KUALA LUMPUR: The decision on the extension of the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) is expected to be known within this month.
SIC Chief Executive Officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif said the proposal has been submitted to the Kementerian Belia dan Sukan Malaysia and is awaiting Cabinet consideration.
He said SIC has proposed a five-year extension to ensure long-term stability and continuity of MotoGP in Malaysia.
“God willing, we will hear whether the outcome is positive or otherwise within this month. We have proposed a five-year extension, but the final decision lies with the Cabinet,” he said.
Push for Long-Term Agreement
SIC’s current two-year extension with Dorna Sports, MotoGP’s commercial rights holder, will expire this year.
As such, the circuit has applied for either a 3+2-year extension or a direct five-year agreement.
Azhan said a longer contract period is crucial for effective long-term planning and investment.
“We hope a five-year deal will be approved so that strategic projects with MotoGP can be implemented smoothly,” he added.
Boosting Local Talent Development
One of the key proposed initiatives is the establishment of an Asia Talent Cup (ATC) base in Sepang, which is expected to become a regional motorsports development hub.
He said the project would create job opportunities for Malaysians in engineering, mechanics, data analysis and race management.
“This is about building a complete motorsports ecosystem, not just hosting races,” he said.
Despite a 10 to 15 per cent increase in hosting fees, Azhan believes the benefits in terms of branding, tourism and economic impact justify the cost.
Positive Progress in Negotiations
Meanwhile, MotoGP Sporting Director Carlos Ezpeleta said negotiations with SIC have progressed smoothly and are nearing completion.
“We are looking forward to a five-year extension with SIC as Malaysia is a very important market for MotoGP.
“Discussions over the past few months have been positive and we are now awaiting the formal approval process with the ministry,” he said.
-wilayah.com.my
