Albert Puig, who has been responsible for developing talents as Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa. The competition will see stars of the future participating in a multi-round series riding Honda NSF250R Moto3 bikes.
For more information, log at www.asiatalentcup.com.
*Photos courtesy of Asia Talent Cup (ATC)
