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Continuing to make history in 2017, the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship saw another stunning victory which will go down in history. Galang Hendra (Team MOTOXRACING) took the victory around Circuito de Jerez, and became the first Indonesian to secure a world championship victory. We take a look back over how close Indonesian’s have come in the past.

Making his second appearance in the WorldSSP300 championship, the 18 year old had a tough debut around Autodromo Internacional do Algarve as he was unable to finish the race, retiring with three laps remaining. Back and up for the fight in Spain, he was able to produce some stunning pace on board the YZF-R3, qualifying in eighth position ahead of the final fight. Locked in the podium fight in the early laps, Hendra made his move on the final lap and took the victory by just 0.026s, with a historic victory along the way.

Hendra isn’t the only Indonesian in the class however, as Ali Adriansyah Rusmiputro (Pertamina Almeria Racing Team) made his debut around MotorLand Aragon and has had a mixed season with his Yamaha machine. Putting up a strong fight over the eight races, Rusmiputro’s best result of 2017 was a top seven around Donington Park alongside four points scoring finishes. Racing from the young age of three, Rusmiputro will continue to work towards his dream to win a World Championship race.

Back in 2009, the WorldSBK championship had Doni Tata Pradita competing in the FIM Supersport World Championship series. Competing with Yamaha on the R6, the Indonesian rider was able to secure a best result of a top 11 around the Salt Lake City circuit. Competing for 12 races in the ever competitive series, Pradita was also the first Indonesian rider to race in a 250cc World Championship race alongside MotoGP™.

With a heritage which may surprise some, Dutch rider Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) has a strong Indonesian link, as his grandmother hails from the Asian country. With his mother half Indonesian, van der Mark ensures he stays in touch with his heritage and is proud to have some Indonesian blood.  2014 World Supersport Champion, the Dutch rider also has three Suzuka 8 Hour wins to his name and finished the 2017 season in 6^th position overall.

Indonesian riders may not be present in every WorldSBK season, but have been racing in the series for many years. Back in 1997 Simon Yudha Kusuma and Joenzindy Gozali raced in WorldSBK, and with some tough races for the two riders they would no doubt be very proud to see Hendra on the top step in Jerez.