SIC RACING TEAM SETS HIGH TARGETS FOR SEASON 3

SIC Racing Team, which opens its third season in the MotoGP World Championship at the Qatar Grand Prix last weekend, has express delight in announcing the continuation of its collaboration with Malaysia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), in which the circuit is working closely to develop and nurture future motorsport talents.

“We are delighted to be continuing our third year for the team and our second year with Malaysian rider Adam Norrodin, who has shown great progress since his Moto3 debut last year. Adam Norrodin will be banking on the precious experience acquired at last years’ experience to his advantage, as he aims to battle for the championship points at every round, beginning with the Grand Prix of Qatar last weekend,” SIC Racing Team said in a statement.

Joining Adam this season is 2016 Red Bull Rookie Champion and 2015 Asia Talent Cup Champion, Ayumu Sasaki. Given his sensational performance last year, the sixteen-year-old Japanese rider will undoubtedly be one to watch this season; and should be a strong contender for Rookie of the Year.

Team manager Johan Stigefelt has expressed confidence for this year’s challenge; saying that all the team members are looking forward for the championship.

“I’m very happy to be starting this third season with Sepang International Circuit. It’s our third year in the Moto3 class, second year with Honda. We are all looking forward to getting started. This is Adam’s second season with us; he’s taken a big step forward, which he showed in the last few rounds of 2016, where he was going very well. We expect Adam to be close to the points this year and fighting for top positions,” Stigefelt said.

Adam himself has declared his firm commitment to take his performance level higher in 2017 and to continuously improve and to grow stronger as a rider.

“Firstly, I would like to say thank you to everyone at Sepang Circuit and all the support given; especially KBS for giving me this opportunity and for still believing in me. This year I want to do much better than my rookie year in the Championship. I have more experience now and I’m incredibly lucky to have such a good team around me. Together I know we can do well! My aim is to continuously improve and grow stronger as a rider. I am ready to fight hard and challenge for the top point scoring positions,” said the 19-year old Malaysian rider.

For Ayumu, despite being the rookie, expectations will be high for him.

“I’m very excited for my first year in the Moto3 World Championship. Thanks to Sepang International Circuit and KBS for this opportunity. I’m very happy to be riding for the SIC Racing Team on the Honda NSF250RW and also to have Adam Norrodin as my teammate. I am surrounded by professional people who are working very hard. My goal is always to be at the top; I think it will be difficult for the first year but I believe it is still achievable because we have a great team and a great bike, so let’s see!” said the Japanese rider.

SIC Racing Team was the only Moto3 team that had been granted permission to conduct their testing exclusively for 6 days at SIC. Following that, the team conducted two further IRTA tests in Jerez and Qatar.

“The exclusive tests in Sepang were productive and positives test for the riders and the team. Subsequent tests in Jerez and recently in Qatar, though, were mixed due to intermittent weather conditions but overall it was positive. In any case, we are ready for the new season.

“Naturally, we would like to thank DORNA and HRC for their support to the team and for the second year we are using the Honda NSF250RWwhich proves to be competitive in pre-season tests,” Johan added.

SIC Racing Team recorded its appreciation to KBS for their continued support to nurture future motosports champion and the team feels it is right that KBS receives recognition in the international arena via the SIC Racing Team, where this year the team will carry the corporate identity of KBS.

SIC also announced their support for the ‘Negaraku’ initiative which was recently launched by YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak as a national movement for Malaysians to come together and express their love for the country.

Commenting on this, SIC CEO Dato’ Razlan Razali said, “Without question, sport is the best platform universally to promote the spirit of unity and patriotism among Malaysians. SIC Racing Team is a testament of this. The establishment of this team is actually an evolution of a national initiative by a group of passionate and patriotic people in 2009 to put Malaysia prominently in the international motorsports map,”

“The Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix has been a sell-out event for the past few years. It is a sport that bring Malaysians together, driven by the support for our nation and country. Deep inside every Malaysian, we hold a desire for greatness, and when all 31 million Malaysians exhibit the spirit of Negaraku, this translates into a powerful force that fuels our Malaysian riders to strive for the best”, he added.

In reigniting the team this year, a special campaign showcasing the all new SIC Racing Team this 2017 will be featured via SIC Racing Team’s social media channels throughout the #QatarGP weekend and the races to come. So, don’t miss out, and be part of the team,” it added.

In the statement, SIC Racing Team also recorded its highest appreciation to its partners; adding that the engagement of new partners is positively progressing and that it hopes to secure several partners from Round 2 onwards.

The current partners are as follows:

• Rudy Project: Official eyewear partner
• Unipac Engineering (Distributor for Beta Tools): Official tools partner for team and for upcoming SIC Motorsports Academy
• SBR Trackdays: Technical partner
• Motorex: Technical Partner
• Nippon Road: Technical Partner
• Promech: Technical partner
• NGK: Technical partner
• D.I.D: Technical partner
• Ohlins: Technical partner
• MRA: Technical partner
• Sporttravel: Travel agency partner

Led by Race Team Manager Johan Stigefelt, SIC Racing Team for 2017 will continue to be a combined expertise of international brilliant minds and skillful hands that includes two Malaysians – Faizal Ismail as the Motorsports Development Manager and Mustafid Mustamam as the team’s designer.

The full team composition are as follows:

1. Johan Stigefelt (Sweden) – Race Team Manager
2. Graham Malyk (GB) – Tyre Technician and Driver
3. Mark Woodage (GB) Crew Chief
4. Thibaut Gravier (France) – Crew Chief
5. Faizal Ismail (Malaysia): Motorsports Development Manager
6. Mustafid Mustamam (Malaysia) – Designer
7. Ben Fry (GB) – Mechanic:
8. Robyn Spejkers (Netherlands) – Mechanic:
9. Andrew Machin (GB) Mechanic
10. Steve Kandall (GB) – Mechanic
11. Heather Maclennan (GB) – Communications coordinator