2010 Malaysian MotoGP Photo by MotoGP.com
Watching the MotoGP can be an exhilarating experience, the visceral feeling of seeing these world-class riders competing wheel to wheel barely a few inches away from each other at high speeds with their bodies lying almost flat to the ground on steep corners is an experience like no other. With a riding population much bigger than the automotive market, it is not surprising why MotoGP has a huge fan base and Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit is one of the best places to see it up close and personal. Just a few hours from Manila, one can fly to Malaysia for this coming October’s MotoGP race weekend for an action-packed motorsport event.
20 years of motorcycle racing excellence
Last year, Malaysia’s Sepang Circuit celebrated 20 Years of MotoGP with Jorge Lorenzo bagging the 2010 championship title of the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, marking two decades of world-class motorcycle racing since it first hosted the World Championship in 1991. With its two prior venues in Shah Alam and Johor, the Malaysia has played host to MotoGP in Sepang International Circuit starting in 1999.
MotoGP World Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo took home the championship title after finishing 3rd place in a neck-to-neck thrilling motorcycle spectacle as the 23 year-old Fiat Yamaha rider coasted on 3rd position as his teammate Valentino Rossi took his first season victory since this year’s race season began in Qatar.
Valentino Rossi
On pole position, Lorenzo had a great start but his Italian teammate, hungry for a race victory came from behind with an 11th position on the opening lap in a stunning upset victory that led Rossi-crazy Malaysian fans screaming for more in the last fateful laps in a duel to the finish. Last year’s Malaysian MotoGP winner Casey Stoner (of the Ducati Team) suffered a huge disappointment when he crashed out of the race on the opening lap. Repsol Honda’s Andrea Dovizioso valiantly tried to wrestle with Rossi but proved a bit too slow as Rossi pounded some of his fastest laps as the two swapped first and second position in what was a thrilling fight to the end.
Highlights of the Malaysian GP in 20 Years
1992 – Shah Alam Circuit: Mick Doohan (Honda) won the 500cc race, with intermittent weather causing race interruptions as he bested arch rival Wayne Rainey. Third placer Alex Criville made his first 500cc podium as Luca Cadalora took his back-to-back victory in the 250cc class. In the 125cc race championship went to Alessandro Gramigni, becoming the first rider to win a world title riding an Aprilia bike.
Sepang Circuit
1995 – Shah Alam Circuit: Mick Doohan took his third victory in the fellow Australian Daryl Beattie.
1998 – Johor Circuit: This was the only year that GP riders raced in the Johor circuit which gave another victory for Mick Doohan in the 500cc class, completing the last of his five race world titles.
1999 – Sepang Circuit: Kenny Roberts won the 500cc class on his debut riding with the Suzuki team.
2004 – Sepang Circuit: Valentino Rossi made a back-to-back victory but now on a Yamaha in the MotoGP class. Moving up to the 250cc class was Dani Pedrosa who won for the second time at Sepang. Andrea Dovizioso bagged the world title by finishing second in the 125cc class behind Casey Stoner, who won his first ever Grand Prix victory for KTM.
Jorge Lorenzo and his team after being crowned the 2010 champion photo by MotoGP.com
2009 – Sepang Circuit: Casey Stoner won the MotoGP race riding on wet conditions, including a 30 minute delay with at least 12 seconds slower than the official lap record. Crowd favorite Valentino Rossi finished third to win his ninth world title and seventh in the premier class.
Re-live the best races of the MotoGP World Championship from as far back as 1992 with highlights from each race in the video section on www.motogp.com. Local race fans can contact Red Rock Travel for tickets to any of Sepang’s major race championships and for race tour packages at www.redrocktravel.net
To watch this year’s Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2011, Red Rock Travel offers packages for as low as US$309 (land arrangement only).
Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2011 (land arrangement only)
4D3N from US$309 per person (minimum of 2 adults)
Travel Dates: October 21-24, 2011
o 3N Hotel accommodation at Citrus Hotel or Cititel Express
o Roundtrip transfers (airport + hotel + circuit)
o Main Grandstand tickets (Pit straight)
o KL City tour
o Travel insurance
o Add USD 60 for Leisure Package: Includes full-day Genting Highlands tour with cable car ride (theme park entrance tickets excluded) and dinner on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
For more information, contact Red Rock Travel Philippines:
Address: Unit 1 Wisdom Building, #757 Tandang Sora Avenue cor. University Valley, Old Balara, Quezon City
Tel: (+632) 738-6614
Email: redrockf1@yahoo.com
Website: www.redrocktravel.net
Where to go after the MotoGP
Enjoy a food trip at Jalan Alor or at KL’s various mamak stalls. Some of the must-try foods there are the Roti Canai, BBQ chicken wings, Char Koay Teow, Satay, Ramly burger, Teh Tarik and Ais Cendol.
For night owls, check out KL’s rooftop bars such as Sky Bar located at the Traders Hotel and the Luna Bar located at the Pacific Regency Hotel. Both venues have stunning views of the Petronas Twin Towers and KL skyline at night.
Dance the night away at popular clubbing spots such as Zouk and Rootz Bar. Simply chill out at one of the bars and clubs along Changkat Bukit Bintang.
For more information about Malaysia, visit www.tourism.gov.my.