Mario Aji Upgrades To Moto3 Next Season, Teams Up With Taiyo Furusato

JAKARTA - Indonesian racer Mario Suryo Aji will move up the class to enliven the Moto3 world championship next year to defend Honda Team Asia.

"Alhamdulillah, this is one of the dreams of my father and I... grateful and happy I will announce my next trip," wrote Mario on his IG account @mariosuryoaj1, Wednesday reported by Antara.

"I will be racing in the Moto3 World Championship with @honda_team_asia for the 2022 season.

"Thank you to my family who deserved to see this and a very big thank you to everyone involved in this golden opportunity," said the 17-year-old rider.

Mario will be partnered with Japanese racer Taiyo Furusato.

Mario has been involved in the FIM CEV Moto3 junior world championship for the past three seasons, having gained experience in the Asia Talent Cup, where he finished fifth in the 2018 season.

He had the opportunity to make his Moto3 debut when he appeared as a wildcard at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix last month.

Meanwhile, Furusato caught the attention of Honda Team Asia after the Japanese rider won four victories in the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup this season.

"@marios.a16 and @furusatotaiyo72 will be the team's hope for the future next season," wrote Honda Team Asia on IG.

The new pair of drivers will replace the duo of Andi Farid Izdihar from Indonesia and Yuki Kunii from Japan who are the focus of Honda Team Asia this season.

On the same day, Honda Team Asia also announced their lineup of riders in the Moto2 class next season by retaining the duet of Ai Ogura from Japan and Somkiat Chantra from Thailand.