Zarco Bets on Malaysia's Next Generation of Motorcycle Racing Stars!

KUALA LUMPUR – MotoGP sensation Johann Zarco, fresh off a thrilling launch event in Kuala Lumpur, is incredibly optimistic about the future of Malaysian motorcycle racing. The French rider, who once shared the MotoGP grid with Malaysia's own Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah, hopes to see a fresh "wave" of Malaysian talent rise through the ranks to compete on the global stage.

Remembering the Golden Era

Zarco vividly recalls the exciting period of the 2010s, a true "golden decade" for Malaysian motorsports, where numerous riders showcased their skills across MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3. However, he also acknowledges the recent dip in Malaysian representation in the world championships.

"I remember there was like a wave of Malaysian riders, including Zulfahmi Khairuddin and Hafizh for a while. It was cool that Hafizh could do MotoGP because I think it was a big boom for Malaysia. When he was racing, you could see that he was having a lot of power and emotion when racing here (Sepang) in front of his fans," Zarco shared during his visit to Kuala Lumpur.

He added, "It is true that lately we don't see any (Malaysian riders) coming. Lately we have seen a little bit more Indonesian riders. But I think it is by waves, maybe Malaysia will come back soon."

Malaysia's Proud History on Two Wheels

That golden era saw names like Hafizh Syahrin, Zulfahmi Khairuddin, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, Khairul Idham Pawi, Adam Norrodin, Hafiq Azmi, and Zaqhwan Zaidi making their mark, either as full-season competitors or exciting wildcards. Hafizh Syahrin, in particular, created a buzz when he became the first Malaysian to compete in the premier MotoGP class, racing alongside Zarco at Monster Yamaha Tech3 in 2018.

The New Hope: Hakim Danish Ramli

While the last Malaysian rider to compete full-time in the world championships was Syarifuddin Azman in Moto3 (2023), the future looks bright with an exciting new talent ready to ignite the track. Malaysia will proudly see Hakim Danish Ramli join the Moto3 grid as a rookie this season, also riding for the Spanish outfit MT Helmets-MSI.

Danish is not just any rookie; he's been widely tipped as a potential future star. His impressive resume speaks volumes:

• In 2022, he became the first Malaysian to clinch the prestigious Asia Talent Cup title.
• Last year, he achieved another first for Malaysia, securing a top-three overall finish in the highly competitive Red Bull Rookies Cup.

Zarco's encouraging words, coupled with the immense potential of Hakim Danish Ramli, paint a hopeful picture for Malaysian motorsports. The nation is eagerly waiting to cheer on its next generation of racing heroes!