The advantage of being part of a team whose investor involvement goes well beyond traditional support is that opportunities open up to improve everyday life. We know that the Petronas motorcycle project is a way to promote Malaysia and Malaysians. The Sepang route is the obverse and the reverse of everything. A site which will host an 8 Hour Endurance race next December. And many pilots are under the Petronas awning…
And not the least! Two are in MotoGP with as many Yamahas. And nothing would please Malaysia more than to field more prestigious squads than the Japanese 8 Hours of Suzuka which will also take place this weekend. However, no regular MotoGP rider is lined up there. Petronas, for its part, and in its stronghold, hopes to present the pair Quartararo – Morbidelli for his meeting. For a first, it would be royal.
The director of Sepang, Razlan Razali, therefore offers its pilots Franco Morbidelli et fabio quartararo to start for Petronas Yamaha and thus participate in the first EWC event of the circuit, on December 14. “ The ideal scenario for the Sepang circuit is to place our current riders in MotoGP for our 8 hours. We therefore discuss with their respective managers " said Razali à crash.net from the pen of Peter McLaren. “ Both drivers are free in December. It's the off season, so I think it's good to stay in shape. They would be on a Yamaha… ».
« I have already made it clear that this is our first Endurance event and that they are our MotoGP riders. We haven't yet decided who the third driver will be. But if we participate, it will be to win ».
For the third thief, the Malaysian team is spoiled for choice: Khairul Idham Pawi, Jonas Folger et Mattia Pasini for the Moto2 pool or even John mcphee, and the rising star Ayumu Sasaki, Moto3 side. Hafiz Syahrin cannot be forgotten either. “ Exactly ! We will see " commented Razali.
The rookie fabio quartararo, is currently eighth in the championship with three poles and two podiums. Morbidelli is eleventh in the general classification, with two front row starts and a fifth position as best finish. Both are under contract with the Sepang team until the end of 2020.
The last time two Yamaha satellite riders competed as teammates in an EWC race was at the 8 Suzuka 2015 Hours, when Pol Espargaro et Bradley Smith helped the factory achieve its first victory in this Japanese classic since 1996.
