The folks at Sepang International Circuit (SIC) recently held an online interview with the Team Principal of the Petronas Sepang Racing Team (SRT), Dato’ Razlan Razali, regarding the state of MotoGP in 2020. One of the questions that were asked that caught our attention was what will happen if there’s no MotoGP this year? (more…)
Sit tight, folks. The MotoGP 2020 season might be going for a long holiday as rumours have indicated that it’ll only restart as late as August. Putting everything into consideration related to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the next few rounds are all located in countries where the Coronavirus outbreak is currently on a high. (more…)
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.
“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.
Pelumba MotoGP, Fabio Quartararo dan Franco Morbidelli dikhabarkan akan beraksi di Sepang 8 Hours hujung tahun ini.
Menurut laporan Crash.net, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (SIC), Dato’ Razlan Razali mahu menyaksikan kedua pelumba pasukan Petronas Yamaha itu beraksi dalam pertandingan sulung yang akan berlangsung pada 14 Disember ini.
“Kami di SIC mahu menyaksikan pelumba MotoGP beraksi di Sepang 8 Hours. Ketika ini kami sedang berbincang dengan pengurus mereka.
“Kedua-dua pelumba (Quartararo dan Morbidelli) mempunyai kelapangan pada bulan Disember. Pada masa sama saya berasakan perlumbaan ini baik untuk mengekalkan kecergasan mereka ketika musim cuti MotoGP.
“Saya juga telah memperjelaskan kepada mereka, ‘ini adalah acara Endurance World Championship (EWC) sulung kami jadi kami mahu kamu beraksi’. Ketika ini kami masih belum membuat keputusan tentang pelumba ketiga,”jelasnya.
Pada masa sama Razlan turut berpeluang menampilkan EWC sulung dengan barisan ‘all-star’ sekiranya setiap pelumba daripada pasukan Petronas Yamaha Sprinta dapat turun padang antaranya, Jonas Folger, Khairul Idham Pawi, Mattia Pasini dari Moto2 dan Ayumu Sasaki serta John McPhee dari Moto3.
Sementara itu, wakil tunggal negara dalam kelas premier MotoGP, Hafizh Syahrian turut mempunyai kelapangan pada bulan Disember apabila kontraknya bersama KTM tamat musim ini.
(SUMBER: Crash.net)
Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali (better known as Dato’ Razlan) has resigned from his position in the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM), with effect from today.
Dato’ Razlan, who is Sepang International Circuit (SIC) CEO, decided on his resignation to focus on his works at the circuit as well as Team Principal representative of the newly-formed PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang MotoGP team, in addition to the PETRONAS Sprinta Racing Teams in Moto2 and Moto3, and the MotoE electric motorcycle series. On the home front, SIC has a team in the Super 250 category in the Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship.
His letter of resignation was submitted to MAM President, Tan Sri Mokhzani Tun Mahathir who replaced Tan Sri Azman Yahya. The replacement is part of MAM restructuring exercise.
In developing and growing motorsport in Malaysia, MAM which was established in 2009 takes up the role as a sanctioning body while assisting clubs, event organisers, officials, competitors, commercial operators and sponsors to ensure the future growth of motorsport in its many disciplines. It will always remain MAM main objective to promote the development of Malaysian grassroots motorsports and local talents.
In the letter, Dato’ Razlan, said that his resignation was in the best interest of MAM.
Dato’ Razlan further announce that Muizz Azli will be his replacement. He opines that Muizz is a suitable candidate for this position as he has dealt with legal cases involving motorsport events. He further believes that Muizz is capable in structuring MAM and take it to the next level.
Dato Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali membuat keputusan untuk meninggalkan Persatuan Sukan Permotoran Malaysia (MAM), berkuatkuasa hari ini.
Dato Razlan, yang juga merupakan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (SIC) membuat keputusan untuk meletakkan jawatan bagi memberikan tumpuan sepenuhnya terhadap tugasan selaku Team Principal pasukan MotoGP PETRONAS-YAMAHA-SEPANG.
Surat perletakkan jawatannya telah diserahkan kepada Presiden MAM, Tan Sri Mokhzani Tun Mahathir – yang telah menggantikan Tan Sri Azman Yahya susulan penstrukturan semula.
Sejak ditubuhkan 10 tahun lalu, MAM menggalas tugas selaku badan bertanggungjawab memastikan perkembangan sukan bermotor di Malaysia. Sememangnya menjadi fokus utama MAM untuk mempromosi dan membangunkan sukan permotoran di Malaysia.
Dalam suratnya, Dato Razlan menyatakan perletakkan jawatannya adalah jalan yang terbaik buat MAM di samping mengumumkan Muizz Azli sebagai individu terbaik untuk menggantikannya.
Dato Razlan berpendapat Muizz merupakan calon sesuai ekoran pernah mengendalikan kes melibatkan acara permotoran. Dia juga yakin Muizz mampu membawa MAM ke peringkat seterusnya.
Sepang International Circuit (SIC) CEO, Dato’ Razlan Razali offers an opportunity to Malaysian rider Khairul Idham Pawi in the Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team in the MotoGP championship.
Khairul Idham Pawi shocked the world when he won two Moto3 races in his debut season in 2016. He was Malaysia’s first GP race winner in any category. Both wins came during wet races, but he didn’t score well in dry races. However, he was moved up to the Moto2 category in 2017 where he languished in the tail end of the field.
As for 2019, he signed up with the Petronas Sprinta Racing Team and remains in Moto2.
Dato’ Razlan told Crash.net that Pawi had been moved to Moto2 too early. On the other hand, he’s positive that Pawi had learned a lot in those two years.
“He came to visit our Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team in Valencia. We showed him around and said, ‘look, you have two years to do something because we want you to be our first Malaysian MotoGP rider in this team.’”
Dato’ Razlan hopes that “pep talk” will spur Pawi to perform his best during the 2019 season, as there is a path for progression in the team.
Besides Hafizh Syahrin riding for the Tech 3 KTM team this year, having a Malaysian rider riding for a Malaysian team will die the country’s fans much to cheer for.
Watch this space for the official launching of the Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team (MotoGP) and Petronas Sprinta Racing Teams in Moto2 and Moto3 on 28thJanuary.
In our recent report this morning, five young riders have been chosen to join the Impian ke MotoGP or ‘Dream to MotoGP’ program organised by the Sepang International Circuit (SIC). The training program which will be spearheaded by our very own national rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin will begin in the next few weeks. (more…)
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