KUALA LUMPUR – The country’s motorsports community is relieved that the government allows the organising of the 2021 Malaysian Cub Prix Championship in areas that have entered Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan (PPN).
Safe Aim Mutual Sdn Bhd director Ron Hogg is hoping that the Cub Prix competition can resume in August, with his side planning to hold the third and fourth rounds at the Terengganu Motor Circuit, Gong Badak.
He said the cost of organising had also increased as the races have to be organised in strict adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) spelt out in Phase Two of the PPN, including through the sports bubble concept and conducting Rapid Antigen Tests (RTK-Ag) for each individual involved.
“Each RTK test is expected to cost about RM60, apart from that we have to find accommodation in one or two hotels for about 600 people involved with the bubble. We have ample time to prepare the riders, crews and machines if the races resume in August.
“We hope to move on to the next phases in the near future so that the races can be held in a more comfortable environment. Hopes are also high to enter Phase Four during the last two rounds (9 & 10) which allows the presence of spectators,” he said via a virtual press conference, today.
The first and second rounds took place at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) in March and April, before the government implemented the Movement Control Order *MCO) 3.0 in early May following the surge of COVID-19 cases in the country.
With Kelantan, Terengganu, Perak, Pahang and Perlis having entered Phase Two, Ron hopes the situation in other states will also improve so that races can be held with less strict SOPs in the future.
Phase Four of the PPN allows spectator attendance of less than 8,000 people or a maximum of 25 per cent of venue capacity.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Motorcycle Racers Association (MMRA) in a statement also expressed its appreciation to the National Security Council (MKN) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports for allowing the organisation of the national motorcycle race (the Cub Prix).
“The sports bubble (concept) is a good policy for the organisers of the national championship who are helping in trying to break the chain of COVID-19 transmission.
“The permission given is very important for this race to stay ‘alive’ and help those who are looking for income through this industry. We hope all parties involved can follow the SOPs that will and have been set for the execution of the races,” it said in the statement.
