Organisers hope rider’s presence will see record turnout

Speed racer: Zulfahmi Khairuddin (inset) leads the field during the Moto3 race at the Indianapolis Grand Prix in Indiana on Aug 19. — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR: The presence of local hero Zulfahmi Khairuddin gunning for a historic breakthrough in the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix has boosted the organisers’ hopes of getting an unprecedented 70,000 spectators on race day for the 22nd edition at the Sepang Circuit from Oct 19-21.

This year will also see the participation of Maybank as the commercial banking partner for the Malaysian Motorcycle GP, which for the last 21 years had international corporate companies as title sponsors – from cigarettes firms to oil and gas companies.