This weekend may be a gruelling test of both mental and physical stamina as riders cannot wait to do battle in the final round of the Ninja 250 Cup that’s part of the Malaysian Super Series (MSS) at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), a race that will help them ascend towards becoming professional riders of the future.
Four races will be taking place this weekend rather than just two as it was in the previous three rounds, which will see them competing in two races for Round 4 and another two in Round 5 due to an agreement between SIC and the sponsors to have five rounds of the inaugural 2012 championship, as indicated by SIC Chief Executive Officer Datuk Razlan Razali.
The SIC Ninja 250 Cup was launched in July of 2011 between SIC and their partners for a sole purpose of finding new talent and helping them hone their skills to become respectable international riders as we’ve seen through the likes of Muhammad Zulfahmi Khairuddin, who was a graduate of SIC’s GP Wildcard Programme in 2009 and is now currently competing in the Moto3 world championship.
The other categories – both for bikes and cars – would be competing in two compulsory races in deciding the winner for the final round. They included the Superbike, Superstock and Supersports championships for bikes and the GT Class, Sports Production Class, Touring Production Class and the Asia Classic Car Challenge for cars.
Adding further excitement for Round 5 are the single-seater Formula Pilota Series and the Westfield Sportscar Series, which unlike the other races, had requested from the organisers to compete on half-track around the North Track to provide more excitement for the competitors.
Razlan said: “It’s hard; but it will be a good experience for the young SIC Ninja Cup riders. I am proud to say that we have a group of very dedicated riders in the championship. They are all very committed to programme and very keen to get as much exposure and racing opportunities as possible.
“They had an enjoyable experience at the previous round when competing during the MotoGP programme. They have to meet some of the MotoGP riders and Zulfahmi … they visited the San Carlo Gresini and the AirAsia SIC Ajo Team pit garages.
“They saw the amazing performance of Fahmi and Hafizh Syahrin at the Malaysian GP and they saw what other Malaysians can do. Basically, they now know that they have the opportunity and chance to be like Fahmi … they are all fired up … we should see very exciting races this weekend,” Razlan added.
With a maximum of 100 points to be won this weekend, it would be still an open affair on the championship battle for both the junior and the open categories.
After three rounds, Muhammad Ammar Hafiq Rauzan leads the junior category with a total haul of 110 points; holding a 22-point lead over second-placed Has Fauzan Hassan, who has 88 points. Siblings Husni Aizat Abdul Malik and Hilmi Affan Abdul Malik are third and fourth; with 85 and 83 points respectively.
In the open category, Muhammad Fazli holds a comfortable 23-point lead at the top of the standings; with a total haul of 140 points against Abdul Wafi Hassan’s 117 points. Mohd Sharil Zulkifli is third with 81 points; holding a six-point advantage over Adam Muza Muhayen, who has 75 points.
Spectators can catch all the action from the Main Grandstand free of charge.
MALAYSIAN SUPER SERIES – ROUND 5
RACE PROGRAMME
| Friday, 2nd Oct 2012 | ||
| 0900 hrs – 1000 hrs | Formula Pilota | Unofficial Practice |
| 1200 hrs – 1220 hrs | SIC Ninja 250 Cup | Free Practice |
| 1430 hrs – 1500 hrs | Formula Pilota | Free Practice |
| 1510 hrs – 1540 hrs | SIC Ninja 250 Cup | Qualifying |
| 1550 hrs – 1620 hrs | Westfield Sportscar Series | Free Practice (North Track) |
| Saturday, 3rd Nov 2012 | ||
| 0900 hrs – 0930 hrs | SIC Ninja 250 Cup | Race 1 – Round 4 (8 laps) |
| 0950 hrs – 1010 hrs | Supersport | Free Practice |
| 1020 hrs – 1040 hrs | Superbikes/Superstock | Free Practice |
| 1050 hrs – 1120 hrs | GT/Sports Prod/TP/MTC | Free Practice |
| 1130 hrs – 1200 hrs | ACCC | Free Practice |
| 1210 hrs – 1230 hrs | Supersport | Qualifying |
| 1240 hrs – 1300 hrs | Superbikes/Superstock | Qualifying |
| 1315 hrs – 1345 hrs | SIC Ninja 250 Cup | Race 2 – Round 4 (8 laps) |
| 1400 hrs – 1415 hrs | Formula Pilota | Qualifying 1 |
| 1420 hrs – 1435 hrs | Formula Pilota | Qualifying 2 |
| 1445 hrs – 1500 hrs | Westfield Sportscar Series | Qualifying (North Track) |
| 1510 hrs – 1540 hrs | GT/Sports Prod/TP/MTC | Qualifying |
| 1550 hrs – 1620 hrs | ACCC | Qualifying |
| 1635 hrs – 1705 hrs | Westfield Sportscar Series | Race 1 (15 laps) – North Track (Rolling start) |
| 1725 hrs – 1750 hrs | Formula Pilota | Race 1 (25 minutes) |
| Sunday, 4th Nov 2012 | ||
| 0830 hrs – 0900 hrs | SIC Ninja 250 Cup | Race 1 – Round 5 (8 laps) |
| 0920 hrs – 0950 hrs | Superbikes/Superstock | Race 1 (10 laps) |
| 1010 hrs – 1040 hrs | Supersport | Race 1 (10 laps) |
| 1100 hrs – 1130 hrs | ACCC | Race 1 (10 laps) |
| 1150 hrs – 1205 hrs | Formula Pilota | Race 2 (15 minutes) |
| 1225 hrs – 1255 hrs | GT/Sports Prod/TP/MTC | Race 1 (10 laps) |
| 1315 hrs – 1345 hrs | ACCC | Race 2 (10 laps) |
| 1405 hrs – 1435 hrs | Westfield Sportscar Series | Race 2 (15 laps) – North Track (Rolling start) |
| 1455 hrs – 1520 hrs | Formula Pilota | Race 3 (25 minutes) |
| 1540 hrs – 1610 hrs | SIC Ninja 250 Cup | Race 2 – Round 5 (8 laps) |
| 1630 hrs – 1700 hrs | Superbikes/Superstock | Race 2 (10 laps) |
| 1720 hrs – 1750 hrs | Supersport | Race 2 (10 laps) |
| 1810 hrs – 1840 hrs | GT/Sports Prod/TP/MTC | Race 2 (10 laps) |
