KUALA LUMPUR, 22 Dec 2017:
Sepang International Circuit (SIC) is confident of finding a new sponsor for the SIC Racing Team before the start of the MotoGP race next season.
SIC chief executive officer Datuk Razlan Razali said the decision by Petronas to withdraw from the team’s main sponsor would not affect plans for the new season.
He said SIC was now in talks with several potential sponsors and the negotiations are expected to be finalised before the team’s launch on Feb 20.
“We still have time to get a new sponsor because the pre-season test session will only be held in late January, before we launch the Moto3 and Moto2 teams on Feb 14 and 20 respectively.
“I cannot reveal more information because we are still negotiating with the (potential) sponsors. However, we are confident that the team will be fully prepared to face the new season,” he told reporters after announcing three Malaysian riders for the Asian Le Mans race here yesterday.
Petronas maintains its sponsorship in the Moto3 category – featuring national rider Adam Norrodin and Japanese racer Ayumu Sasaki – who will compete with a team known as Petronas Sprinta Racing in 2018.
In October, Petronas and SIC forged a strategic cooperation to form Petronas Sprinta Racing – a new team to race in Moto2 and Moto3 for the next MotoGP season.
The cooperation is a long term commitment to unearth new talent by providing the platform for motorcycle racers to move into international championships from local races via SIC which have the resources and experience in managing racing teams.
The pact would complement the efforts of Petronas Talent Development Programme and the SIC Talent Development programme to guide talents from the Malaysian Cub Prix, Asia Road Racing and Asia Talent Cup to build their careers in Moto2 and Moto3 championships.
– Bernama