KUALA LUMPUR, 26 APRIL 2017 – Round 2 for the 2017 season of the Malaysian Supermoto Championship (MSMC), the country’s premier and largest supermoto competition, will again take centre stage on 6th and 7th May 2017, at Taman Tasik Permaisuri, Cheras, from 9:00AM to 6:00PM. Admission is free to the public.
“Two-wheeled motorsport has always been a growing industry in Malaysia. We saw the opportunity to promote the sport in a positive manner, therefore, decided to uptake the role as the main organiser for the second round of MSMC,” said Anwar bin Mohd Zain, Director of the Culture, Arts, Tourism and Sports Department of Kuala Lumpur City Hall.
“Motorsport can be a healthy sport if it is developed carefully with proper planning and execution. I firmly believe that this approach will further educate and cultivate motorsport enthusiasts along the proper path in motorsport practices. This is in line with the recommendations by YB Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Adnan bin Tengku Mansor, Minister of Federal Territories’ vision to engage the youth and to convey the fundamentals of living a proper and healthy lifestyle,” he added.
During his delivery, Anwar also stated that YBhg. Datuk Seri Hj. Mhd. Amin Nordin bin Abd Aziz, the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, supports the introduction of motorsports in Malaysia as it has successfully driven the tourism industry and expenditure in the country, as well as curbing unhealthy social problems.
“Over the years, our nation have produced many world-class riders that have made us proud. However, with stronger competition blooming around the world, it is important that we create a platform as a tool to cultivate and polish their skills in preparation for their future in the global arena.”
“We strongly urge the people to join us and witness a high-quality race, and hopefully return with better knowledge on the important elements of motorsports, especially that safety should always be a priority,” he concluded.
Among the categories available includes SM Open, SM Novice, SM CKD Open, SM CKD, and SM Veteran. The championship is open to all Malaysian riders who seeks to embark on their quest as professional supermoto riders.
“MSMC has a long-standing history in Malaysia. The championship has levelled and given birth to many top international riders, and will continue to provide an avenue for upcoming riders to test and polish their skills,” said Satheswaran Mayachandran, CEO of Asia Supersports Group (ASG), founding company of the championship.
Approximately 50 to 70 budding, besides the nation’s top supermoto riders have geared up to secure their spots and ultimately the title of Malaysia’s top supermoto riders. The 2013 and 2014 FIM Asia Supermoto Championship overall champion Khairy Zakaria and 2016 champion Muhd. Habibullah bin Salleh (Gabit) will return to the track to impress the audience with high-octane performance.
“MSMC has transformed and become more competitive every year. Based on my observation, many riders have undergone proper training that has increased the competition’s level. I am looking forward to the race, and hopefully, I can retain the championship’s title,” said Gabit.
“The race is attracting much interest from various types of riders, for example, superbikers, motocross and enduro riders, have all taken a liking to the race. This diversification shows the future and potential of MSMC as a benchmark race for upcoming riders,” added Khairy.
Muhammad Ibrahim Norrodin, younger sibling to Malaysia’s Moto3 rider Muhamad Adam Norrodin, will also compete in the championship in the SM Open category. He emerged as the first runner-up in the category behind his brother in his first race in December 2016. Ibrahim will return to the track and attempt to grab the top podium spot, as well as the overall championship title for the category.
The triple-threat competition between Khairy, Gabit and Adam will witness a contention on the track as the three riders compete for the title under the SM Open class. Gabit and Adam usually dominate the track with speed, but Khairy owns the knowledge and skills in supermoto competitions.
In addition to the high-adrenaline race, MSMC will be held in conjunction with the second series of the KL Xtravaganza Carnival.
The Malaysian SuperMoto Championship is organised by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, in partnership with Asia Supersports Group, Ultra Blue Sdn Bhd and Yayasan Bakti Tun Razak. The race is sanctioned by the Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM); and supported by the Ministry of Federal Territories and the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau.
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