PETRONAS SETS UP MALAYSIA’S OWN MOTOGP OUTFIT
PETRONAS sets up its own MotoGP outfit
SILVERSTONE: The stage is set for Malaysia to make a prominent mark at the MotoGP next year.
It was officially announced yesterday that Malaysia’s first fully-fledged outfit in the MotoGP premier class will be represented by 2017 Moto2 world champion Franco Morbidelli (left) of Italy and 19-year-old Fabio Quartararo (right) of France under the banner of PETRONAS in the championship.
Sepang International Circuit (SIC) announced that PETRONAS will be the title partner from 2019 to 2021.
The historic occasion was witnessed by Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, SIC chairman Tan Sri Azman Yahya, PETRONAS president Tan Sri Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin, SIC chief executive officer Datuk Razlan Razali, Dorna chief executive officer Carmello Ezpeleta and Yamaha representatives Lin Jarvis and Kouichi Tsuji.
Syed Saddiq was brimming with pride.
“I’m happy to witness this historic event which will pave a new and bright future for Malaysian motorsports,” said Syed Saddiq in Silverstone yesterday.
“It has been proven that sports has the power to unite a nation and I believe this initiative from PETRONAS and SIC, we will not only achieve brilliance on the track but also unity among all fans.
“We’ve seen a Malaysian rider in the MotoGP class this season and with a Malaysian team on the grid next season, there will be plenty to cheer about Malaysia.”
Currently, the only Malaysian rider in the MotoGP level is Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah, who is riding for Monster Yamaha Tech3 until 2019.
Razlan was excited with the appointment of Morbidelli, who has been mentored by seven-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi.
The 23-year-old currently rides for Marc VDS in the MotoGP while Quartararo takes the step up after two years in Moto2.
Both riders will ride Yamaha YZR- M1 machines in the championship following an agreement between SIC and Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd.
The new team and their involvement next year will complete Malaysia’s participation in all three events in the World Championships – namely MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3.
Currently, Petronas Sprinta Racing team are involved in Moto2 with Niki Tuuli from Finland and Moto3 with Adam Norrodin and Ayumu Sasaki of Japan.
It was also announced that Khairul Idham Pawi will join the team next year to replace Niki’s sole spot in the team for Moto2.
While in Moto3, Scottish rider John McPhee will take over Adam’s spot in the team and join with Sasaki.
Earlier in July, it was announced that SIC had signed an agreement with Angel Nieto Racing Team (ANRT), which will see them take over the latter’s two places on the grid in 2019.
Razlan however, said there were no Malaysian riders yet ready to compete at the MotoGP level.