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Zulfahmi Khairuddin

Pengurus pasukan SIC Racing Team, Zulfahmi Khairuddin berpuas hati dengan pencapaian Syarifuddin Azman pada Pusingan 5 Kejuaraan JuniorGP Dunia di Litar Algarve, Portugal minggu lalu.

Beliau berharap tempoh rehat sehingga September dapat memberi ruang buat Syarifuddin atau lebih dikenali sebagai Damok memperkemaskan tunggangannya bagi mengharungi pusingan seterusnya di Litar Misano.

“Secara keseluruhan, saya sangat gembira dengan prestasi Damok minggu lalu kerana meraih podium ketiganya musim ini dan sekali gus meletakkan dirinya berada di kedudukan kedua keseluruhan ketika ini.

“Ini adalah sesuatu yang bagus buat kami. Diharap, ketika tempoh rehat ini, dia dapat melihat secara mendalam apakah yang boleh dipertingkatkan lagi untuk ke depan lagi,” kata Zulfahmi.

Ahad lalu, Damok meraih podium ketiganya musim ini di Litar Algarve, Portugal selepas menemui garisan penamat kedua dengan catatan 29 minit 07.323 saat (s) dan dipisahkan 6.551s di belakang pemenang, Jose Rueda (29:00.772s) manakala Adrian Cruces melengkapkan pentas podium di tempat ketiga, 29:07.437s.

Pelumba lain yang bawah kendalian pasukan, Danial Syahmi Ahmad Shahril yang turut beraksi dalam kelas sama pula menamatkan perlumbaan di tempat ke-18 dan kini berada di tangga ke-19 keseluruhan.

Seorang lagi pelumba yang beraksi dalam saingan European Talent Cup (ETC), Hakim Danish Ramli tidak menamatkan perlumbaan selepas jentera mengalami masalah mekanikal dan kini berada di tangga kelima keseluruhan.

“Untuk Danial, ini adalah tahun untuk dia belajar. Dia masih belajar untuk menjadi pantas menggunakan motosikal Moto3. Untuk Danish pula, agak malang yang dia berdepan masalah mekanikal.

“Secara keseluruhannya, Danish adalah seorang pelumba kompetitif di ETC dan diharap, dia akan kembali dengan lebih kuat di pusingan seterusnya,” kata Zulfahmi.

Pengurus Pasukan ZK Racing, Zulfahmi Khairuddin, lebih gemar jika setiap pelumba menggunakan masa latihan dengan motosikal berbanding aktiviti lain.

Dia berkongsi pendapatnya ketika sesi Facebook Live di akaun Facebook miliknya.

Bagi Zulfahmi, sebagai pelumba motosikal, sesi latihan seharusnya kekal dengan bermotosikal tapi sebaliknya ramai yang gemar berlatih mengikut trend antaranya berbasikal.

“Latihan perlu berjalan mengikut benda yang betul supaya kita tak hilang fokus sebagai pelumba motosikal.

“Zaman sekarang cukup senang nak hilang arah dengan sesi latihan kita sebab dengan adanya media sosial kita nampak ramai pelumba MotoGP main basikal, motorcross.

“Tapi pada pandangan saya, latihan perlu mengikut apa sukan kita iaitu perlumbaan motosikal profesional. Jadi kita perlu banyakkan masa atas motosikal tak kira apa pun jenis motosikal tersebut.

“Yang penting kita menunggang motosikal di litar supaya dapat perbaiki skil,” jelasnya.

Bagaimanapun, Zulfahmi akui bimbang dengan sikap pelumba yang gemar ikut trend semasa.

“Saya nampak sekarang ini pelumba terlalu mengikut trend latihan pelumba profesional. Bila mereka kayuh basikal, semua nak kayuh basikal.

“Bila pelumba pro main motocross, semua nak main motocross.

“Tapi apakah keperluan yang palig penting untuk berada dalam keadaan terbaik dalam perlumbaan? Bagi saya adalah berlatih dengan motosikal di litar.

“Jika ikutkan pemain tenis, berlatih dengan bermain tenis. Atlet berbasikal berlatih dengan kayuh basikal setiap hari. Pelari maraton pula lari setiap hari.

“Jadi disebabkan sukan kita adalah lumba motosikal jadi sudah tentu latihan juga adalah lumba motosikal,” tambah Zulfahmi lagi.

Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) telah meminta Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) untuk mencari lokasi kuarantin berhampiran dengan Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (SIC) untuk atlet sukan permotoran negara yang akan pulang ke tanah air.

Baru-baru ini, Pengurus Pasukan SIC Talent ZK Racing, Zulfahmi Khairuddin, meluahkan rasa kecewa apabila atlet sukan permotoran terpaksa menjalani kuarantin wajib 14 hari di hotel sekaligus menganggu persiapan untuk pusingan akan datang.

Bagi Zulfahmi, kuarantin di hotel akan memberi kesan terhadap tahap kecergasan pelumba.

Mendengar luahan itu, Menteri KSB, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican berpendapat atlet sukan permotoran wajar diberikan kemudahan sama seperti atlet negara bakal yang sedang dalam persiapan ke Sukan Olimpik dan Paralimpik Tokyo.

“Saya akan bawa perkara ini berhubung isu atlet permotoran negara untuk menjalani latihan ketika tempoh kuarantin kepada MSN kerana kita faham jika berada di hotel, ia akan memberi kesan (kepada stamina mereka),” ujar Reezal Merican.

Tambahnya lagi, tempat khas berhampiran dengan SIC merupakan pilihan paling sesuai bagi atlet permotoran jalani kuarantin sebaik pulang ke tanah air sementara menanti pusingan perlumbaan seterusnya.

“Permintaan itu sesuatu yang wajar diberi perhatian dan diambil tindakan segera memandangkan sukan permotoran menjulang nama negara di persada antarabangsa kebelakangan ini, antaranya kemenangan Sharifuddin Azman dan Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah,” jelas Menteri KBS itu lagi. – BH

  • TOC and SIC have partnered to develop talents through Bina Bakat program and Superbike Technician Course.

  • The announcement was made with Hafizh Syahrin, Adam Norrodin and Zulfahmi Khairuddin in attendance.

  • The partnership augurs well for both parties as SIC is actively expanding into motorsports.

As we’ve reported on previous occasions, the TOC Automotive College (TOC) is providing a loan for students aspiring to be certified superbike technicians through a program called, “Bina Bakat (Talent Development).” (Please click here for the full article.) Now, to provide graduates opportunities for greater job placement portfolios, as the college has announced their partnership with the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).

This augurs well with SIC as the world-class motorsports venue’s management has expanded their reach into two-motorsports by running their own MotoGP team next year, after SIC tied up with the Angel Nieto Team and Yamaha to run the manufacturer’s satellite team beginning 2019 (please click here to read the full news). Besides that, SIC has also set up a Talent Cup to develop young racers in Malaysia, managed by Zulfahmi Khairuddin.

This is on top of Hafizh Syahrin making the jump to the MotoGP premier class this year.

Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Razali, the CEO of Sepang International Circuit said that such expansion requires certified and skilled mechanics, who are disciplined in their work ethics. He is confident that these are the very sort of technicians who are produced by TOC through the Superbike Technician Course, which also encompasses motorsports as part of their syllabus.

Indeed, as part of TOC’s “Enriching Lives” theme, the college seeks to provide the best talent development program through Bina Bakat. The program builds the students’ development path through 80% practical work, preparing them for potential job placements after graduation. Obviously, SIC is an attractive goal for many students.

To rehash, Bina Bakat program offers 100% education loan to eligible student to follow the Superbike Technician Course. They will then repay their loans after they have found job placements.

The announcement was made during a special get-together event at the TOC Automotive College’s campus in Petaling Jaya. Present were Hafizh Syahrin (MotoGP), Adam Norrodin (Moto3), Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Team Manager), Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Razali, Oh Kah Beng (TOC Motorsports Director), Jeffrey Oh (Oh Kah Beng’s brother and co-ordinator for the Asia Talent Cup and British Talent Cup) and Habibtullah Fuad Mohamad (Moto2 Mechanic), among other dignitaries and well-known figures in Malaysian motosports.

The guests were given a guided tour of TOC’s facilities and they signed autographs for their fans after the press conference.

Please visit TOC Automotive College’s Facebook page or their campus (map below) or call call (+603) 7960 8833 for more information. Likewise, you can find more information about the TOC Bina Bakat Program here, or email info@toc.edu.my. Please click on this link for further information on the TOC Superbike Technician Course.

PICTURE GALLERY

The SIC Racing Team has found their new permanent rider in the form of Niki Tuuli, a WorldSSP rider from Finland.

The 22-year-old started his WorldSSP riding career in late 2016 but has impressed the entire field with his results.

CEO of Sepang Circuit Datuk Razlan Razali believes that Tuuli will be able to make the SIC Racing Team competitive.

After the unexpected announcement of Zulfahmi Khairuddin prematurely ending his 2018 Moto2 rookie season, the SIC Racing Team has revealed yet another surprise in the form of his replacement rider. Finnish WorldSSP rider Niki Tuuli will be riding the Kalex machinery starting next round this weekend at the HJC Helmets Grand Prix de France. (more…)

Some news have reported that Zulfahmi Khairuddin has decided to retire from Moto2 effective IMMEDIATELY.

After just four rounds, the Moto2 rookie called it quits after struggling to get any decent performance and results.

There’s is still no news on whether the team will continue with a replacement rider.

News broke out late last night regarding one of our national motorcycle racers in MotoGP. Zulfahmi Khairuddin who has been actively competing in the intermediate Moto2 category this year has called it quits after just four rounds of the 2018 season despite being a rookie. (more…)

  • Zulfahmi Khairuddin telah memperkenalkan motosikal perlumbaan Moto2 Kalex terbarunya semalam di Litar Antarabangsa Sepang.
  • Baru sahaja dipanggil bagi menunggang untuk pasukan SIC Racing Team, penunggang berusia 26 tahun itu tidak sabar untuk kembali berlumba dalam kategori kelas pertengahan paling berdaya saing di dalam dunia.
  • SIC Racing Team telah bekerjasama dengan KBS Malaysia bagi menaja usaha Moto2 mereka untuk tahun 2018.

(more…)

Zulfahmi Khairuddin revealed his latest Kalex Moto2 race bike yesterday at the Sepang International Circuit.

Newly appointed to race for the SIC Racing Team, the 26 year old is eager to get back into racing in the world’s most competitive intermediate class.

The SIC Racing Team has partnered up with KBS Malaysia to sponsor their Moto2 efforts for 2018.

One of Malaysia’s top motorcycle racers that is Zulfahmi Khairuddin who was recently announced as one of two Moto2 riders representing Malaysia for the 2018 season has unveiled his brand new bike and livery at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) just yesterday. The 26 year old national rider will be racing for the SIC Racing Team with KBS Malaysia as their main sponsor. (more…)

  • Sky Sports broke the news of Hafizh Syahrin stepping up to MotoGP.

  • He will replace Jonas Folger in the Monster Yamaha Tech3.

  • Sepang Racing Team signs on Zulfahmi Kharuddin in place of Hafizh for Moto2.

In what seems like the convulated plot of twist of a Hollywood movie ã la Memento, Hafizh “Pescao” Syahrin goes into MotoGP for 2018.

Plot Twist #1

In an earlier news we reported that SIC Racing Team will run a Moto2 team with Hafizh Syahrin as the contracted rider, after the affable rider was unceremoniously dropped first by Petronas Raceline and then Petronas Sprinta.

Petronas will NOT sponsor Hafizh Syahrin for Moto2 2018

That had almost ruled Hafizh out of the 2018 Moto2 Championship, until SIC’s Chief Executive Officer, YBhg Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali threw in a lifeline by providing Hafizh a seat on the newly formed SIC Racing Team Moto2 bike.

Plot Twist #2

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider, Jonas Folger was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Gilbert’s syndrome, and had to be ruled out from this year’s MotoGP championship, which left the team boss, Herve Poncharal scrambling to locate a replacement.

Jonas Folger

Yonny Hernandez who was axed by the now Alma Pramac Ducati for 2018 got the tap and tested out the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 bike during the 2018 Sepang Official MotoGP Test just a few days ago.

Yonny Hernandez. Picture from MotoGP.com

That seemed like somewhat of a contradiction to what Poncharal said about being not keen to offer the seat to already contracted riders, after all, and Hernandez had already inked a deal with Pedercini Kawasaki to compete in the World Superbike Championship.

Consequently, the rumours circulated incessantly in the paddock that Monster Yamaha Tech 3 is still on the lookout for a rider during then entire duration of the Winter Test at SIC, and Hafizh’s name was mentioned.

MOTOGP: Hafizh Syahrin to ride for Monster Yamaha Tech 3?

In fact, Poncharal was sitting just a metre away from us in the Media Centre and had mentioned to his crew about his concerns regarding Hernandez. (He was speaking in French but with Hernandez’s name being mentioned amongst sighs kinda paints the picture.)

But, but, but, Hafizh Syahrin is already signed to SIC Racing Team, right? RIGHT?

Plot Twist #3

So ok, Hafizh Syahrin already has a confirmed seat in Moto2 this year.

Think again! Sky Sports MotoGP broke the news of Hafizh being signed on by Monster Yamaha Tech 3 and the internet went bananas.

SIC then announced a couple of hours ago that another Malaysian GP legend, Zulfahmi Khairuddin will ride for the team. He is already slated to start the Moto2 pre-season testing at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain beginning 6th February.


Zullfahmi had raced in the 125cc GP from 2009 to 2011, and in Moto3 afterwards from 2012 to 2015, before moving to the Supersports World Championships for 2016 and 2017, riding a Kawasaki ZX-6R. His new team feels that he has the experience on 600cc racing machinery.

While SIC Racing Team didn’t exactly shed light about Hafizh Syahrin’s future, YBhg. Dato’ Ahmad Razlan had said before that he hopes Hafizh will eventually make the jump to the premiere class.

There’s no official word from Hafizh, either. Will there be a Plot Twist #4?

 

  • Kawasaki Motors Malaysia (KMSB) telah membekalkan motosikal perlumbaan yang diperlukan untuk para penunggang muda yang dipilih untuk menyertai program SIC “Impian ke MotoGP”.
  • Beberapa buah unit motosikal jalan raya Kawasaki Ninja 250 SL yang telah ditala untuk perlumbaan yang akan digunakan oleh penunggang-penunggang tersebut untuk berlatih di bawah kelolaan Zulfahmi Khairuddin.
  • Kawasaki Malaysia dikenali kerana aktif bergiat dalam mendokong arena perlumbaan tempatan dan industri sukan permotoran kebangsaan.

(more…)

  • Lima penunggang muda telah terpilih untuk program “Impian ke MotoGP”, sebuah program yang dianjurkan oleh Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (SIC).
  • Penunggang yang berusia dari 13 hingga 15 tahun tersebut akan menjalani regimen latihan intensif yang diketuai oleh pelumba negara, Zulfahmi Khairuddin.
  • Dua penunggang terbaik akan diberikan peluang untuk bertanding di dalam siri perlumbaan FIM CEV Repsol Sepanyol dan juga Asian Road Racing Championship (ARRC) beserta dengan Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSC).

(more…)

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