Juara dua kali Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia, Ahmad Fuad Baharudin yang juga pemilik pasukan AFB Tech Racing yakin kehadiran rakan penaja baharu, IUGB (I Usahawan Global Berhad) merupakan petanda positif khususnya untuk melebarkan cabaran mereka di Pentas Kejuaraan Motosikal Asia FIM (ARRC) pada tahun ini.
“Selepas membuat keputusan untuk bersara pada tahun 2014, dan memilih untuk berada di dalam barisan pengurusan pasukan, saya agak bertuah kerana mampu mendapatkan penajaan yang baik. Tahun ini, kami gembira dan berbangga dengan kehadiran IUGB ke dalam pasukan,” jelas pemilik pasukan berusia 37 tahun itu.
Kerjasama diantara IUGB-AFB bermula baik setelah Mohd Helmi Azman berjaya meraih podium di tempat kedua pada pusingan ketiga Kejuaraan Cub Prix AAM Malaysia PETRONAS di Kangar, minggu lepas.
“Selepas permulaan yang baik, IUGB membuat keputusan untuk mengembangkan penajaan mereka dan membolehkan pasukan beraksi di pentas Asia. Pada peringkat awal, kami beraksi secara wildcard sewaktu pusingan pertama di Pasir Gudang. Bermula pusingan kedua di Buriram, kami akan beraksi untuk musim penuh dalam kategori Underbone 130cc bersama pelumba Md Fareez Afeez dan Md Irfan Rosnizam. Fareez mempamerkan prestasi baik sewaktu di Pasir Gudang dan kini berada di tangga kelapan keseluruhan,” jelas Fuad.
“Penglibatan IUGB sangat penting kepada kami kerana mereka antara syarikat yang tidak terlibat dengan industri motosikal namun membuat keputusan untuk menceburkan diri ke dalam sukan permotoran. Saya harap keputusan mereka dapat meningkatkan minat dan kesedaran kepada syarikat korporat lain di mana sukan permotoran merupakan landasan yang baik untuk aktiviti pemasaran mereka.
“Dengan sukan permotoran yang semakin berkembang pada hari ini, kami memerlukan lebih banyak penglibatan syarikat korporat sebagai rakan penaja. Industri ini tidak hanya boleh bergantung kepada pasaran motosikal sahaja,” rumus Fuad.
Team IUGB AFB Tech confirmed for full season of ARRC
2-times Malaysian Cub Prix Champion and now team owner of AFB Tech Racing Team, Ahmad Fuad Baharudin, is feeling positive with the insertion of a new corporate sponsor into his team. Presently into its fourth year of operations, team AFB Tech has signed on IUGB (I Usahawan Global Berhad) as the title sponsor of the team. As a result, the team has spread its wings beyond the national borders and has confirmed its participation in the 2016 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship.
“When I decided to hang up my racing boots in 2014 and made the leap into team management, I had been lucky throughout that we have been able to secure good sponsors for the team. This year, we are proud to work with the IUGB group,” said the 37-year-old team owner.
The IUGB-AFB partnership got off to a podium-worthy start when Mohd Helmi Azman scored a second place finish in Round 3 of the 2016 PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship.
“Thanks to that strong start, IUGB decided to expand their sponsorship and bring the team into the Asian series as well. We raced as wildcards during the first leg at Pasir Gudang. Here in Thailand for Round 2, the team will race full season in the Underbone 130cc category with Md Fareez Afeez and Md Irfan Rosnizam. Fareez especially did very well during the first leg where he is currently eighth overall despite his rookie status in the class,” said Fuad.
“IUGB’s involvement is particularly important because they are one of the first non-bike related corporate bodies to enter the sport. We hope that their involvement will create awareness among other corporate bodies that motorsports is a strong marketing platform. As the sport grows, we need more corporate sponsor involvement. The industry cannot just continue to survive on the players in the motorcycle market alone,” Fuad concluded.
