The Spanish-based Orelac Racing Team looks set to become Malaysia’s favourite team at the prestigious Superbike World Championship (SBK) with the participation of local hero Muhammad Zulfahmi Khairuddin as their new rider. Zulfahmi created history yesterday in Jerez with his first test ride in the SBK.
Testing his Kawasaki ZX6R machine for the first time, the Banting-born Zulfahmi expressed delight at his first experience on the World Supersport Championship bike and is looking forward to his new challenge.
“I would say that I am very excited. It’s too early to make any real evaluation on the performance of the bike, but I am very happy with how the test session went. I am delighted to have this opportunity to fly the Jalur Gemilang in the World Superbike Championship.
Zulfahmi, who competed in Moto3 last season as part of the DRIVE M7 SIC Racing Team, will be partnering Nacho Calero in the Orelac Racing Team, which saw action in the World Supersport Championship and the EU Superstock last year. Owned by Jose Calero and managed by Giulio Bardi, the racing outfit is based in Algemesi near Valencia in Spain. The team will be driven by the brilliance of crew chief Toni Alfonsea with Andy Machin as Zulfahmi’s chief mechanic. Nacho, on the other hand, will have Luis Gallego as his chief mechanic.
“I sincerely hope that my participation as part of the Orelac Racing Team will provide a positive impact to the overall development of Malaysia’s motorsports and SIC’s hosting of the MOTUL World Superbike Championship Malaysia Round this May. Naturally, there are still plenty of things that I need to learn about the behaviour of the bike and much improvement needed in terms of my own capability to make a strong impact in the championship. But I am ready for the challenge and I aim to make Malaysia proud,” said Zulfahmi after the test.
In conjunction with the MOTUL Superbike World Championship, SIC is currently offering tickets at Super Early Bird promotional prices, which offers tempting discounts for the event as well as for the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, both of which will be held in October.
With discounts up to 50 percent, fans can get tickets for the Superbike World Championship from as low as RM27.56 for seats in the K1 Grandstand.
