The founder of Big Blue Taxi apologized to Indonesians and Gojek riders over his disparaging remarks.
Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail said that Gojek is only meant for “poor people” in Indonesia, Thailand, India and Cambodia in a video.
He claimed that what he said was based on a report on poverty in Indonesia.
The founder of Big Blue Taxi apologized to Indonesians and Gojek riders over his disparaging remarks.
Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail had previously remarked in a video that Gojek service is only for “poor” people in countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, India and Combodia, while “Malaysians are rich enough to do without Gojek.”
CNN Indonesia reported that the video went viral in the country and sparked a firestorm of criticisms. It also led to Indonesian Gojek riders threatening to demonstrate in front of the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta by the thousands.
“I hope there are no demonstrations in the interests and relationship between both countries,” Shamsubahrin told reporters during a press conference.
He then went on to blame a report about poverty in Indonesia (although he did not cite which particular report). “My statement is based on reports. If they think I’m wrong, I accept it.
The brouhaha began shortly after Youth and Sports Minister YB Syed Saddiq Syed Rahman announced his intention on lobbying the Cabinet to approve the Indonesia-based Gojek service in Malaysia. The service was then given a go-ahead by the Cabinet.
While it was an approval by principle according to Transport Minister YB Anthony Loke, it ran directly counter against his stand in banning motorcycle taxi services. He had even succinctly directed Malaysian-based Dego Ride to shut down. He was defensive when approached by reporters on the “u-turn” by remarking that, “You don’t have to remind me.”
To Shamsubahrin, the decision to approve Gojek was politically-driven.
PETRONAS Yamaha SRT Principal Dato’ Razlan Razali said that many thought Fabio Quartararo was the wrong choice before the start of the season.
Fabio is currently returning unexpectedly great results to the team.
The PETRONAS Yamaha SRT outfits will be the home team in the Malaysian MotoGP round.
Things definitely looked different when the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) CEO and PETRONAS Yamaha SRT Principal, Dato’ Razlan Razali announced plans for Malaysian MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 teams last year.
Now the MotoGP team is performing not just beyond expectations, but no one would’ve dared to even give a thought about where the PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team is now. The scene was telling during the Yamaha Motorsport Launch at SIC just after the winter tests and prior to the season opener in Qatar.
While every journalist fielded questions to the factory Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP squad (mostly to Valentino Rossi, actually), Dato’ Razlan and his two riders Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo put up their best smiles while sitting quietly in between the factory and PATA Yamaha WorldSBK teams.
Because journalists know that the answers would’ve been, “We do not expect great results from the year ahead. We hope to finish every race and learn along the way.” Or anything to that effect.
Oh, how things have changed. Now every hack wants an interview with Dato’ Razlan and co.
The driving force is of course the super rookie Fabio Quartararo’s exploits. He’s been a consistent frontrunner and not afraid to mix it up with the Big Boys.
Photo credit – MotoGP.com
“When we announced him as our second rider, a lot of people told us we made the wrong choice – but now everyone agrees we made the right decision!” Dato’ Razlan said in an interview.
“There’s no way we expected to be in this fantastic position after only twelve rounds of the 2019 season. We were hoping for Franky to deliver top six performances and for Fabio to target rookie of the year. We didn’t expect both of them to do what they’re doing and we’re extremely happy and satisfied with them. To be able to deliver such strong performances for our title sponsor is key, and we’ve achieved even more than what was desired based on the targets we set at the start of the year,” he continued.
Dato’ Razlan is quick to credit the team, saying that the riders wouldn’t have performed so well without support. The team has since grown to 48-strong and enjoys good ambience and chemistry. But he is also quick to acknowledge that the team is young and nothing is 100%. Still, there’s no reason for him to feel proud.
“I also couldn’t be more proud as a Malaysian to finally have our own Malaysian MotoGP team. We can tell fans and media from across the globe that we’re Malaysian and we can act as our country’s ambassadors. We’re proud of that role and I’m honoured to be able to represent the country in the paddock.”
Speaking of the Malaysian MotoGP round, he added that, “The Malaysian Grand Prix is our home race, it’ll be the first time our MotoGP team will compete at Sepang, and we expect the riders to do well in MotoGP and Moto3, and if Pawi can come back in Moto2, then he can do well too!
“We’re already anticipating a bumper crowd with 200,000 spectators over three days, and 115,000 on race day. It’ll be a huge event for us, and we can’t wait.”
Dato’ Razlan concluded the interview by iterating that both Quartararo and Morbidelli will continue with the team in 2020.
The MODENAS KR3 500cc GP racer graced the world’s racetracks from 1997 to 2002.
It was mean to revolutionize GP bikes.
MODENAS stood to learn from the project.
Do you remember the MODENAS KR3 500cc GP racer?
The bike had a very interesting story: It was meant to revolutionize 500cc Grand Prix racing and remains well-loved for its spirit among many long-time Malaysian and worldwide GP fans.
The name “KR” stemmed from a legendary name, Kenny Roberts. As in Kenny Roberts Sr., the three-time 500 GP World Champion, the man who popularized the knee-down cornering technique and all-around cowboy (read: rebel).
On the other hand, the number “3” stood for three-cylinders.
CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – APRIL 14: Kenny Roberts during the Americas GP at Circuit of the Americas on April 14, 2019 in Circuit of the Americas, United States of America. (Photo by Gold and Goose / LAT Images)
How did it come to this?
KR managed GP teams, all of them on Yamahas, from 1984. But his ventures in the premier class started showing promising results when he signed Wayne Rainey in 1988.
It was in 1990 that KR secured Marlboro’s sponsorship and his team became the factory Yamaha squad in both 500cc and 250cc categories. Also in that year, Rainey won his first 500cc GP title and John Kocinski won the 250cc title.
Rainey would deliver another two titles in 1991 and 1992. He was on his way to fourth championship in 1993 but a crash at the Italian GP paralyzed him from the chest down. His bitter rival Kevin Schwantz of Lucky Strike Suzuki was crowned champion instead.
As the years ticked by without Rainey, a plucky Aussie by the name of Mick Doohan took over the reins.
KR stuck it out with Yamaha, but he was constantly unhappy with the progress of their bikes. He even complained many times publicly that the factory took no heed to his feedback on improving their bikes.
So, in 1996, KR made an announcement that surprised everyone – he was breaking away from Yamaha after 25 years in the 1997 season (like how Herve Poncharal would do in 2019). But he wasn’t moving to another manufacture. No, not “King” Kenny. He was going to build his own bikes.
Enter the MODENAS KR3
It was during this time that our very own fledgling (it started in 1995) Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn. Bhd. (MODENAS) decided to step in and work together on the project. It was hoped that some of the technology would eventually make their way into MODENAS’s future models, besides placing the brand in the pinnacle of motorcycle racing.
KR decided to move base to the “Motorsport Valley” in England where the Formula 1 and race car teams are based and began working together with Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR).
They decided on a three-cylinder, two-stroke, 500cc machine as the rules gave three-cylinder machines a 10kg weight advantage over four-cylinder bikes. The lower weight allowed the bike to be more agile and carry more midcorner speeds, like what KR saw with Freddie Spencer’s Honda NS500 in 1982 to 1983. This was also deemed as an advantage as the racetracks during the time had more corners than long straights for the four-cylinder machines to utilize.
But they knew that a three-cylinder would make less horsepower compared to a four-cylinder one. So, the team focused on improving volumetric efficiency (how much fuel-air mixture the engine could induct).
Engine design was supervised by Bud Askland, the father of the team’s manager Chuck Askland. They ended up with a 498cc powerplant with “square” dimensions i.e. same bore and stroke figures of 59.6 mm x 59.6 mm. The Vee-angle between the cylinders was set at nearly 180o with two cylinders down below and one up top.
Anyway, the frame was designed to give the bike better handling characteristics. KR worked with TWR and French chassis maker FTR to result in an aluminium twin-spar “deltabox” that’s smaller and lighter than the Japanese. The headstock featured eccentric carriers to allow adjustments of the steering’s rake angle and trail. There were also eccentric carriers in the swingarm mount to adjust the height of the swingarm pivot. These were unheard of at the time.
Even fueling was ahead of its time. The KR team adopted electronic carburetors without float bowls which used ducted air to atomize the fuel, much like a fuel-injection system. Such a setup avoided the fuel from emulsifying from intense vibrations. Arrow custom made an exhaust system for the engine.
This first engine produced 160 hp and went on to develop 180 hp in 2002.
The bodywork, it was designed to wrap tightly around the frame for a smaller frontal profile. Consequently, the radiator was moved to under the seat where ducts supplied cooling air to it.
Kenny Roberts Jr. on the MODENAS KR3. He would go to Suzuki and win the 2000 500cc GP title.
The MODENAS-KR team found an uphill (more like up-mountain) task ahead of them in the 1997 season.
It was initially thought that the engine’s layout gave the engine good self-balancing inertial forces (of the pistons going up and down and the rotating crankshaft), so it was sans a balancer shaft. However, the engine suffered many breakdowns due to crankshaft cracking.
Additionally, there was no controlled-tyre ruling back then, thus the tryes were manufactured to each specific bike in the paddock. The new and small team had to use old tyres or those designed for other bikes. Sometimes both. It meant that they could not capitalize on their handling.
But the KR3 was supremely fast in midcorner and there were other riders who commented that they were led into entering corners too fast behind it. But when the situation was reversed, the KR3 riders found themselves blocked by the slower four-cylinder machines and then outgunned at the corner exits.
The KR3 project persisted until 2002 when the two-stroke 500cc GP formula gave way to four-stroke 1000cc machines. The FIM allowed two stroke bikes a grace period during that year and they could race together. Jeremey McWilliams qualified the MODENAS KR3 on pole at the 2002 Australian GP.
With the new formula, the KR3 project built a four-stroke, V-5, 1000cc bike called the KR5. Now Malaysian car maker Proton funded the project until the end of 2004.
Legacy of MODENAS KR3
While the MODENAS KR3 didn’t win races, it left a lasting legacy in MotoGP. Later, Aprilia would attempt with their own three-cylinder Cube racer. BMW had actually worked on a MotoGP prototype which also had – you guessed it – three cylinders. BMW’s stillborn project would eventually end up gaining one more cylinder and became the S 1000 RR.
In any case, we would love to see a MODENAS KR3 up close again.
A recall campaign for the BMW G 310 R, BMW G 310 GS and BMW C 400 X has been initiated in the USA.
It pertains to the bikes’ brake calipers that may corrode.
It happens in the USA due to winter conditions.
We’ve just learned of a recall campaign for the BMW G 310 R, BMW G 310 GS and BMW C 400 X in the USA.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the front and/or rear brake calipers may corrode, leading to the caliper pistons sticking or drag in their bores. The corrosion is caused by winter riding conditions. We suspect the salt applied to roads during the season as it lowers the melting point of water, thus ice melts quicker. But it also corrodes metal.
The affected models are from 2017 to 2020 for the G 310 R, 2018 to 2020 for the G 310 GS, 2019 C 400 X.
BikesRepublic.com have sought confirmation from BMW Motorrad Malaysia over this matter.
The above recall affects bikes in the American market due to winter conditions, thus does not affect bikes in Malaysia.
However, BMW Motorrad Malaysia will inform their official dealers to carry out checks on the calipers of these three bikes in the interest of safety. BMW will also update us should there be further action.
We would like to add that recall campaigns are actually a good thing. It shows that manufacturers are being responsible, rather than hiding data and facts.
Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton and MotoGP champion Marc Marquez may get a head-to-head showdown on bikes soon.
Marquez had shown interest in an interview ahead of the British MotoGP.
Hamilton had replied “Let’s go bro!”
Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton and MotoGP champion Marc Marquez may get a head-to-head showdown on bikes soon.
It started when Marquez said during an interview with the Daily Mail that he welcomes a race with Hamilton. “Of course! It would be interesting,” he said. “Face-to-face, first an F1 car and then a motorbike because I know he (Hamilton) is riding.”
Marquez continued, “I speak to him by social media sometimes and I know he rides a bike and rides really well. So I look forward to, at a minimum, meeting him. We were very close (to a race) last year but we had compromises and couldn’t make it work.”
Hamilton has replied to Marquez’s “challenge” by replying “Let’s go bro! Can’t wait to meet and ride together sometime” in an Instagram post.
The five-time F1 champ is an avid rider and has tried his hand at riding the WorldSBK PATA Yamaha YZF-R1 alongside Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark.
Apart from that, he is the ambassador for MV Agusta who built the F4 LH44 and Brutale 800RR LH44 as tributes to the champ.
Now, Marquez’s team Repsol Honda has also issued a challenge to Hamilton in a Twitter post saying, “So Mr. Lewis Hamilton we hear you’re up for a bit of a challenge?”
We’ll see what transpires next. It was reported that the deal didn’t go through the last time due to sponsorship since Marquez is sponsored by Red Bull while Hamilton is sponsored by Monster Energy.
The 2nd Malaysia Bike Building Championship 2019 “Road to AMD 2020” is happening from 24th to 27th October 2019.
The winner will compete in the 2020 AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building during INTERMOT in Cologne, Germany.
The 1st edition was won by Eatern Bobber and they were awarded third overall in the AMD finals last year.
The 2ndMalaysia Bike Building Championship 2019 “Road to AMD 2020” is happening from 24th to 27th October 2019! The contest will be held in conjunction with the Malaysia International Automotive & Parts Expo 2019 (MIAPEX19), organized by Motonation.
The winner will compete in the 2020 AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building during INTERMOT in Cologne, Germany.
Remember Motonation Carnival 2017? It was when Eastern Bobber won the custom motorcycle contest. The contest was judged by none other than AMD Showmaster Neil Blaber. By winning the contest, Eastern Bobber builder Omar Jumiran and his creation Bone-X were sent all expenses paid to compete in the 2018 AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building during INTERMOT in Cologne, Germany.
Neil Blaber has seen plenty of custom bikes in his lifetime and he remarked that the entries at Motonation 2017 truly opened his eyes.
What he said was true: There’s no short supply of really good custom bike builders in Malaysia. Among the famous ones are FNG Works, Rusty Factory, Beautiful Machines, Hungry Ghost Custom Inc., Red Garage, KerkuS CycleS just to name a few!
There was no shortage of custom bikes in the recent Art of Speed Powered by PETRONAS, so let’s get together and show what Malaysia is capable of.
