Mckinley Kyle Paz and Yamaha Claim Podium Glory in Buriram

The Supersports 600 category of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2026 Round 2 at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand was a spectacle of resilience, speed, and sheer determination. While the headlines may celebrate Thanat Laoongplio’s defiant comeback from a Long Lap Penalty, the heart of the story for Filipino fans beats strongest with McKinley Kyle Paz and the Hong Leong Yamaha Racing Team, who fought their way to a hard‑earned podium finish.

The race opened with Yamaha’s Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin launching aggressively, only to lose momentum with a wheelie off the line. Honda’s Anupab Sarmoon seized the lead, but Yamaha riders quickly regrouped. By Lap 2, Kasma had retaken control, with Thanat and Anupab in close pursuit. Just behind them, Kyle Paz was steady in fourth, shadowing the leaders, conserving energy, and waiting for the right moment to strike.

Then came the twist: Thanat was handed a Long Lap Penalty, dropping him to 11th. The Yamaha camp saw opportunity. Kyle Paz, alongside teammate Kasma, kept the pressure high at the front, trading blows with Honda’s Anupab while fending off challenges from Malaysia’s Helmi Azman and Indonesia’s Muhammad Faerozi Toreqottullah. The Yamaha machines were relentless, their pace proving that the team was determined to dominate Buriram.

Thanat’s recovery ride was spectacular, clocking blistering lap times to claw back into contention. But the Yamaha riders refused to yield. As the laps wound down, the battle intensified. On the final lap, with the crowd roaring, Kyle Paz made his move — a daring dive at the last corner, slipping past teammate Kasma to secure third place. It was a bold, calculated maneuver that showcased his racing maturity and Yamaha’s fighting spirit.

Thanat took the win on home soil, Anupab followed in second, but for Filipino motorsport, the moment belonged to Kyle Paz. His podium finish was more than just a result; it was proof that the Philippines has a rider capable of challenging Asia’s best. Even though it wasn’t P1, P3 is still a podium — and it signals that a future victory is within reach.

With Yamaha’s backing and Kyle’s fearless style, the dream of seeing him stand atop the podium is not just possible, it feels inevitable.

Kyle Paz’s podium in Buriram is more than a milestone — it is a declaration. A declaration that Filipino talent, backed by Yamaha’s relentless drive, belongs among Asia’s finest. Third place may not be the top step, but it is still the podium, still the proof that the Philippines can stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the best. With every daring move, every fearless lap, Kyle is inching closer to that ultimate prize.

Today it is P3; tomorrow, it could very well be P1. For Yamaha, for the Philippines, and for every Filipino fan who believes, this podium is not the end — it is the beginning of a climb toward victory.