MELAKA: The gathering of thousands of classic Yamaha RXZ motorcycle enthusiasts has been a success, said Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
The Melaka Chief Minister said the "RXZ Members Ride Edition Melaka 3.0 2025" attracted more than 70,000 visitors to the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh here over its two-day run, beginning Friday (Dec 12).
“Such a large-scale motorsports event successfully brought together more than 20,000 motorcycle owners from across the country, in addition to some 50,000 visitors throughout its duration,” he said on Sunday (Dec 14).
Ab Rauf said the event had further strengthened Melaka’s position as a leading destination for motorsports tourism while contributing to the state’s economic growth and the well-being of its people.
“The overwhelming response this year proves that the RXZ community has become a national phenomenon capable of generating direct economic returns across various sectors, including hospitality, food and beverage, retail and small traders.
“Throughout the programme, hotels, resorts and homestays across the state were reported to be fully occupied, while restaurants and small vendors also recorded a significant surge in customers,” he said.
Elaborating further, Ab Rauf said the organisation of the event was aligned with the state’s preparations for Visit Melaka Year (TMM) 2.0 and Visit Malaysia 2026, which targets 19 million tourist arrivals to Melaka in 2026.
The Yamaha RXZ motorcycle was especially popular among young riders during the late 1980s and 1990s.
Ab Rauf also described himself as a motorcycling enthusiast, saying he has been a fan of big bikes since his younger days.
He currently owns several of the machines and is actively involved in associations representing superbike riders in the country.
Earlier, it was reported that the Kota Melaka MP said the two-day gathering had triggered widespread complaints.
Khoo Poay Tiong said RXZ motorcycle owners had disrupted residents’ daily routines, affected public tranquillity and raised concerns over traffic safety.
