Shion's Final Bow, Lexi Boan's Awaited Debut and Broken Records Heat Up Qualifiers

Sugo, Miyagi, May 9 – Round 2 of the 2025 Formula Hololive Japan qualifiers at Sportsland Sugo lived up to its “Supersprint” billing, as both splits delivered contrasting dramas across back-to-back 34-lap sprints.

In Split A, Hakui Koyori’s Joshu Asahi fended off a late charge by Nekomata Okayu’s Alticer Antanarau to win by under half a second. Third-place Oozora Subaru stalwart Rim Elgore kept the Exodia member on the podium, while Hololive veterans like Natsuiro Matsuri's Chaka Labradores (4th) and Yukihana Lamy's Alex Grant (5th) secured crucial points. Newcomer Lexi Boan—making her anticipated debut in Shirogane Noel’s car scored 7th.

Race 2 belonged to Momosuzu Nene’s Mohamed Shaqif Redza, who led the most laps for his fourth FHolo JP victory from pole, breaking the record of most wins in Formula Hololive Japan over his brother Mohd Shazren Redza for Himemori Luna. Sakura Miko’s Isekaijin Mikolev and Tsunomaki Watame’s Mohamed Khashiu completed a familiar all-Japanese podium. Boan suffered a high-speed Turn 1 collision with Chaka Labradores and exited on Lap 2, underlining the ruthlessness of Sugo’s opening corners.

Split B saw dynamic fights in both races. In Race 1, Hiodoshi Ao’s Jake Martinez converted pole into victory for the DEV class for the currently recovering Ao, fending off Otonose Kanade’s Saerin and fellow DEV_IS ace Ri Liu for Isaki Riona. A strong mid-field charge from Takane Lui’s Jace Kinsai (4th) and Usada Pekora’s Danilo Goyena (6th) kept JP-class bragging rights close.

Race 2 was Seo Byeong-Eun’s moment. After a difficult start to the season where he was set aside for Rey Mark Rosales in the Shiranui Flare team, he surged to a whirlwind win for Koganei Niko, edging out Pekora’s Goyena and Tokino Sora’s Ho Phu-My on the podium. Murasaki Shion’s final ARO appearance drew tears as Kizuhara Leo delivered a valiant 4th place a week after graduation. Dag Patterson, finishing 10th for Rindo Chihaya, lamented, “I don’t see any compatibility between myself and Chihaya… hopefully things improve next round”, as he languishes near the foot of the Split B table.

With just the Motegi GP remaining — two races per split on July 19-20 — the fight for Tsuyo Cup qualification has never been tighter. In Split A, Joshu Asahi leads with 376 points, trailed by Alex Grant on 373 and Mohamed Shaqif Redza on 347. Only the top 10 finishers in the final standings will automatically secure their Tsuyo Cup berths; the best-placed 11th across both splits will claim the final wildcard spot. All others will contest the Zako Cup. Heading into Motegi, positions 9 and 10 (Rim Elgore and Mohamed Khashiu) are separated by single-digit margins from the cutline — meaning every lap at Twin Ring Motegi will carry Tsuyo or Zako destiny.

Split B sees Lorenzo Ricci atop the leaderboard on 408 points, with Kizuhara Leo withdrawn and replaced in the rankings by Danilo Goyena’s 395 points in third, and everyone will move up a position for everyone below Ricci. Veteran Saerin and Jace Kinsai hold 3rd and 4th, but the scramble for 9th–11th is intense: Maverick Deuxieme, Krzysztof Salmonman and Ed Skye are all within 20 points of one another, each vying to avoid the Zako Cut. With Murasaki Shion’s graduation closing her chapter, the Motegi crowd will witness a season-deciding finale — one that cements the Tsuyo and Zako drivers of this FHolo JP campaign.