Hakim in a riding demonstration.
Azlan Shah (second right) presenting a certificate to a participant as (from left) MiniGP Club president Masrul Mahidin and Hakim look on.
MINI Grand Prix — or MiniGP — made its way to Miri in 2015, crediting the Resort City with being the first in Borneo and the second in Malaysia, after Kuala Lumpur, to host the motorsport.
MiniGP was introduced to Mirians by the Miri Two Wheelers Recreational Club (MTWRC) which was officially launched last year and certified by Hakim Mutalib, the Club’s co-founder, owner of MyRide Academy (MyRide) and a MiniGP rider.
According to Hakim, the techniques for riding MiniGP bikes are the same as those for riding bigger superbikes or GP bikes.
MiniGP uses a reduced dimension sportsbike, designed for Grand Prix. Technically, it is similar to a normal sportsbike but slightly smaller with an engine capacity of 125cc or 155cc.
Because MiniGP motorcycles are ridden on smaller karting tracks, the lower speed makes pushing to the limit less risky compared to superbikes or GP bikes, allowing the rider to confidently explore the limits of the motorcycle in a controlled environment.
“The same bikes are also used by riding academies around the world such as in the US, Spain, Canada, China and Taiwan. Many international professional riders such as Danny Kent and Jorge Lorenzo use MiniGP bikes for training.
“In fact, our professional racers such as Hafiz Syahrin and Azlan Shah have used MiniGP bikes as their training machines,” Hakim disclosed.
He pointed out that a lower running cost had also allowed more people to get involved in the sport without a huge investment.
“The price of a MiniGP bike is around RM8,000 — much cheaper than superbikes. And MiniGP racing is suitable for riders as young as seven years old. The motorcycles are ideal
for young or seasoned riders to learn the sport and could be a stepping stone to bigger things,” Hakim said, adding that MiniGP training and clinics were held at the Miri Go-Kart Track during weekends.
Hakim giving instructions to participants at one of his riding clinics.
Longest go-kart track
He noted that Miri has an international standard go-kart track which is appropriate for MiniGP racing. According to him, this was one of the reasons for setting up the MTWRC.
“In fact, the go-kart track in Miri — 1.3km long and 10m wide — is the longest in Malaysia and the only one in East Malaysia.”
The MTWRC aims to be the pioneer promoter of the MiniGP racing in Borneo.
“We will work towards raising riding standards in a controlled environment, increase safety awareness on the road and highlight the importance of wearing appropriate riding gears.
“We also want to promote a healthy lifestyle and competitiveness not only among Club members, but also motorsport enthusiasts and the public,” Hakim said.
The weekend riding clinics are conducted by Hakim who has attended the California
Superbike Riding School in the US, and completed the Level 4 certification at the California Superbike School (CSS) in Philip Island, Australia.
He has worked behind the scene at national and international motorsports events and also coached young riders.
He said the MTWRC has been collaborating with MyRIDE Riding Academy, the Social Development and Urbanisation Ministry and Pitrides Motorsports in organising a series of riding courses, using 150cc MiniGP bikes.
Hakim (right) was also involved in the World Moto3 Race.
Right techniques, safety awareness
During the courses, national motoGP racer Azlan Shah Kamaruzzaman of Idemitsu Honda Team Asia (Moto2) and Hafiq Azmi (Moto3) were invited to share their experience and expertise with participants on how to become disciplined biking pros.
Among others, the courses taught bikers the correct riding techniques and raised awareness on safety.
“Through such courses, we hope to reduce illegal racing and motorbike accidents,” he said, adding that the courses also gave motorsport enthusiasts from different backgrounds the opportunity to mingle and interact with one another.
In Oct last year, the Club and MyRide held an advance riding course jointly with Bernie Hatton, founder of Top Rider Australia, to correct negative public perception of motorsport clubs, and to turn Miri into a motorsport hub of Borneo.
In 2015, Club member Hasmari Gunari kept Sarawak’s flag flying high by winning the MiniGP Endurance Race in the ‘Full Throttle Challenge’ category at Elite Speedway in Kuala Lumpur.
Hasmari finished sixth in the MiniGP Open category while fellow Club member Muhamamad Arif was fourth. Both were the only riders from Borneo in the event and the first to make a name for the Club.
The MTWRC, in collaboration with MyRIDE Academy, has trained up more than 100 riders from Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Australia and Vietnam since its inception in early 2016.
The MiniGP courses and events were conducted not only locally in Miri and Subang but also regionally in Vietnam.
Hakim and the participants in a group photo.