SEPANG, Feb 4 — The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) is still awaiting the green light from the government for the hosting of the 2022 Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix (GP) from October 21-23.
SIC chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif is hopeful that the application to host the Malaysia GP would be approved by the authorities upon the completion of the two-day 2022 pre-season MotoGP Winter Test, which starts here tomorrow (February 5).
“Still waiting for approval. We hope that after the winter test we will get the approval from the Ministry of Health and National Security Council (MKN) to host the MotoGP in October,” he told reporters after observing preparations for the test sessions here today.
The Covid-19 pandemic had forced the Malaysian MotoGP to be cancelled for two consecutive years in 2020 and 2021.
Commenting on the incident of a MotoGP rider who allegedly breached the sports bubble protocol here, Azhan reminded all parties involved in the test sessions to comply with all standard operating procedures (SOP) set by the government and organisers, International Road Racing Teams Association (IRTA) as well as Dorna Sports, the exclusive commercial and television rights holder for MotoGP.
He said the SIC would hold talks with the government on the form of punishment to be meted out on the rider involved, adding that he hoped other organisers would take similar appropriate action.
“We view this issue very seriously because we do not want the SIC’s credibility to be affected due to the fault of a rider,” he added.
An international portal (motorsport.com) had reported that the SIC issued a warning to MotoGP governing body FIM after a rider was alleged to have breached the Covid-19 bubble protocol by going cycling near Putrajaya, which is about 35 kilometres (km) from the circuit, yesterday.
According to the stipulated SOP, all teams and riders involved in the test are to be confined to a hotel and only allowed to commute to the circuit.
— Bernama
