WHILE most teenagers don’t give much thought to their professional future, a group of Malaysian boys who love speed and competition are pursuing their dreams to become the world’s best motorcycle riders.
They are way too young to hold a legal licence, but they are allowed to race on a track and pull the throttle to reach speeds of up to 212kph.
The pilot programme nurturing future speedsters, called Dream towards MotoGP (Impian ke MotoGP) organised by the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), was launched in December 2017.
It has attracted some 300 young riders aged between 13 and 15 who are taught all aspects of MotoGP training under the supervision of project leader and mentor Zulfahmi Khairuddin, a world-class motorcycle race veteran who spent eight years competing in the Moto 3 and World Superbike Championship (WSBK) worldwide.
At the sessions, progress across a 1.247km kart circuit, containing 11 challenging bends at Sepang International Circuit, near Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), the most talented 40 riders are picked to head for phase two based on their lap times, riding techniques as well as their physical and fitness levels.
The dream for one of the youngest riders, Harith Haziq, 13, from Jengka, Pahang (266 km from the circuit), is to be as successful as his hero, the Malaysian Moto2 professional rider, Hafiz Syahrin.
At only 135cm tall and weighing 35kg, he managed to get on the finalist list among the top five boys in the programme.
His family, who run a food stall, are right behind their son and his passion which grew out of his first competitive pocket bike (small motorcycles) races. At nine, he joined a league and raced over go-kart tracks, no childish feat, as speeds soared above 120kph. There, he cut his teeth on technique and notched up more than 30 wins. His eyes now remain focused on fulfilling his championship dreams.
The other three successful candidates will race in two different series throughout the year – the Malaysian Cub Prix and the KTM RC300 Cup Asia – before they are groomed for the international stage. The rider will be in the programme for at least three years, with the hope they grow into Malaysian champions in the CEV Moto3, Moto2 and even MotoGP in the near future. – February 2, 2018.
Harith Haziq (left) leaning on a barricade with other competitors to watch a demonstration motorcycling ride by professional racer Zulfahmi Khairuddin, project leader and mentor at the Dream towards MotoGP (Impian ke MotoGP) programme at the Sepang International Circuit, near Kuala Lumpur. – EPA pic by Ahmad Yusni, February 2, 2018.Harith Haziq (front), the youngest candidate, is trailed through a corner by Zulfahmi Khairuddin, the project leader and mentor of the Dream towards MotoGP programme at the Sepang International Circuit, near Kuala Lumpur. – EPA pic by Ahmad Yusni, February 2, 2018.Harith Haziq is taught how to fit a tyre warmer, to ensure the tyres are warm and ready to cope with high speeds, during training at the Dream towards MotoGP (Impian ke MotoGP) programme at the Sepang International Circuit, near Kuala Lumpur. – EPA pic by Ahmad Yusni, February 2, 2018.Muhammad Idil Fitri assisting Mohd Danial Syahmi after they crashed during a test run in the Dream towards MotoGP programme at the Sepang International Circuit, near Kuala Lumpur. The boys were picked for the programme to develop skills towards professional motorcycle racing, and while they are way too young to hold a legal licence, they are allowed to race on track and pull the throttle to reach speeds of up to 212kph. – EPA pic by Ahmad Yusni, February 2, 2018.Harith Haziq (second from right) and other candidates in the programme listening to Zulfahmi Khairuddin (left), as the project leader and mentor of the Dream towards MotoGP programme, shares racing tips at the Sepang International Circuit, near Kuala Lumpur. – EPA pic by Ahmad Yusni, February 2, 2018.Forty young riders who have made it through to the phase two test of the Dream towards MotoGP programme at the Sepang International Circuit, near Kuala Lumpur. – EPA pic by Ahmad Yusni, February 2, 2018.Harith Haziq sitting on a tyre barricade and studying the demonstration ride by professional racer Zulfahmi Khairuddin, project leader and mentor of the Dream towards MotoGP programme at the Sepang International Circuit, near Kuala Lumpur. – EPA pic by Ahmad Yusni, February 2, 2018.Harith Haziq praying during a break in training at the Dream towards MotoGP programme at the Sepang International Circuit, near Kuala Lumpur. – EPA pic by Ahmad Yusni, February 2, 2018.Faizal Ismail (left), Sepang International Circuit (SIC) Manager, interviewing a youth for entry into the Dream towards MotoGP programme at the Sepang International Circuit, near Kuala Lumpur. – EPA pic by Ahmad Yusni, February 2, 2018.Harith Haziq (left), the youngest candidate, waiting in nervous anticipation with other candidates for their turn for a test session during the Dream towards MotoGP programme at the Sepang International Circuit, near Kuala Lumpur. – EPA pic by Ahmad Yusni, February 2, 2018.
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