According to the Principal of RNF MotoGP Team, Datuk Razlan Razali, young riders aiming for success in the Motorcycle World Championship should prioritize their careers over marriage.
“MotoGP is a risky sport, and riders need full dedication,” Razlan told reporters at the MAM Motorsport Youth Session in Kuala Lumpur.
Also present were MotoGP rider Raul Fernandez and Deputy President of the Malaysian Motorsport Association (MAM), Datuk Mohammed Ghazi.
Razlan stressed that athletes, especially those in motorsport competing at the World Championship level, should give their careers top priority.
He noted that juggling responsibilities, marriage, and children at a young age can make it difficult to focus on the sport.
Razlan recounted his own experience when Zulfahmi Khairuddin wanted to marry at 24. Instead of congratulations, Razlan questioned the decision, emphasizing the need for a rider’s career to come first.
When asked about Malaysia’s potential in MotoGP, Razlan, the former CEO of the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), acknowledged the challenge of finding local talent for the premier class.
He pointed out the lack of representation beyond Syarifuddin Azman in Moto3, highlighting Malaysia’s relative lag behind Indonesia.
Razlan expressed hope for revitalizing development programs to ensure a consistent search for talent. He stressed the importance of this for the future of Malaysian motorsport.
Currently, Malaysia’s Zulfahmi Racing Team is nurturing young talents like Muhammad Hakim Danish Ramli (16), Danial Syahmi Ahmad Shahril (21), and Qabil Irfan Azlan (11).
These rising stars represent the future of Malaysian motorsport as they strive to make a name for themselves in the competitive world of MotoGP.