Latest news with #JuniorGP
Malay Mail
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Malaysian teen racer Hakim Danish eyes glory at Le Mans after double podium start in Spain
KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 — Local motorsports sensation Muhammad Hakim Danish Ramli will be gunning for his first title this season in the second round of the MotoGP Rookies Cup at Le Mans Circuit in France this weekend. The 17-year-old is set to use the historic circuit to show his capabilities and determination in making his dreams come true at the global stage following his double podium win at the first round at Jerez Circuit in Spain last month, ZK Racing said in a statement today. 'The year 2025 is an important time in Hakim Danish's career with a high target from Sepang International Circuit (SIC) Racing, led by Zulfahmi Khairuddin. 'His performance in the Junior GP World Championship and MotoGP Rookies Cup will play a big role in determining his future, including a potential wildcard to the MalaysianGP this October,' the team said. Hakim Danish started off the 2025 season well when he finished second in race 1 and 2 of the Rookies Cup first round at Jerez Circuit. He then continued his winning ways at Estoril Circuit in Portugal by finishing second in the opening JuniorGP race. — Bernama
The Star
04-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Junior GP rider Hakim shines with second-place finish in Portugal
PETALING JAYA: Rising national rider Hakim Danish Ramli kicked off his FIM Junior GP season with an impressive second-place finish in the opening round at the Estoril Circuit in Portugal on Sunday (May 4). The 17-year-old started from third on the grid and found himself in a battle for second throughout the race with Finland's Rico Salmela and Ireland's Casey O'Gorman. Hakim remained composed and secured second place on the last lap, with Salmela settling for third. Spanish rider Brian Uriarte led the race from start to finish and emerged victorious. This marks Hakim's third consecutive podium finish, following two second-place finishes at the Red Bull Rookies series at the Jerez Circuit in Spain last week. Hakim will return to the Jerez Circuit for the Junior GP's second round, which takes place in June.
The Star
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Guidance of crew chief an added boost for Hakim
PETALING JAYA: Young rider Hakim Danish Ramli's season at the FIM Junior GP Championship is getting an extra boost as he will have the guidance of a crew chief from the MotoGP World Championship. The 17-year-old, who is racing in the opening round of the Junior GP at the Estoril Circuit in Portugal this weekend, starts his second year in the championship, and showed positive results in his practice times by coming in third in the qualifying sessions.
New Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
SIC boss hopes homegrown Hakim can boost Malaysian GP turnout
KUALA LUMPUR: Azhan Shafriman Hanif is hoping Hakim Danish Ramli's presence in the Moto3 World Motorcycle Championships - either as a wildcard this year or a full-season rider next season - will help boost ticket sales at the circuit. The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) chief executive officer last week confirmed that Hakim, 17, essentially has a seat waiting for him at Frinsa-MT Helmets-MSI for the 2026 season but must hit certain key performance indicators in the Junior GP and Red Bull Rookies series this year to secure it. He said that Hakim could also be given a wildcard to race in Moto3 this season at the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia on Oct 24-26. "The goal has always been to put a Malaysian rider back in the world championships as a full-season rider," said Shafriman recently. "Our plan is to get Hakim to race on a wildcard in the Malaysian GP this year but this will depend on his performances this season as well as the funding that is available. "This (wildcard) is to allow us to evaluate his performances when racing against the current Moto3 riders. "We also hope his inclusion in Moto3 will encourage more Malaysians to come out and support him at the Sepang. "We have seen other Asian countries placing their riders in world championships (and boosting race attendances at their home GPs). Hopefully we can do the same here. "We targeted 200,000 fans (over three days) at the Malaysian GP last year but we got 185,000. Hopefully we can achieve that goal this season." The Malaysian GP attracted record crowds over three days for the past two years with 182,912 turning up for the event in 2023 and 184,923 last year. Hakim became the first Malaysian rider to win the Asian Talent Cup title in 2022 and has been dubbed as an "outstanding talent" by former Moto3 rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin. Zulfahmi, via his company ZK Racing, has been overseeing Hakim's development since the latter won the inaugural SIC MiniGP championships in 2020.
New Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Moto3 seat awaits Hakim Danish but he must 'prove himself' first, says Sepang boss
KUALA LUMPUR: Hakim Danish has a seat waiting for him in the Moto3 category of the World Motorcycle Championships next season but he will have to achieve certain key performance indicators (KPI) this season to secure it. Sepang International Circuit (SIC) chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif disclosed that ZK Racing - who have been contracted to lead SIC's two-wheel motorsports development programme - have already secured a seat in Moto3 with Frinsa-MT Helmets-MSI for the 2026 season. Shafriman said the seat is essentially Hakim's to lose. The 17-year-old is competing in Junior GP as well as the Red Bull Rookies (RBR) series this season. "There is already a seat ready for him in Moto3 with MT Helmets. He is the frontrunner (for the seat), however, we expect him to earn it," said Shafriman today (April 23). "He must show good performances this year, otherwise it would not be fair to the other riders who could also be considered for this opportunity. "We expect him to finish top-five (overall) in Junior GP and top-three in the RBR series. "Hopefully with guidance from Zulfahmi Khairuddin (ZK Racing boss), he will be able to perform well this season so we can once again have a Malaysian as a full-season rider in the World Championships next year." Hakim finished sixth overall in RBR and was 15th overall in Junior GP last year. Syarifuddin Azman was the last Malaysian to compete as a full-season rider in the World Championships. He raced in Moto3 with MT Helmets in 2023 but found it hard to make an impact and lost his seat for the 2024 season. Shafriman added that SIC and KBS will look to provide support for Hakim if he does make the step up to Moto3 next season. "So far there has not been any final word from MT Helmets whether we have to pay for the Moto3 seat," said Shafriman. "I have heard that there will be a fee but whether that will be absorbed by MT Helmets or us has not been finalised." Shafriman added that SIC will also look to secure a wildcard slot in the lightweight class of the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia - better known as MotoGP Malaysia - which will be held on Oct 24-26. "That (wildcard for Hakim) is the plan," said Shafriman. Shafriman was speaking after attending a letter of understanding (LoU) signing with Aeon Credit Service (M) Berhad in Kuala Lumpur today. The partnership between SIC and Aeon Credit will see the latter playing a key role in the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia as well as the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSBK) this year.
