Ducati makes debut in Asian Road Race

MANILA, Philippines — Following the team’s official launch in the Philippines last month, Access Plus Racing-Ducati Philippines-Esssenza is looking forward to its debut in the  Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) starting today at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.

The team hopes for an impressive showing in the top Asia Superbike 1000 (ASB 1000) Class with its two Ducati Panigale V46 bikes to be ridden by TJ Alberto and Jonathan Serapico.

Both riders recently completed two days of testing in Malaysia ahead of the season opener. This was their very first outing on the brand new machines and Dunlop tires before the first round in the 2019 season on March 8-10.

Qualifying round for the ARRC’s ASB1000 class will take place this morning followed by a 12-lap Race 1 in the afternoon. The action continues tomorrow with Race 2 at 3:50 p.m. Malaysian time.

The ASB1000 is currently the ARRC highest level of production bike racing. It offers a regional platform where riders graduating from their respective national championships can compete.

The ASB1000 will run based on FIM Superstock 1000 regulations with machinery that is equivalent to what is being sold for the road going public.