The 2016 SUZUKI ASIAN CHALLENGE stepped-up a gear at the fourth and penultimate round at Sentul International Circuit in Indonesia at the weekend with close an exciting racing aboard the new Suzuki F150s and with the top three riders in the championship now separated by just three points.

Both SAC races were held on Day 3 of the FIM Asia Road Race Championship under hot conditions and in the qualifying session the previous day, local favourite, #20 Jefri Tosema (Indonesia) lapped to a course-record of 1'58.552 for pole position ahead of team-mate and points leader, #87 Muhammad Sapril (Indonesia) and Malaysia's #12 Rozaliman Zakaria.

Race 1 started with the front row riders leading a pack of nine riders, which continued the end of the race with continuous lead changes and side-by-side, nose-to-tail action. But Tosema put an end to all that and won the opening race with a comfortable lead on the final lap. The 2015 SAC winner at Sentul, #5 Jagan Kumar from India came in second, while #30 Rizal Feriyadi (Indonesia) completed the podium with third.

It was a repeat of Race 1, as Race 2 started with 10 riders running in a pack at the front. Tosema and #43 April King Mascardo (Philippines) led the pack until the latter half of the race as Tosema and April tried to run away from the pack. The other riders would not allow that, and Rozaliman and Sapril made sure they were right behind them. The battle got tighter as they approached the final corner on the final lap, where the four riders turned at almost the same time. Rozaliman put a stop to the battle, and won Race 2, while Tosema came in second followed by Mascardo.