The Johor Race Circuit, situated at Pasir Gudang, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Home of many ardent motorcycle racing enthusiasts, from Singapore, Malayasia, as well as Thailand. Below, I give a rough description of Johor Race Circuit on an Aprilia RS125.



1st Corner

Approaching the 1st corner, speed reaching 170km/h, brake hard at the 30m marking, down-shift from 6th gear to 4th. Stuffing the brakes deep into the corner, roll into the corner at about 120km/h. Approaching the apex of the curve, down-shift further into 3rd gear, opening the throttle gradually and shifting up to 4th gear again, exiting the corner at about 140km/h.

Main Straight

This straight is about 0.7km long, we can hit speeds up to 200km/h, provided that the exit speed of 1st corner was fast enough, the catapult effect.

Locus Corner

On board an Aprilia RS125, this corner can be taken at full speed, about 200km/h.

3rd Corner

Exiting the Locus corner, brake just before the start of the rumble strips, down-shifting quickly from 6th gear into 3rd, slowing down to about 110km/h. Open the throttle slowly and gradually and keep focus on the exit of the corner. Coming out of the corner, shift to 4th gear, about 140km/h.

4th Corner

Reaching the rumble strips in 4th gear, close the throttle for a second, while diving into the corner, open up the throttle again. Uphill corner makes high entry speed essential, or the 125 will not be able to compensate for the lack of speed uphill as a 125 is low on horsepower.

5th Corner

Coming out of 4th corner at about 140km/h, shifting into 5th gear. Reaching 155km/h, brake at rumble strips, down-shift 2 gears to 3rd gear, opening the throttle as you dive into the corner to gain maximum speed as this is another uphill corner. Exiting 5th corner at about 120km/h, immediately shifting to 4th gear.

Back Straight

After a short upslope, comes an enormous downhill ride. Shifting up from 4th gear to 5th and to 6th, you reach nearly 185km/h as you approach the 6th corner.

6th Corner

From 6th gear, down-shift into 5th, NOT touching the brakes at all, making use of the engine braking while you roll into the corner, opening the throttle gradually on the exit, reaching 160km/h.

7th Corner

After a slight left kink, reaching about 180km/h, down-shift from 6th gear to 5th to 4th to 3rd, again, NOT touching the brakes at all, making use of the gradual down-shifting to slow down the bike, opening the throttle as soon as you dive into the corner, uphill again, exiting at about 130km/h, shifting into 4th gear almost as soon as you open throttle.

BMW Chicane

This is an 'S' corner. Approaching the entry point, reaching 150km/h, brake and down-shift simultaneously from 5th gear to 3rd. Roll into this downhill chicane and opening the throtlle as soon as flick from left to right, exiting at around 120km/h.

Last corner

Reaching the rumble strips, you're in 5th gear, 165km/h. Brake and down-shift deep into the corner, from 5th to 4th, rolling into the corner. Exiting the corner at about 115km/h, down into 3rd gear, open up the throttle hard. You're almost as soon back in 4th gear again.