Round 4 – Yamaha R3 BLU CRU Asia-Pacific ChampionshipPhillip Island, Australia

Round 4 of the Yamaha R3 BLU CRU Asia-Pacific Championship at Phillip Island showcased everything the island circuit is famous for — fast-changing weather, thrilling on-track battles, and young riders rising to the occasion under pressure.

The weekend opened under cool conditions, with riders easing into Free Practice on Friday morning. Hunter Charlett (#73, NZ) immediately set the pace with a best time of 1:50.080, edging out home hero Valentino Knezovic (#48, AUS) at 1:50.630 and fellow Australian Hunter Corney (#40, AUS) at 1:51.052. As the laps ticked down, confidence grew, and the field showed just how competitive the weekend would be.

Qualifying in the afternoon raised the stakes. Cheered on by the local crowd, Knezovic stormed to pole position with a 1:50.413, with Corney close behind at 1:50.745. Thailand’s Varis Fleming (#35) impressed with a 1:50.850 to complete the front row, highlighting the strength of the international field.

Race 1 on Sunday began with light rain, leaving the track damp and unpredictable. By the time the lights went out for Race 1, the showers had stopped, but the circuit remained slippery — perfect conditions for Hunter Corney, who mastered the wet surface to claim victory in front of his home fans. Fellow Australian Phoenix O’Brien charged into second place, while Hunter Charlett, fastest in practice, rode strongly to secure third. The result tightened Corney’s chase of championship leader Hinata Okada (JPN), setting up a thrilling afternoon contest.

When the sun returned for Race 2, Phillip Island delivered another spectacle. Valentino Knezovic turned pole position into a stunning victory on home soil, backed by compatriot Nikolas Lazos, who finished second. Okada once again showed his championship consistency, taking third and keeping valuable points intact.

At the close of the weekend, Okada remains atop the championship standings, with Corney narrowing the gap. Both riders have now officially secured Wild Card entries for the R3 BLU CRU FIM World Cup Final in Estoril, Portugal  (October 10–12, 2025), where they will represent the Asia-Pacific region on the world stage.

Phillip Island once again delivered a mix of rain, sunshine, and world-class racing — a true showcase of the rising stars of the Yamaha R3 BLU CRU Asia-Pacific Championship.

Next up: Round 5 will take place at One Raceway, Australia, from October 3–5, 2025.