Kicking off 2010 with a difference, motor racing promoter Sepang International Circuit (SIC) will be organising a combined event of criterium and mountain bike race on January 24 as its first major event for the year.
Officially called Kencana-SIC Bikeathon 2010 and sponsored by Kencana Petroleum, the criterium race will run on the race track in the morning while the mountain bike challenge will venture the rugged terrain around the circuit facility in the afternoon.
“It will actually be two different races with two different sets of participants; but we are running it under one name – the SIC- Kencana-SIC Bikeathon 2010. But, we do allow interested competitors to enter both and I truly hope some will take up that challenge,” said SIC Chief Executive Officer Razlan Razali in a statement today.
He added that the organisation of the bikeathon event was in line with the circuit’s new image which he advocated since coming in as the CEO in 2008; which was to promote the circuit more than just a motor racing facility.
“We want to tell the world that SIC can organize sports and recreational events of any nature … be it motor racing, cycling, jogathon, cross country running, orienteering and even futsal and wedding ceremonies if you want to. Of course, we had also done world class concerts like Jamiroquai that we had at last year’s F1. We can do it all here at Sepang Circuit,” said Razlan.
He said cycling events were also not new to SIC; adding that the circuit had organized a cycling criterium race with Kencana Petroleum in March, 2008 and a major mountain bike race last year at the Sepang Motocross Track.
“We have good response for both events with national cyclists among the competitors … we expect an even better response for the Kencana-SIC Bikeathon 2010,” said Razlan, who planned to make the bikeathon as an annual event and as SIC’s contribution to the development of cycling in Malaysia.
“Cycling is not just becoming more popular; but more importantly, the sports have also created world champions and world class athletes among Malaysians. We are already winning medals in world championships in cycling and that it is something that we as Malaysians are all very proud of.
“To improve further and for the sports to grow faster, we need to create more quality events. And, the Kencana-SIC Bikeathon will be one of them,” said Razlan, adding that the event would be offering cash prizes up to RM5000 as incentives the competitors.
Both the criterium and mountain bike race would run three classes of competition – the veteran category for those above 45 years old, the junior category for riders aged between 18 years-old and below while the rest goes to the open category.
“At the criterium race, we would also be having a special race for the kids. We called it the criterium dash where the kids would compete on a 400-meter stretch on the circuit front straight. For those familiar with our drag race, they can imagine how the race will be … except that this is just for the kids to have fun,” added Razlan.
For further details on the event, interested competitors can log on to SIC official website to download the entry form and register which will be out soon.
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