Yamaha Philippines Racing Team Battles Through Sepang in FIM ARRC Round 5

Date posted on September 7, 2026

The Yamaha Philippines Racing Team completed the penultimate round of the 2026 Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) with a determined showing at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit, as April King Mascardo and Timothy Rojas mounted impressive recoveries in the Underbone 150 category while McKinley Kyle Paz continued his consistent run in Supersport 600.

Round 5 presented a different challenge for the Filipino contingent. With Mascardo and Rojas starting deep in the UB150 field, both riders were forced to fight their way forward from the opening laps. Paz, meanwhile, entered the weekend carrying momentum from his season-best second-place finish in Indonesia and started both SS600 races from P5.

By the end of the weekend, the results reflected a Yamaha Philippines Racing Team that continued fighting regardless of where its riders started.

Mascardo Charges from P19 to P4

Starting from P19, Mascardo faced an uphill battle before the first UB150 race had even begun.

The Yamaha Racetech Philippines Racing Team rider responded with one of his strongest recovery performances of the season, aggressively working his way through the field and gaining an impressive 15 positions to finish P4 in Race 1.

Mascardo remained among the frontrunners in Race 2, securing another strong result with a P5 finish. After a challenging previous round in Indonesia, his performance at Sepang marked a significant turnaround and put him firmly back among the leading contenders in the highly competitive UB150 field.

Rojas Fights from P22 into the Top Seven

Timothy Rojas faced an even greater challenge after qualifying P22, but the Filipino rider delivered an equally impressive charge through the pack.

Rojas climbed 15 positions in Race 1 to finish P7, transforming a difficult starting position into a strong points-scoring result.

He improved further in Race 2. Continuing his progress through the field, Rojas crossed the line in P6, his best result of the weekend and another significant step forward in his ARRC campaign.

Together, Mascardo and Rojas turned difficult qualifying positions into a strong Round 5 showing for the Yamaha Racetech Philippines Racing Team, with both riders finishing well inside the top ten in each race.

Paz Adds Two More Top-Ten Finishes in SS600

In Supersport 600, Paz returned to action following his breakthrough P2 finish at Mandalika, his highest result of the season. The Hong Leong Yamaha Racing Team rider qualified P5, putting himself within striking distance of the leading group heading into the two races.

Paz ultimately crossed the line P7 in Race 1 before securing another P7 finish in Race 2. While unable to replicate his podium performance from Indonesia, the Filipino rider completed both races inside the top ten and added another pair of competitive finishes to his 2026 campaign.

Across the previous rounds, Paz has steadily established himself as a consistent presence within the SS600 field, highlighted by podium finishes in Thailand and Indonesia.

One Final Round Remains

Five rounds across Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia have tested the Yamaha Philippines Racing Team against the best riders in the region. Through podium breakthroughs, difficult weekends, recovery rides, and continued progression, Paz, Mascardo, and Rojas now have one final opportunity to close their 2026 international campaign on a high.

The 2026 Asia Road Racing Championship concludes with Round 6 from December 4 to 6 at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, returning the team to the venue where Paz secured his first podium of the season earlier in the year.

With Mascardo and Rojas carrying renewed momentum from their charges through the UB150 field at Sepang and Paz preparing for one final push in SS600, the Yamaha Philippines Racing Team now turns its attention toward Thailand and the final battle of the season.

The year has one round left. The fight to Defy Limits continues.

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