MOTORSPORTS NEEDS FUNDING FROM MINISTRY TO TAKE RIDERS TO NEXT LEVEL - ZULFAHMI

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- Motorsports needs funding from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) for it to take young talented national riders, like Muhammad Hakim Danish Ramli and Qabil Irfan Azlan, to a higher level.

ZK Racing team manager Zulfahmi Khairudin said the talent and potential of these two riders should not be wasted, as they have so far more than proven their ability to compete on the international stage.

"I believe the ministry needs to have a better look at this matter, as it's hard to find talents like these two. Maybe, once in 10 years you can unearth such gems,” he said during the signing of the MSi Racing Team and AEON Credit Cooperation ceremony that was also attended by Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Mordi Bimol at the World Trade Centre (WTC) here today.

Earlier, Mordi said the ministry has yet to provide funding for motorsports, although the World Motorcycling Championships revved off to a grand start in Buriram, Thailand, last week.

"We do not have an allocation for it (motorsports), so far,” he said when asked to comment on whether the ministry will provide funding for motorsports to support the two riders.

However, Mordi said the ministry will continue to support the sport, in addition to unearthing new talents for the future.

"We are in a good position (when it comes to motorsports). We, at the ministry, will continue to support all efforts to find new and young talents to play the role of backups in motorsports,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mordi hopes that AEON Credit, which will be the main sponsor for the team represented by Hakim Danish in Moto3, will help other corporate firms to see the need to support the growth of talented young riders.

"We cannot rely on government funding only, because we all know that the cost involved in motorsports is very high. So, we need to ensure the sport's sustainability through strategic collaborations with corporate firms,” he added.

-- BERNAMA