Malaysia’s Moto 3 rider Muhammad Zulfahmi Khairuddin has his name now penned in Malaysia Book of Records in recognition of his feat last year in the MotoGP World Championship saw him scoring the country’s first pole position and podium wins.
“I would like to thank SIC, AirAsia, KTM and all my sponsors for making my childhood dream to compete in the MotoGP World Championship possible. It has indeed been a fantastic journey for me,” said Zulfahmi.
The ceremony was also attended by among others, SIC Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Razlan Razali, Malaysia Book of Records Managing Director Datuk Danny Ooi, representatives of AirAsia and Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia.
Zulfahmi, who races for World Champion team Red Bull Racing KTM this season, has been recorded in the Malaysia Book of Records as the first Moto3 Malaysian rider to qualify in pole position at the FIM World Motorcycle Championship and the first Moto3 Malaysian rider to score two podium finishes in the World Championship.
Born and raised in Banting, Selangor, Zulfahmi scored his first pole position at the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix on the day he celebrated his 21st birthday on October 21, 2012. Then competing for AirAsia SIC Ajo Racing, the young Malaysian clocked 2 minutes 13.885 seconds to seal a first ever pole position by a Malaysian rider.
He went on to win his first podium on the following day after finishing a close second behind Sandro Cortese; losing the lead to the World Champion on the final turn of the race. His second podium came in Valencia at the final race of the season at the Valencia Grand Prix when he finished third.
“We are very proud of Zulfahmi and hoping for the best performance of him for his new season with the new team. We will keep supporting this very talented rider and it is a great opportunity to have him at the World Championship,” explained Encik Azman Maarof, the representative from Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia.
Zulfahmi, who was recently honoured by Sportswriters Association of Malaysia for his amazing feat and bestowed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak with the prestigious 1Malaysia Ambassador award, finished seventh overall with an impressive haul of 128 world championship points for the season.
A product of SIC’s GP Wildcard Programme in 2009 and competing in his first international race at the 2009 Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix as a wildcard rider, Zulfahmi, who competed in a full season of the GP125cc in the following year, beat the odds to prove that Malaysians can match their more established rivals.
This Malaysian riders had struggled in the past even to earn wildcard rides; but Zulfahmi has proved that it is not impossible for a local to make it at the world stage.
Flying the Jalur Gemilang with pride, Zulfahmi moved into the new Moto3 class last year following the end of the 125cc class and immediately displayed his credentials as a top world class rider that included a fourth place finish as early as Round 2 at Estoril in Portugal.
“I would like to thank SIC, AirAsia, KTM and all my sponsors for making my childhood dream to compete in the MotoGP World Championship possible. It has indeed been a fantastic journey for me,” said Zulfahmi.
The ceremony was also attended by among others, SIC Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Razlan Razali, Malaysia Book of Records Managing Director Datuk Danny Ooi, representatives of AirAsia and Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia.
Zulfahmi, who races for World Champion team Red Bull Racing KTM this season, has been recorded in the Malaysia Book of Records as the first Moto3 Malaysian rider to qualify in pole position at the FIM World Motorcycle Championship and the first Moto3 Malaysian rider to score two podium finishes in the World Championship.
Born and raised in Banting, Selangor, Zulfahmi scored his first pole position at the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix on the day he celebrated his 21st birthday on October 21, 2012. Then competing for AirAsia SIC Ajo Racing, the young Malaysian clocked 2 minutes 13.885 seconds to seal a first ever pole position by a Malaysian rider.
He went on to win his first podium on the following day after finishing a close second behind Sandro Cortese; losing the lead to the World Champion on the final turn of the race. His second podium came in Valencia at the final race of the season at the Valencia Grand Prix when he finished third.
“We are very proud of Zulfahmi and hoping for the best performance of him for his new season with the new team. We will keep supporting this very talented rider and it is a great opportunity to have him at the World Championship,” explained Encik Azman Maarof, the representative from Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia.
Zulfahmi, who was recently honoured by Sportswriters Association of Malaysia for his amazing feat and bestowed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak with the prestigious 1Malaysia Ambassador award, finished seventh overall with an impressive haul of 128 world championship points for the season.
A product of SIC’s GP Wildcard Programme in 2009 and competing in his first international race at the 2009 Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix as a wildcard rider, Zulfahmi, who competed in a full season of the GP125cc in the following year, beat the odds to prove that Malaysians can match their more established rivals.
This Malaysian riders had struggled in the past even to earn wildcard rides; but Zulfahmi has proved that it is not impossible for a local to make it at the world stage.
Flying the Jalur Gemilang with pride, Zulfahmi moved into the new Moto3 class last year following the end of the 125cc class and immediately displayed his credentials as a top world class rider that included a fourth place finish as early as Round 2 at Estoril in Portugal.
By then, his races were already closely followed by his fast growing Malaysian fans and more young riders looked up at Zulfahmi as their idol and all wanting to follow his footsteps to compete on the world stage.
The new season opens with Qatar Grand Prix at Losail Circuit on April 7. Malaysia hosts Round 15 at Sepang International Circuit from October 11 to October 13.
The new season opens with Qatar Grand Prix at Losail Circuit on April 7. Malaysia hosts Round 15 at Sepang International Circuit from October 11 to October 13.
-Sepang International Circuit.
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