KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 — The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) has been given the green light by the government to extend its contract to hold MotoGP Malaysia from 2024 to 2026, its chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif said.
He said the government agreed to extend the contract with MotoGP rights holder Liberty Media Corporation as the existing contract will expire this year.
“We have not gotten an announcement yet, but we have gotten the agreement of the government to extend it to 2026. The previous contract is for 2022 to 2024.
“We haven’t had a chance to announce this previously but since there is a question, it’s true we will extend the contract,” he told reporters at the 2024 MotoGP media conference at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here today, also attended by Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim.
He said ticket sales for the annual race at SIC was at 50 per cent, and he aims to draw up to 200,000 spectators to the circuit.
This season’s MotoGP Malaysia will include the After Race Fest carnival where local and international artistes will perform, Azhan said.
“We hope this year will be an even more meaningful year with the triple celebration and we target about 200,000 visitors this year, an increase of around 20,000 from last year,” he said.
The After Race Fest carnival will be held from 4pm to midnight on November 3, with groups Smash, Mecklemore, Nidji, Feel Koplo, 6ixth Sense and De Fam performing in Phase 1, while the lineup for Phase 2 will be announced in September.
Azhan did not discount the possibility the organisers would provide wild card entries for local riders in the moto2 dan moto3 categories if funds allow.
“The last date for announcing wild card tickets is 45 days before the race. We will make the announcement in September,” he added.
— Bernama
