Category: Circuit Racing

Team Hi-Rev SCK Honda Racing’s Mohd Helmi Azman looked to be peerless at the Sepang Circuit as he picked up his third win of the season at Round 5 of the 2020 PETRONAS Malaysian Cub Prix Championship held at the 2.7km Sepang North Track.

Adverse weather earlier in the morning forced the cancellation of the CP150 Super Pole. Instead, it was replaced by a ShootOut qualifier where the top-10 riders went out en-masse for a final fight for grid positions. The pole position eventually went to Mohd Akid Aziz (PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha-Maju Motor). Championship leader Azroy Hakeem Anuar snared a front-row start with P2 while Helmi was slated to start the race from second row when he qualified sixth on the grid.

Unfazed, Helmi spent the bulk of the 11-lap race tucked into the leading group while up at the front, Mohd Aiman Tahiruddin, Mohd Haziq Mohd Fairues, Affendi Rosli, Azroy Hakeem Anuar, Akid Aziz and Ahmad Fazli Sham took turns to lead the 24-rider grid.

Helmi eventually made his move on Lap 10, gaining four spots to take the helm as the CP150 riders stormed into the final lap. Helmi displayed a strategic final lap where he smartly held off simultaneous attacks from Ahmad Afif Amran and Azroy Hakeem Anuar to stop the clock at 14’38.112s, only 0.008 seconds ahead of second placed Afif.

“This was the team’s strategy all along. It is impossible for a single rider to break away from the chasing pack on a track as wide and long as the Sepang Circuit. I planned to wait until the final lap before I made my attack. A little risky, but I was confident I could pull it off,” said Helmi.

Championship leader Azroy Hakeem Anuar crossed the finish line half a second behind Helmi in third place. This would be the Idemitsu Honda Yuzy Racing rider’s fifth consecutive podium finish this season. However, Azroy’s lead in the CP150 title chase is now under threat. Still at the top of the ladder with 97 points, Azroy is only six points ahead of Helmi. With all the remaining rounds of the 2020 PETRONAS Malaysian Cub Prix Championship scheduled to be held at the Sepang Circuit where Helmi holds an inexplicable advantage, the championship lead could possibly change hands by Round 6.   

PETRONAS 2020 Malaysian Cub Prix Championship
Official Statement

After receiving the green light to resume NON-CONTACT sports activities, the PETRONAS Malaysia Cub Prix Championship is pleased to announce four consecutive rounds to end the 2020 season.

The latest calendar from the PETRONAS Malaysia Cub Prix Championship is slightly different from the usual, where the last four rounds of the 2020 season will be completed through six consecutive races at the Sepang North Circuit.

The calendar for the second half of the PETRONAS 2020 Malaysia Cub Prix Championship is as follows:

Round 5 & 6 Sepang Utara 18 to 20 December 2020
Round 7 & 8 Sepang Utara 22 to 24 December 2020

“There is no doubt, such a race schedule is very burdensome for the team and the riders. However, all Cub Prix teams have agreed that this is the safest way to end this season

“On behalf of the Cub Prix, we would like to thank the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), the National Security Council (MKN), the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) and all government agencies involved for this special approval. A special thanks goes out to the YB Minister of Youth and Sports who is very concerned about the suffering experienced by motor sports exponents in this situation. Hopefully, the approval given will provide a ray of hope that the sports sector can be reopened as informed by the Senior Minister of Defence and the Minister of Youth and Sports. To be sure, Cub Prix staff members and organizers will abide by all the SOPs set to prevent any unwanted things from happening. ”

Ron Hogg, Director of Safe Aim Mutual Sdn Bhd, Organizer of the PETRONAS Malaysia Cub Prix Championship.

In accordance with the SOP of the current sports organization, the last four rounds of the PETRONAS Malaysia Cub Prix Championship will be held without the presence of spectators. Local motoring sports fans can view the great actions from the last four rounds live on the Facebook page of the PETRONAS Malaysia Cub Prix Championship, TV2, RTM Sports, Astro SuperSports Channel 811 and Astro Arena.

Provisional 2021 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship

The FIM Asia Road Racing Championship is excited to release a provisional calendar for the 2021 season comprising of six rounds.

In a cautious move to give plenty of buffer for any lingering pandemic-related travel restrictions, the 2021 season will start late, beginning only in June.

The Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia is expected to host the first two season openers with Round 1 taking place from June 4 to 6, followed quickly by Round 2 from June 11 to 13, 2021. The circus will then travel to the Zhuhai International Circuit in China for Round 3 from July 30 to August 1 followed by the fourth leg at The Bend Motorsport Park in Australia from September 23 to 26. Two more consecutive rounds at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand will wrap up the season with Round 5 scheduled from November 19 to 21 followed by the season finale from November 26 to 28, 2021.

“2020 has been a challenging year for all sporting events. As the promoters of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, we are grateful to all the racing teams and our corporate partners for their kind understanding and support,”

“While the calendar is still subject to more changes, we are really looking forward to a great comeback season in 2021.”

Ron Hogg, Director, Two Wheels Motor Racing

“The FIM Asia is very excited to get the action going again. We believe that a 6-round championship in 2021 will be a great way to get the ball rolling. Here at the FIM Asia, we are fully committed to the success of the comeback year and pledge our support to all the stakeholders as they work together to make this happen.”

Stephan Carapiet, President, FIM Asia