Red Bull Motorsports
MotoGP
7 Malaysians Who Made The World Championship
Meet the local lads who have proudly flown the Jalur Gemilang in the realm of motorcycle racing.
Malaysians have an affinity for speed and motor racing, specifically the two-wheel variety. Perhaps it’s due to the huge motorcycle community here and the annual Malaysian MotoGP and SBK Championship rounds that are held in the Sepang International Circuit. Regardless, Malaysia is a perfect breeding ground for motorcycle racers, a fact that’s been proven with a number of our best getting their shot to race alongside the cream of the crop of motorcycle racing. These are the local lads who have made it to the big race.
MORE: Red Bull Racers Malaysian Championship 2016. Play & win now.
Shahrol Yuzy raced for three seasons in 250cc
© yuzyracing.blogspot.com
Shahrol Yuzy
250cc debut: 1996
Podiums: 0
Active Years in 250cc: 1996–2002
Retired: 2003
The Teluk Intan native was the first local rider to race against the world’s best in 1996. After impressing in the FIM Asia Pacific Road Race series, he was given a wildcard debut at the Malaysian GP. The opportunity gave way to several appearances in the 125cc and 250cc categories before Shahrol managed three full season rides with Petronas Sprinta Yamaha TVK (250cc) in from 2000-2002 where he scored points in fifteen races. After retiring at the end of 2002, Shahrol focused his efforts in nurturing younger talents as a mentor of Malaysian Cub Prix outfit Team Petronas Sprinta Racing and now leads Yuzy Racing, his own racing team in Cub Prix.
Join us at our marquee, 28 – 30 October ’16 at the Malaysian MotoGP 2016.
Fahmi has seen action in Moto3 and World SBK
© Gold & Goose/Red Bull Content Pool
Zulfahmi Khairuddin
Moto3 Debut: 2009 (wild card 125cc)
Podiums: 2
Active Years In Moto3: 2012–2015
Current Race Team: Orelac Racing VerdNatura (Supersport World Championship)
Zulfahmi was the first local rider to claim podium finishes in Moto3 with an impressive second place at Sepang and a third place finish at Valencia in 2012 with the AirAsia SIC-Ajo Team. In total, the Banting lad notched two full seasons racing in the 125cc category and four seasons in Moto3. The former Red Bull KTM Ajo rider left MotoGP in 2015 to seek his fortunes in the Supersport World Championship where he has rewarded with a string of good results including a second place finish at the SBK Malaysian GP in May.
2017 UPDATE: Still cutting his teeth in SBK, Zulfahmi has thus far delivered decent performances in the series with several top 20 finishes this year.
Azlan achieved two full seasons in Moto2
© Honda Team Asia
Azlan Shah
Moto2 Debut: 2013
Podiums: 0
Active Years In Moto2: 2013–2015
Current Race Team: BikeART Racing Kawasaki (Asia Road Race SS600 Championship)
Currently competing in the Asia Road SS600 Championship, Azlan enjoyed two full seasons in Moto2 with Honda Team Asia in 2014 and 2015. Like most riders, his path to Moto2 began as a wildcard, replacing Japanese rider Yuki Takahashi at the 2013 Sam Marino GP. He would race a total of six races that year and despite not claiming any point finishes, Azlan delivered enough to warrant a full season ride with Honda Team Asia. He finished his debut season out of the points but he improved in 2015 with five point finishes including an impressive fourth place finish in Motegi.
2017 UPDATE: Still displaying a thirst for speed, Azlan made history this year with a second place finish at the 2017 Suzuka 8 Hours FIM Word Endurance Championship race with the Kawasaki Team Green, alongside Leon Haslam and Kazuma Watanabe.
Hafiq earning his racing stripes
© Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
Hafiq Azmi
Moto3 Debut: 2013
Podiums: 0
Active Years In Moto3: 2013-2014
Retired: 2015
The 19-year-old first cut his teeth racing with Mini Bikes before moving up the ranks to compete in Aprilia Junior GP in 2009 and Malaysian Cubprix in 2010. His competitive riding style was enough to seal him a spot in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, which helped pave the way for a debut in Moto3 in 2013. Racing four races that year as wildcard entries for Touchline-SIC-Ajo and La Fonte Tascaracing in Malaysia, Australia, Japan and Valencia, Hafiq was eventually picked up by Moto3 outift, SIC-Ajo for his first and only full season ride in 2014.
2017 UPDATE: Last year, Hafiq made a return to Moto3 with a wildcard entry at the Malaysian Grand Prix with Peugeot MC Saxoprint where he finished a respectable 11th gaining five championship points.
Hafizh Syahrin
© PETRONAS Raceline Malaysia
Hafizh Syahrin
Moto2 Debut: 2011
Podiums: 1
Active Years In Moto3: 2011–present
Current Team: Petronas Raceline Malaysia
Known in local circles as the ‘King of Pocket Bikes’ after making his mark in the category, Hafizh moved up the ranks in the local circuit competing in Cub Prix and Petronas Asia Road Racing Championship. A wild card entry in 2012 in the Malaysian Grand Prix saw the youngster claim a third place finish, which paved the way to a full time spot with the Petronas Raceline Malaysia team the following year. Hafizh has made progress racing thus far with regular points finishes but 2016 may well be his best yet as he has already claimed two fourth place finishes in Qatar and Barcelona.
2017 UPDATE: Hafizh has made progress racing thus far with regular points finishes in 2016 with three fourth place finishes in Qatar Barcelona and Great Britain, and a third place podium at San Marino.
Adam raced in categories such as Asia Talent Cup
© YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIzSnxqvnQI)
Adam Norrodin
Moto3 Debut: 2016
Podiums: 0
Active Years In Moto3: 2016–present
Current Team: Drive M7 SIC Racing Team
The Johor born youngster has made the most of his 2016 debut with the Drive M7 SIC Racing Team, claiming five points in the first nine races of the year. His commendable rookie season aside, the racer has had experience racing in several international race categories including the FIM CEV Moto3 Championship, Asia Talent Cup, FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship and Asia Talent Cup in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
2017 UPDATE: Adam is still gaining experience in Moto3 but has delivered consistently in the later part of the year with several back to back point finishes in Germany, Czech Republic, Austria and Great Britain.
Pawi celebrates his German GP win
© Honda Team Asia
Khairul Idham Pawi
Moto3 Debut: 2015
Podiums: 2
Active Years In Moto3: 2015-2016
Active Years in Moto2: 2017-Present
Current Team: Honda Team Asia
Although still in his debut season, the Perak born rider has already become the nation’s most successful motorcycle racer. After achieving a wild card entry in the 2015 Aragon GP, Honda Team Asia signed the Malaysian rider to a full season for 2016. The decision proved to be the right one as Khairul has so far captured two wins in Argentina and Germany under wet conditions. Proving to be a rain specialist, the rider is currently lying in tenth in the Moto3 standings, which is impressive.
2017 UPDATE: Khairul finished 18th in the Moto3 standings in 2016 but moved up a class to Moto2 with Honda Team Asia for 2017. Although struggling for pretty much of the season with his new bike, Khairul is slowly improving in the category and even delivering a 14th place point finish at the Czech Republic in early August.
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