SIC negotiating Damok’s spot on Moto3 team

Huge potential: Syarifuddin Azman and Adam Norrodin (pic, below) have scored podium finished in their respective events this year.

PETALING JAYA: Syarifuddin Azman may get a place in the Moto3 World Championship next year but Adam Norrodin’s future hangs in the balance.

Zulfahmi Khairuddin, who oversees Sepang International Circuit’s (SIC) rider development programme, is negotiating with a Moto3 team on behalf of Syarifuddin, who is also known as Damok.

Zulfahmi, who had two world championship podiums, expects an outcome for Syarifuddin soon.

“It is quite clear we are negotiating a ride for Syarifuddin with a world championship team for next year.

“The team is new to the world championship and they got in with help of the rights holder Dorna. It will probably take a little more time to finalise things. SIC will make it official once it is concluded,” said Zulfahmi.

“As for Adam, we are still evaluating and have yet to decide whether to retain him for the Moto2 European Championship or move him up to the Moto2 World Championship next year. Both riders have done well in their respective championships this year.

“However, the Moto3 World Junior Championship (which Syarifuddin competes in) is more competitive than the Moto2 European Championship.

“We feel that Syarifuddin has more potential to do well in the world championship. Moto3 seats are also very limited, so we have to move quickly.”

Syarifuddin and Adam have scored podium finishes in their respective events this year. They were supposed to join Petronas Sprinta Racing’s Moto2 and Moto3 squads next year.

However, they have to seek other options now as the Malaysian team will be disbanded at the end of the season.

This comes after sponsors Petronas pulled out, paving the way for team principal Datuk Razlan Razali and technical director Johan Stigefelt to join forces to form the RNF MotoGP Racing Team and continue racing in world motorcycle racing championships.