PETALING JAYA: Sepang International Circuit (SIC) has made it clear that their current priority is to make sure Malaysia continues to host MotoGP and has downplayed the possibility of Formula One making a comeback to Sepang.
During a recent MotoGP event, SIC chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif said Malaysia must look to secure hosting rights for MotoGP and should avoid "making the same mistake" by letting Formula One go.
He went on to add that SIC and a number of other stakeholders are keen on having Formula One return to Sepang but highlighted the high organising costs and long waiting list to get on the race calendar.
This sparked excitement and debate on whether Malaysia should host Formula One again.
SIC, however, released a statement on Wednesday (Aug 20) reaffirming their commitment to MotoGP. Malaysia's current deal with Dorna Sports to host the pinnacle of two-wheeled racing expires in 2026 and is due for renewal.
"SIC wishes to clarify recent media reports. Our CEO's recent remarks referred specifically to the renewal of the MotoGP Malaysia contract beyond 2026, and not in relation to the potential return of Formula One.
"While Formula One remains a significant part of our history, regaining its hosting rights has proven to be both complex and costly.
"The key priority is safeguarding MotoGP, which continues to resonate strongly with Malaysian fans and remains more accessible from both a spectator and organisational standpoint," he said, adding that Malaysia's contract to host MotoGP runs until 2026.
"SIC is fully committed to working closely with the government through the Youth and Sports Ministry as well as with Dorna Sports and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the continuation of this world-class and longest running international event in Malaysia."
Sepang, which was purpose-built to run Formula One races, hosted Formula One from 1999 until 2017.
The decision to drop the race was made in 2017 due to high organising costs.
