TANGKAK, 2 April 2018:
The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) targets to build a racing circuit in each state in the next five to 10 years to turn out more young motoring talents to compete at the international level.
Minister Khairy Jamaluddin yesterday said motoring sports are popular in the country, looking at the number of spectators which rose each year when races are held at the Sepang International Circuit.
“As such, KBS is always committed in helping and developing motoring sports in the country,” he said when opening the Tangkak Racing Circuit and 25th Malaysia Cub Prix Championship here.
He said the government had built racing circuits to support and boost motoring sports. The latest would be the 2.4km, 2,000-capacity Pahang Motoring Sports Circuit in Jengka at a cost of RM40 million to be built this year.
He hoped construction of racing circuits nationwide would increase the number of participants in races such as the Cub Prix Championship – which is the catalyst to national motoring sport development.
Khairy said the government is also committed to providing motoring sports infrastructure and facilities for the people of Malaysia and from 2014 to 2018, the ministry had allocated RM15 million for a motoring sport development programme in the country.
“KBS is also implementing the National Motor Sports Development Programme in order to find hidden talents and among them is the implementation of the KBS Cub Prix Clinic in 22 locations nationwide, organising the five-round KBS Cub Prix Mini Bike Championship and the 2018 AAM Petronas Cup Prix Malaysia Championship at several selected locations.
“In addition, KBS also supports the KBS Wira category at the 25th Malaysian Cub Prix Championship to produce more great riders in the future.”
National MotoGP racer Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah – who will be in action in the World MotoGP championship – wants to concentrate on collecting points and does not want to dwell on the race position he could achieve.
The Selangor motorcycle rider said he would work hard to continue accumulating points in the second round in Argentina scheduled on April 9 and subsequent rounds.
“What is important is that I am physically fit and is able to focus on the race at hand.”
The 23-year-old racer had earlier claimed good results by picking up two points after finishing 14th in the Qatar World MotoGP championship on March 19.
Hafizh Syahrin – who is racing with the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team – said he would only think of his race position after having sufficient points.
“If I get into the top 10 places, it would be a bonus for me. Now I am training at least three hours daily and will continue to learn more of the engine with the assistance of the team.”
Khairy congratulated the success of Hafizh Syahrin and teammates and hoped the racers would create a name in world motoring sports.
“I hope he will not be the only Malaysian to will bear the national flag at top world motoring sports.”
– Bernama