Taking over the torch from Malaysian Super Series (MSS), the new Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSC) rolls out this weekend with an added attraction in the new Ducati 899 Cup race series – a new racing series held in Malaysia for the first time.
Promoted by Ducati Club Malaysia, the Ducati 899 Cup is designed to encourage owners of the revered Ducati 899 Panigale to push their machines to the limit in a closed and safe environment rather than facing the dangers of road riding.
“The Ducati 899 Cup will play the role of support race to the MCS. Rather than having professional racers, the series aims to offer owners and passionate riders an avenue to explore the limits of their skills in the safe confines of a world class race circuit,” says chief organizer Nageb Abdul Majid.
Apart from the Ducati 899 Cup, the five-leg championship will also feature the Superbikes Championship, the Superstock Championship, the Supersport Championship and the Open 250 class, which will also feature the Open Production and the prototype M-GP3 category.
Round 1 officially opens tomorrow (Friday, 8 May) with riders’ registration and pre-scrutineering of the machines. Free practice and qualifying have been set for Saturday with the two compulsory races to be run on Sunday in deciding winners for the round.
Explaining further on the new racing series, Nageb, who is Ducati Club Malaysia President, said that the Ducati 899 Cup is open exclusively to owners of the Ducati 899 Panigale, which is a smaller, more manageable sports bike compared to the race derived Ducati Panigale 1199.
“The Ducati 899 Cup is an important platform to teach our members on the sheer importance of riding safely, develop their skills and confidence, and also to find the limits of the bikes in a safe and confined environment. I would like to thank all our partners and sponsors who have worked with us to make this a reality.
“The Ducati 899 Cup was first introduced in the UK not that long ago, but this is the first time this series is being offered in Asia, and Ducati Club Malaysia is very proud to be the first to host the race this side of the world,” he said.
The unique aspect of the bikes raced in the Ducati 899 Cup is the fact that the bikes are all privately owned and operated on a regular basis on regular roads. The bikes are then ‘transformed’ to race on a circuit during a race weekend. The transformation includes the removal of all the lights, tuning of the ECU, and the use of race fairings and semi-slick Pirelli race tyres.
Unlike the other classes, the Ducati 899 Cup will run across four rounds throughout the year, and will feature two races for every race weekend. The first category will showcase the 899/848 Panigale machine while the second category is for the Superbike class for 1199, 1198 & 1098 Panigale. Round 2 will feature as the support race to the star studded eni FIM Superbike World Championship 2015 Malaysia Round, which will be held at Sepang International Circuit (SIC) from July 31 to August 2.
Fans can catch the actions free from the Main Grandstand. For closer viewing, fans can purchase paddock passes or season paddock passes from SIC.
DUCATI 899 CUP RACE SERIES ENTRY LIST
Superstock B (899/848)
1. Amir Rafiq Abd Rahman, (88) Ducati 848
2. Muhammad Farhan Shahul Hamid (49) Panigale 899
3. Muhammad Hidayat Harun (84) Ducati848
4. Erman Hassbulah Abd Manan (10) Panigale 899
5. Muhd Aeri Azlan Sabtu (11) Panigale 899
6. Hasli Abdul Hamid Ducati 848EVO (36)
Superstock B (1098/1198/1199)
1. Zulkiply Yahya (77) Ducati 1198s
2. Mohd khairul Asrani Baharudin (86) Panigale 1199
3. Sheikh Malik Allaudin (38) Panigale 1199
4. M. Akhimullah Zalani (42) Panigale 1199
5. Yuhasnan Dollah (44) Panigale 1199
6. Syamsul Bakhtiar Esa Ducati 10998s (41)
7. Mohd Ridhuan Ahmad 1199 (27)
MALAYSIA SUPERBIKE SERIES – ROUND 1
RACE PROGRAMME
Friday, 8th May 2015
1030 hrs – 1700 hrs Bikes Registration & Pre Scrutineering
Saturday, 9th May 2015
0800 hrs – 1000 hrs Bikes Registration & Scrutineering
1015 hrs Riders Briefing
1100 hrs – 1130 hrs Superstock Practice Session
1140 hrs – 1210 hrs Open 250 Practice Session
1220 hrs – 1250 hrs Superbike Practice Session
1300 hrs – 1330 hrs Supersport Practice Session
1340 hrs – 1410 hrs 899 Cup Practice Session
1420 hrs – 1450 hrs Superstock Qualifying
1500 hrs – 1530 hrs Open 250 Qualifying
1540 hrs – 1610 hrs Superbike Qualifying
1620 hrs – 1650 hrs Supersport Qualifying
1700 hrs – 1730 hrs 899 Cup Qualifying
Sunday, 10th May 2015
0910 hrs – 0950 hrs Superstock Race 1 (12 laps)
1010 hrs – 1040 hrs Open 250 Race 1 (8 laps)
1100 hrs – 1140 hrs Superbike Race 1 (12 laps)
1200 hrs – 1240 hrs Supersport Race 1 (12 laps)
1300 hrs – 1330 hrs 899 Cup Race 1 (8 laps)
1350 hrs – 1430 hrs Superstock Race 2 (12 laps)
1450 hrs – 1520 hrs Open 250 Race 2 (8 laps)
1540 hrs – 1620 hrs Superbike Race 2 (12 laps)
1640 hrs – 1720 hrs Supersport Race 2 (12 laps)
1740 hrs – 1810 hrs 899 Cup Race 2 (8 laps)
