Racing outfit plan to introduce wild card system

PETALING JAYA: Defending champions Uma Racing Yamaha Maju Motor Asia Team have plans to implement a unique rotating wild card system this season to defend their Underbone 150cc title this year.

Under this new initiative, the Malaysianbased outfit will systematically field a succession of wild card riders from Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Team principal Yong Ying Hoe said this initiative is a precursor towards the final objective of establishing a bona fide multi-national Asian team in 2019.

“Our goal is to promote diversity in racing. There are plenty of promising young riders out there waiting for the resources to bring them to the regional level.

“We hope to create a pool of talent that will comprise riders from Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia,” said Ying Hoe.

“This idea is still in the developmental stage. For 2018, our wild cards are actually auditioning for a spot in the team in the future.”

In Round 1 of the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand last month, the Uma Racing Yamaha Maju Motor Asia Team introduced Vietnamese Huynh Minh Sang into the class.

Huynh finished 10th in Race 1 but mechanical gremlins prevented him from starting in Race 2.

The team will enter wild card rider McKinley Kyle Paz for the second round in Adelaide, Australia, this weekend.

The Filipino rider was particularly impressive during the pre-season test and there are high expectations for his debut in Australia.