Sochi, Russia 22 April 2015 – Asia Supersports Group Sdn Bhd (ASG) and FIM Asia, with the support of Malaysia Major Events are pleased to announce that Malaysia will be the first country to host the 2015 FIM Asia Supermoto Championship. The 6 round series is scheduled to kick off at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang, Selangor (MAEPS) on the 6th and 7th June 2015.
Supermoto racing combines exciting elements of motocross, dirt track and road racing into one dynamic discipline. It features jumps, high-speed straights with both dirt and asphalt surfaces. Tracks and venues can vary considerably, allowing races to be held at racing circuits, sports stadiums, on open car parks and on closed-course city streets. This unique sport offers pure excitement and adrenaline-filled fun for the spectators, who can be as close to the race as a few metres.
"Supermoto is a great sport to watch and to compete in" said ASG Executive Chairman, Hon Dato’ Eric Loo. "This genre of racing has high potential of success in Asia owing to its simplicity and flexibility. A rider, who wishes to compete, will find Supermoto a more affordable and safer sport compared to other motorcycle racing, while offering the same level of challenge and excitement. With this in mind, Supermoto is a perfect platform for cultivating grassroots racing communities and upcoming professional riders from the Asian region.”
This year, the championship will feature up to 18 top Asian Supermoto riders mainly from Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia and Malaysia. The 2 day weekend race will consist of practice, qualifying and finals for the novice and expert category. Points collected on both days will be tabulated as championship points. At the completion of 6 rounds, the rider with the most points will be declared as the 2015 FIM Asia Supermoto Champion and the country represented will be awarded the 2015 FIM Asia Supermoto Champion- Country.
FIM Asia President Mr Wan Zaharuddin Wan Ahmad said, “This championship will be the benchmark for the Supermoto sport in Asia. In line with global FIM standards, riders from around the globe will be eligible to compete for the FIM Asia Championship title. With the scope of the championship license covering over 28 Asian countries currently supervised by FIM Asia , the potential to grow this sport in Asia is immense. ”
Malaysia will be represented by two top riders, Hairi Zakaria (2012/13 FIM Asia Supermoto Champion) and Mohd Habibullah Mohd Saleh (2011/12 Malaysian Supermoto Series S1 Champion). Other top Asian riders scheduled to compete are Taiwan’s Lin Chin Pei (2013 Taiwan Supermoto Champion), Japan’s Susumu Mitoma (Japan Moto1 All Star), Thailand’s Trakarn Thangthong (2011 FIM Asia Supermoto Champion) and many others.
After the opening round in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore will also host a round each before the series returns to Malaysia for the finale.“To be selected as the country to open and close the 2015 FIM Asia Supermoto Championship is an honour for Malaysia”, said Malaysia Major Events General Manager Mr Tony Nagamaiah.
Speaking at the press launch in SportAccord Convention Sochi, Russia, he added, “Interest in leisure motorcycling and 2-wheel motorsport in Malaysia and Asia has grown exponentially over the last few years. Adding this event to our calendar will further strengthen Malaysia’s role as an Asian hub for international 2-wheel races and their spectators. In addition to MotoGP and World SuperBike (WSBK), we are proud to have the FIM Asia Supermoto Championship join our calendar of major motorsport events. ”
Asia Supersports Group Sdn Bhd being the exclusive promoter and license-holder will also feature international and local support events at each of the venues. MotoJamm, an international motorcycle freestyle entertainment show featuring US Professional Stunt Rider Aaron Twite, Spanish Motorcycle Trial Stunter Albert Dos Temps, local Trial Riders from the Pangkolo Riders team, and Bicycle Trial Riders from France Lolo and Franck Vabre will complement the overall event. Happening alongside MotoJamm will be Art of Speed (AOS), Malaysia’s own homegrown OlSkool & Kustom Kulture event. Started in 2012, Art of Speed aims to grow and make Malaysia as the hub of convergence to all custom lovers. This year, the organizers kick things up a notch with the AOS Triumph Invitational Bike Build-Off, pitting four of Malaysia’s best builders against each other to produce the best customized Triumph motorcycle. MotoJamm will also be featuring motorcycle related exhibitions, live concerts, and a mini moto showcase.
Also running concurrently with the FIM Asia Supermoto Championship will be the Malaysian SuperMoto Championship (MSMC), a race organized exclusively for Malaysian riders to help grow and showcase local talent.
Dato’ Eric Loo went on to say, “It is important that with an international racing event, additional activities be held together. This is to create a festive vibe that will entertain spectators from all walks of life, be it motorcycle enthusiasts, families or general public.”
Many other Asian countries have expressed their interest to host this championship. Owing to its simplicity and excitement of Supermoto with its side events, these countries view it as a good platform not only for its huge spectatorship but also for the building of local talents in their respective countries. For 2016 and beyond, more countries like Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, China and India would potentially be added into the calendar.
The official signing ceremony between ASG and FIM Asia took place on April 15th at the FIM Asia Office. Present at the event was FIM Asia President Encik Wan Zaharuddin Wan Ahmad, Executive Chairman of ASG Dato’ Eric Loo, CEO of ASG Mr. Satheswaran Mayachandran, and Eplus Entertaintment Productions Sdn Bhd Representative Encik Malik Baharin.
The calendar for 2015 will be as follows:
Malaysia 6th and 7th June 2015
Thailand 26th July 2015
Singapore 13 September 2015
Malaysia 7th and 8th November 2015
For more information; kindly contact
Cheah Wen Khyn
Press Officer
Asia Supersports Group Sdn Bhd
Suite 6.01, Level 6, Heitech Village,
Persiaran Kewajipan USJ 1,
47600, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: +603-8024-4044 Fax: +603-8024-5044
Email: press@asg.my
Social Media
FIM Asia Supermoto Championship: www.facebook.com/supermotoasia
Malaysian SuperMoto Championship: www.facebook.com/supermotomalaysia
MotoJamm: www.facebook.com/motojamm.com.my
About FIM Asia
Founded in 1904, the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme is an international organisation, which was created to control and develop the sporting and touring aspects of motorcycling and to assist motorcycle users in those fields. The FIM as defined in the statutes is the supreme and sole international authority empowered to control international motorcycling activities organised under its jurisdiction throughout the world and as such acts as the supreme court for the settlement of disputes which may arise from the organisation of such activities. The official titles of World Championships, Continental Championships and FIM Prize events in all disciplines of the motorcycle sport belong to the FIM. FIM Asia is comprised of 28 National Motorcycle Federations in Asia where they organize a large number of events and Championships in over 30 Asian countries.
About Malaysia Major Events
Malaysia Major Events is a division of Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), an agency of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia. Tasked under the Prime Minister’s Economic Transformation Programme, it’s mission is to place Malaysia on the world map as the event venue of choice. To be top of mind, right at the onset as the centre stage for sports, arts, lifestyle and entertainment events in Asia. Malaysia Major Events was set up in 2011 and has successfully enticed many international events here in Malaysia. Similarly assisting in promoting home grown events and home hosted events which would strengthen Malaysia’s global appeal as an international venue for major events. This includes music festivals, sporting championships, touring events and lifestyle showcases, from triathlons to international diva in concerts, extreme sports to debating forums.
http://www.mymajorevents.com.my
About Asia Supersports Group Sdn Bhd
Asia Supersports Group Sdn Bhd (ASG) is a consortium of 3 companies namely Bikenation Motorsports Sdn Bhd, CW Media Sdn Bhd, and Eplus Entertainment Productions (M) Sdn Bhd. Collectively, this consortium has over 30 years experience in the automotive and event industry in Asia. Bikenation Motorsports as the Technical Partner of ASG, bring with them years of experience of managing and organising local and international SuperMoto races. They have promoted this sport to all over Asia and have helped nurture local talents of SuperMoto riders in Asia. CW Media Sdn Bhd, ASG Media Partner, is a motoring publication company, which is also the license holders for Bonnier Corporation (Sweden) which publishes world renowned motorcycle titles such as Cycle World, Motorcyclists and Super StreetBike. In Malaysia, they publish Cycle World Malaysia and On The Road and are also the founders of MotoJamm, an international motorcycle freestyle entertainment event and www.trademysuperbike.com , Asia’s top motorcycle classifieds/ecommerce website. Eplus Entertainment Productions (M) Sdn Bhd is ASG’s Production Partner, which is one of Malaysia’s and Asia’s top event management company with over 20 years of experience, managing thousands of world class events. Some of the top events organised are the ATP Malaysia Open, Junior World NBA and Twin Towers Live.