OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
YAMAHA PHILIPPINES RACING TEAM RETURNS TO MALAYSIA FOR ARRC ROUND 5
Paz carries season-best momentum to Sepang as Mascardo and Rojas prepare to respond in the penultimate round
SEPANG, MALAYSIA – The Yamaha Philippines Racing Team returns to international competition as the 2026 Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) heads back to Malaysia for Round 5 from September 4 to 6 at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit.
With the championship entering its penultimate round, McKinley Kyle Paz, April King Mascardo, and Timothy Rojas return to the international stage with different challenges ahead but a shared determination to deliver stronger performances against Asia’s best.
For Paz, Malaysia presents an opportunity to continue the strongest stretch of his season. For Mascardo and Rojas, Sepang offers the chance to respond after a challenging weekend in Indonesia and continue pushing forward in their respective international campaigns.
Paz Arrives with Growing Momentum
Competing for the Hong Leong Yamaha Racing Team in the highly competitive Supersport 600 (SS600) category, Paz enters Round 5 following his best performance of the season at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit.
Starting from P7 in Indonesia, Paz charged to P4 in Race 1 before producing an even stronger performance in Race 2, battling at the front and crossing the line in P2. The result marked his highest finish of the 2026 season and his second podium following his P3 finish in Thailand.
His recent performances represent a significant progression from the consistency he displayed at Mobility Resort Motegi, where he finished P9 and P7. Now with consecutive rounds showing greater competitiveness, Paz heads into Sepang determined to take another step forward. Malaysia also carries significance in Paz’s international racing journey. Returning to Sepang with greater experience and growing momentum, he will once again face a demanding SS600 field with one clear objective: continue closing the distance to the top.
Mascardo and Rojas Ready to Respond
In Underbone 150 (UB150), April King Mascardo and Timothy Rojas of the Yamaha Racetech Philippines Racing Team return to competition looking to rebound from a difficult Round 4.
Mascardo entered Indonesia after a consistent showing in Japan, but Mandalika proved challenging as he finished P12 in both races. Rojas similarly faced a difficult weekend, finishing P19 in Race 1 and P21 in Race 2. Sepang now provides both riders with an opportunity to reset. Throughout the season, Mascardo has demonstrated his ability to compete within the intensely contested UB150 field, while Rojas has continued to gain valuable international experience in his first ARRC campaign. With another opportunity ahead, both riders remain focused on applying the lessons gained through the first four rounds and delivering a
stronger response in Malaysia.
One More Push Before the Finale
With only two rounds remaining in the 2026 championship, every race and every position becomes increasingly important. From Paz’s breakthrough podium earlier in the season to his rise to second place in Indonesia, and through every challenge faced by Mascardo and Rojas in UB150, the Yamaha Philippines Racing Team has continued to pursue progress against some of the strongest motorcycle racers in the region. Round 5 presents another opportunity to turn that progress into performance.
As the Yamaha Philippines Racing Team returns to the Petronas Sepang International Circuit from September 4 to 6, Paz looks to carry his strongest momentum yet into the penultimate round, while Mascardo and Rojas prepare to fight back in UB150. With the championship nearing its conclusion, the pursuit continues as Yamaha Philippines takes on another international challenge and remains Relentless in Defying Limits.
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