Decha Kraisart has announced his retirement from racing, as the Thai is ready to start a new career as the coach of young Yamaha Thailand riders.
WHO IS DECHA KRAISART? – Kraisart is a pioneering personality for Thai motorsport, as his character and achievements have boosted the whole motorcycle racing movement in his homecountry. Born in 1981 in Saraburi, Decha Kraisart has been fundamental in the growth and promotion of motorcycle racing in Thailand, as he stood out at international level even earlier than Wilairot brothers. After some years on Underbone machines (he won Royal Trophy Cup 114cc in 2003 and was 110cc National Champion in 2004), Kraisart switched to 600cc with the important backing from PETRONAS and Yamaha Motor Thailand and then, in 2007, he became the first Thai rider to win an ARRC SuperSports 600cc race, achievement he repeated in 2010. Later on, Kraisart became All Japan ST600 (Supersport) Champion in 2012 and also in this case, he was the first Thai to reach such a high point…
WORLD SUPERSPORT PODIUM – Actually, the only achievement missed by Decha Kraisart during his amazing career is a race win on the world stage, but we remind you that he scratched it in 2017. After some wildcard appearances in Moto2 World Championship (he rode a Yamaha-Thailand-coloured Tech 3 machine in 2013 and 2014), in the past four years Kraisart contested the World Supersport Round hosted at Buriram and in 2017, he finished second just behind Federico Caricasulo. Despite not winning, the podium scored back then will remain a huge highlight in his career. Always at Chang International Circuit, Kraisart performed his last two races in ARRC last December, when he finished second behind his team-mate and 2018 ARRC SuperSports 600cc Champion Ratthapong Wilairot.
COACH FOR YAMAHA THAILAND – Now that he’s retired from races, Decha Kraisart will remain in Yamaha Thailand as the coach of the riders they support at both national and international level. The twice ARRC Champion has already proven that he can raise talents: it’s also thanks to him that riders like Apiwat Wongthananon, Anupab Sarmoon, Peerapong Boonlert and Ratthapong Wilairot succeed in Asia Road Race Championship (and not only…).
Translated by Alessandro Palma