Female rider Siti Norafizah Muhamad wants a shot at competing in this year’s Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit (SIC) this October as a wildcard rider for the Moto3 race.
Fondly known as Fifi amongst friends and family members, the 20-year old Kulai-born rider, who scores a double victory at the opening round of the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSC) last Sunday, said that it would be an honour for her and Malaysia’s female racing community if she was given the opportunity.
“That would be a dream come true for me,” said the BikeArt Racing rider, who is defending her Open 250 crown at this year’s Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSC), which is rebranded from the old Malaysian Super Series (MSS) biking competition.
“If I am truly given the opportunity, I pledge to make my family, country and BikeArt Racing Team proud. I sincerely hope that SIC will be having the wildcard programme again this year. It is a good programme for us competing locally and for Malaysian motorsports to have Malaysian female riders for the first time at the Malaysian Grand Prix,” said Fifi, who etched her name into history three years ago when she became the first lady rider to win at the MSS through her victory in the SIC Ninja 250 Cup.
After recording five wins and three second placings, Fifi created a bigger impact in the Malaysian motorsports world last year when she was crowned the first female champion in the Malaysian Super Series (MSS) after winning the 250cc Open championship overall title.
Currently competing in the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) in the Asia Production 250 class, Fifi was in dominant form in both races for Round 1 of the MCS to record a perfect score of 50 championship points in the Open 250 class. Malaysian teenage rider Azroy Hakeem Anuar is second with 40 points and Singapore’s veteran rider Angelo Neo sits third overall with 26 points.
Conducted occasionally since the inception of the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix in 1991, the MGP wildcard programme was given an infusion of new blood in 2009 when it was formalised as a structured programme which saw Muhammad Zulfahmi Khairuddin making his international debut before charting a name in the Moto3 category at the MotoGP World Championship.
After the participation of Zulfahmi and Elly Idnizar Illias as wildcard riders in MGP, several other riders also benefited from the initiative including Muhammad Farid Badrul Hisham, who is currently dominating the MSC Supersport class.
Overall champion last year Farid, who also rides for BikeArt Racing, won both races in the opening round to take firm control of the championship with 50 points. Team-mate Hazlanshah Mohd Noor and Muhammad Muzakkir Mohamed occupy the second and third places with 40 and 29 points respectively.
Two-time Malaysian Moto2 wildcard rider Muhammad Zamri Baba leads the Superbike Championship with 45 points after scoring a win and a second place in the opening round. India’s Rajini Krishnan is second with 41 points and Malaysian Sharulnizam Ramli is third with 26 points.
In the Superstock Championship, Britain’s Steve Martin of SBK Martin Racing Team made a good start to his title defence with two wins for 50 points. Malaysian Ahmad Nashrul Baharuddin, who lost the title to Martin last year, is second with 40 points.
Round 2 will be held as support races at the eni FIM World Superbike Championship 2015 Malaysia Round from 31 July to 2 August 2015.
MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 1
OPEN 250 CLASS
1. Siti Norafizah Muhamad (BikeART Racing Kawasaki) 50 pts
2. Azroy Hakeem Anuar (Chia PJ Kawasaki) 40 pts
3. Angelo Neo (Privateer/Honda CBR250) 26 pts
4. Khairul Anwar Jamil (Privateer/Honda CBR250) 24 pts
5. Ammar Dhiyauddin (Chia PJ Kawasaki) 16 pts
SUPERSPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Muhammad Farid Badrul Hisam (BikeART Racing Kawasaki) 50 pts
2. Hazlanshah Mohd Noor (BikeART Racing Kawasaki) 40 pts
3. Muhammad Muzakkir Mohamed (BikeART Racing Kawasaki) 29 pts
4. Ahmad Afif Amran (Petronas Hong Leong Yamaha) 29 pts
5. Mohd Hafiz Nor Azman (Musashi Boon Siew Honda Racing) 22 pts
SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Muhamad Zamri Baba (RND Plus Racing Team) 45 pts
2. Rajini Krishnan (Chia PJ Kawasaki) 41 pts
3. Sharulnizam Ramli (Privateer/BMW 1000RR) 26 pts
4. Leonardo Sacchetto (SBK Motorsports Martin Racing) 22 pts
5. Mohd Fauzi Akid Gan (RND Plus Racing Team) 21 pts
SUPERSTOCK CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Steve Martin (SBK Martin Racing Team) 50 pts
2. Ahmad Nashrul Bin Baharuddin (Team Project X) 40 pts
3. Nasarudin Mat Yusop (Privateer/BMW S1000RR) 32 pts
4. Mohd Zairie Zaharuddin (RND Plus Racing Team) 24 pts
5. Mohd Al-Amirul Ashshahid (Triple AAA Garage) 23 pts
