Sepang Racing Team

Sepang Racing Team

2021 name	MotoGP: Petronas Yamaha SRT Moto2: Petronas Sprinta Racing Moto3: Petronas Sprinta Racing MotoE: ONE Energy Racing (2019) WithU Motorsport (2020–2021)
Base	Sepang, Malaysia
Principal	Team Principal: Razlan Razali Team Director: Johan Stigefelt Team Manager: Wilco Zeelenberg
Rider(s)	MotoGP: 04. Andrea Dovizioso 20. Fabio Quartararo 21. Franco Morbidelli 31. Garrett Gerloff 35. Cal Crutchlow 46. Valentino Rossi 96. Jake Dixon Moto2: 17. John McPhee 38. Bradley Smith 66. Niki Tuuli 77. Adam Norrodin 89. Khairul Idham Pawi 96. Jake Dixon 97. Xavi Vierge Moto3: 7. Adam Norrodin 17. John McPhee 26. Izam Ikmal 40. Darryn Binder 63. Syarifuddin Azman 71. Ayumu Sasaki MotoE: 38. Bradley Smith 51. Eric Granado 84. Jakub Kornfeil
Motorcycle	MotoGP: Yamaha YZR-M1 Moto2: Kalex Moto2 Moto3: Honda NSF250RW MotoE: Energica Ego Corsa
Tyres	MotoGP: Michelin Moto2: Dunlop Moto3: Dunlop MotoE: Michelin
Riders' Championships	–

The Sepang Racing Team ^[1] (formerly known as SIC Racing Team) was a Malaysian Grand Prix motorcycle racing team which operated until the end of 2021, and was owned by the Sepang International Circuit. First established in 2015 in the Moto3 class and expanded in 2019, it fielded teams in MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 championships. The MotoGP team was formally called Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team (Petronas Yamaha SRT), while the Moto2 and Moto3 teams were named Petronas Sprinta Racing Team (Petronas SRT). ^[2]

Following the 2021 season, the MotoGP team became known as RNF MotoGP Racing, with Moto2 and Moto3 being disbanded. Several aspects and team members from the Moto3 crew were recruited by Michael Laverty for his new VisionTrack Honda Moto3 team.

History

The team first raced in Moto2 in 2014, with former Grand Prix racer Johan Stigefelt launching his own outfit in the middleweight class using a Caterham bike and with backing from Malaysian airline Air Asia. Finishing sixth in the championship with Johann Zarco and Josh Herrin, the team then morphed into the Sepang International Circuit Team for the following season.

The team signed Malaysian rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin for their debut season in the lightweight class, ^[3] joined by Czech racer Jakub Kornfeil. Kornfeil took two podium finishes for the team and finished 12th in the championship, while Khairuddin took a best finish of fifth at the Japanese Grand Prix. Kornfeil remained with the team for 2016, finishing the season in eighth and taking a podium finish at the team's home race in Malaysia. Adam Norrodin, signed to replace Khairuddin, ended the year 28th with a pair of 11th-place finishes his best results.

Retaining Norrodin and replacing Kornfeil with Japanese racer Ayumu Sasaki for 2017, the team ended the season 17th and 20th respectively. In October, they also announced a return to the Moto2 class for 2018, with Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin joining the squad. ^[4] Releasing Syahrin early from his contract to take over Jonas Folger's Tech 3 Yamaha seat in MotoGP, Khairuddin returned to the team for the start of the season. ^[5]

Retaining Sasaki and Norrodin for 2018, the pair finished the season in 20th and 21st, with Norrodin taking a best finish of fifth. Khairuddin was replaced on the team's Moto2 squad after five rounds by Finnish racer Niki Tuuli, who finished the year in 32nd with a best finish of 15th.

Expansion into MotoGP

In July 2018 it was announced that Sepang Racing Team would make the step up to the premier class for the 2019 MotoGP season, ^[6] with Yamaha providing leased Yamaha YZR-M1 motorcycles for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 MotoGP seasons. ^[7] Signing French rookie Fabio Quartararo and Italian rider Franco Morbidelli ^[8] and being joined by Petronas as title sponsor, the team became Petronas Yamaha SRT. ^{[9] [10] [11]} The team expanded their partnership with Petronas further at the 2019 Dutch TT, when the Malaysian oil company also joined the team as technical partner, with the team switching to Petronas' Sprinta engine oil. ^[12]

Retaining a presence in the Moto2 and Moto3 class, Malaysian rider Khairul Idham Pawi joined the team on their new Triumph-powered Kalex machine. In the Moto3 class, Sasaki remained alongside new signing John McPhee. McPhee gave the team their first ever Grand Prix victory at the French Grand Prix. The team also expanded into the new MotoE series, signing British racer Bradley Smith.

Following Petronas withdrawing its sponsorship at the end of 2021, the MotoGP team became known as RNF MotoGP Racing, with Moto2 and Moto3 being disbanded. ^{[13] [14]} A large part of the Moto3 operation was acquired by ex-racer Michael Laverty for a new team named Vision Track Honda to compete in the Moto3 World Championship with two British riders. ^[15]

Grand Prix motorcycle results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Season	Class	Team	Machine	No	Rider	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Points	RC	Points	MC
2014	Moto2	AirAsia Caterham Moto Racing AirAsia Caterham Caterham Moto Racing	Suter MMX2	5	Johann Zarco	QAT 23	AME Ret	ARG 18	ESP 8	FRA Ret	ITA 7	CAT 3	NED 4	GER Ret	IND 10	CZE 9	GBR 4	RSM 3	ARA 3	JPN 4	AUS Ret	MAL 4	VAL 3	146	6th	146	3rd
				2	Josh Herrin	QAT Ret	AME Ret			FRA 22	ITA Ret	CAT 16	NED 18	GER Ret	IND 28	CZE 21	GBR 24							0	NC
				14	Ratthapark Wilairot				ESP 19									RSM 23	ARA 22	JPN 19	AUS Ret	MAL Ret	VAL 19	0	NC
2015	Moto3	DRIVE M7 SIC	KTM RC250GP	84	Jakub Kornfeil	QAT 17	AME 11	ARG 14	ESP Ret	FRA 6	ITA 16	CAT Ret	NED 20	GER 14	IND 22	CZE 9	GBR 2	RSM 17	ARA 14	JPN 12	AUS 5	MAL 6	VAL 3	89	12th	341	2nd
				63	Zulfahmi Khairuddin	QAT 28	AME 20	ARG 20	ESP 26	FRA 14	ITA 26	CAT 24	NED Ret	GER 19	IND 25	CZE 22	GBR 14	RSM Ret	ARA Ret	JPN 5	AUS 12	MAL Ret	VAL 17	19	23rd
2016	Moto3	Drive M7 SIC Racing Team	Honda NSF250RW	84	Jakub Kornfeil	QAT 10	ARG 9	AME 11	ESP 5	FRA 9	ITA 17	CAT 10	NED 13	GER 4	AUT 19	CZE 6	GBR 15	RSM 5	ARA Ret	JPN 13	AUS Ret	MAL 2	VAL 7	112	8th	350	2nd
				7	Adam Norrodin	QAT 20	ARG 11	AME Ret	ESP 16	FRA Ret	ITA 22	CAT Ret	NED 19	GER Ret	AUT 23	CZE Ret	GBR 23	RSM 23	ARA 23	JPN 12	AUS 11	MAL Ret	VAL 27	14	28th
2017	Moto3	SIC Racing Team Petronas Sprinta Racing	Honda NSF250RW	7	Adam Norrodin	QAT 10	ARG 17	AME 19	ESP Ret	FRA DNS	ITA 18	CAT 18	NED Ret	GER 13	CZE 9	AUT 8	GBR 12	RSM Ret	ARA 15	JPN Ret	AUS 8	MAL 11	VAL 17	42	17th	445	1st
				71	Ayumu Sasaki	QAT 11	ARG 20	AME 18	ESP 15	FRA 19	ITA 8	CAT 16	NED 15	GER 17	CZE 15	AUT 18	GBR 18	RSM Ret	ARA 16	JPN Ret	AUS 7	MAL 12	VAL 13	32	20th
				9	Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin																	MAL Ret		0	NC

Season	Class	Team	Machine	No	Rider	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	Points	RC	Points	TC	Points	MC
2018	Moto3	Petronas Sprinta Racing	Honda NSF250RW	7	Adam Norrodin	QAT 11	ARG 5	AME Ret	ESP 16	FRA Ret	ITA Ret	CAT 13	NED 21	GER 11	CZE Ret	AUT 17	GBR C	RSM 12	ARA 8	THA 15	JPN 19	AUS 7	MAL 23			46	21st	96	10th	401	1st
				71	Ayumu Sasaki	QAT 8	ARG 16	AME 11	ESP 12	FRA 16	ITA 16	CAT Ret	NED 19	GER 10	CZE 22	AUT 7	GBR C	RSM Ret	ARA	THA Ret	JPN 9	AUS 10	MAL 18	VAL 11		50	20th
				26	Izam Ikmal																			VAL Ret		0	NC
	Moto2	SIC Racing Team Petronas Sprinta Racing	Kalex Moto2	63	Zulfahmi Khairuddin	QAT 28	ARG 26	AME 27	ESP Ret																	0	NC	1	18th	407	1st
				66	Niki Tuuli					FRA 22	ITA 17	CAT Ret	NED DNS	GER DNS	CZE 21	AUT 21	GBR C	RSM 21	ARA 22	THA 15	JPN 21	AUS	MAL Ret	VAL Ret		1	32nd
2019	MotoE	One Energy Racing	Energica Ego Corsa	38	Bradley Smith	GER 2	AUT 3	RSM1 12	RSM2 8	VAL1 2	VAL2 2															88	2nd	-
	Moto3	Petronas Sprinta Racing	Honda NSF250RW	17	John McPhee	QAT 13	ARG 21	AME 14	ESP 12	FRA 1	ITA 6	CAT 13	NED 5	GER 6	CZE Ret	AUT 3	GBR 7	RSM 2	ARA 4	THA Ret	JPN 6	AUS 5	MAL 7	VAL Ret		156	5th	218	5th	439	1st
				71	Ayumu Sasaki	QAT Ret	ARG 5	AME Ret	ESP 15	FRA 14	ITA Ret	CAT 8	NED 17	GER 9	CZE 11	AUT 13	GBR 6	RSM Ret	ARA 13	THA Ret	JPN 13	AUS 7	MAL Ret	VAL 19		62	20th
	Moto2	Petronas Sprinta Racing	Kalex Moto2	89	Khairul Idham Pawi	QAT 17	ARG 13	AME 17	ESP DNS						CZE WD											3	30th	8	16th	442	1st
				54	Mattia Pasini					FRA Ret	ITA 11															5 (35) [lower-alpha 1]	20th
				94	Jonas Folger							CAT 19	NED 17	GER 17	CZE 19	AUT 18										0	NC
				38	Bradley Smith												GBR Ret									0	NC
	47	Adam Norrodin													RSM Ret	ARA DNS	THA 23	JPN 22	AUS 23	MAL Ret			0	NC
	MotoGP	Petronas Yamaha SRT	Yamaha YZR-M1	20	Fabio Quartararo	QAT 16F	ARG 8	AME 7	ESP RetP	FRA 8F	ITA 10	CAT 2P	NED 3P	GER Ret	CZE 7	AUT 3	GBR Ret	RSM 2	ARA 5	THA 2P	JPN 2	AUS Ret	MAL 7P	VAL 2P		192	5th	307	4th	321	2nd
21				Franco Morbidelli	QAT 11	ARG Ret	AME 5	ESP 7	FRA 7	ITA Ret	CAT Ret	NED 5	GER 9	CZE Ret	AUT 10	GBR 5	RSM 5	ARA Ret	THA 6	JPN 6	AUS 11	MAL 6	VAL Ret		115	10th
2020						SPA	ANC	RSM	EMI		FRA
	MotoE	WithU Motorsport	Energica Ego Corsa	84	Jakub Kornfeil	16	12	16	12	13	13	15														15	18th	-
						QAT	SPA	ANC	CZE	AUT	STY	RSM	EMI	CAT	FRA	ARA	TER	EUR	VAL	POR
	Moto3	Petronas Sprinta Racing	Honda NSF250RW	17	John McPhee	2	Ret	2	5	3	Ret	1	10	Ret	Ret	5	6	RetP	11	9						131	7th	131	8th	326	1st
				89	Khairul Idham Pawi	26	22	20	22	DNS		21	24	24	19	27	27	22	Ret	28						0	NC
	Moto2	Petronas Sprinta Racing	Kalex Moto2	96	Jake Dixon	14	18	Ret	Ret	14	8	16	6	Ret	Ret	4	7	DNS								44	18th	123	10th	375	1st
				97	Xavi Vierge	9	10	8	12	5	6	4	Ret	Ret	Ret	16	12	9P	13	10						79	10th
	MotoGP	Petronas Yamaha SRT	Yamaha YZR-M1	20	Fabio Quartararo	- [16]	1P	1PF	7	8	13	Ret	4	1F	9P	18P	8	14	Ret	14						127	8th	248 [lower-alpha 2]	2nd	204 [lower-alpha 3]	2nd
				21	Franco Morbidelli	- [18]	5	Ret	2	Ret	15	1	9	4P	Ret	6	1F	11	1P	3						158	2nd
2021						SPA	FRA	CAT	NED	AUT	RSM
	MotoE	WithU Motorsport	Energica Ego Corsa	51	Eric Granado	13PF	1P	RetPF	1PF	2F	Ret	5														84	4th	-
						QAT	DOH	AME	ESP	FRA	ITA	CAT	GER	NED	STY	AUT	GBR	ARA	RSM	AME	EMI	ALG	VAL
	Moto3	Petronas Sprinta Racing	Honda NSF250RW	17	John McPhee	Ret	Ret	23	Ret	4	7	Ret	11	6	13	7	12		13	3	Ret	Ret	11			77	13th	216	5th	360	2nd
				40	Darryn Binder	3P	2	20	22	20	5	5F	14	7	6F	9	7	7P	6	7	4	DSQ	Ret			136	7th
				63	Syarifuddin Azman													13								3	30th
	Moto2	Petronas Sprinta Racing	Kalex Moto2	17	John McPhee													20								0	37th	123	8th	450	1st
				77	Adam Norrodin												Ret									0	NC
				96	Jake Dixon	7	Ret	Ret	DNS	18	14	18	21	18	11	11			19	10	13	Ret	16			30	20th
				97	Xavi Vierge	Ret	9	7	6	Ret	Ret	3	Ret	8	9	14	8	Ret	8	8	Ret	Ret	6			93	11th
	MotoGP	Petronas Yamaha SRT	Yamaha YZR-M1	04	Andrea Dovizioso														21	13	13	14	12			12	24th	96	10th	309	2nd
				21	Franco Morbidelli	18	12	4	3	16	16	9	18													40 (47) [lower-alpha 4]	17th
				31	Garrett Gerloff									17												0	29th
				35	Cal Crutchlow										17	17										0 (0) [lower-alpha 4]	28th
				46	Valentino Rossi	12	16	Ret	16	11	10	Ret	14	Ret	13	8	18	19	17	15	10	13	10			44	18th
				96	Jake Dixon												19	Ret								0	30th

Notes

1. Non-bracketed number refers to the number accumulated with the motorcycle, with number in brackets referring to the total accumulated for the season.
2. Petronas Yamaha SRT riders scored 285 points, but the team was deducted 37 points after failing to respect MSMA technical changes protocols. ^[17]
3. Yamaha scored 254 points as a manufacturer, but were deducted 50 points after failing to respect MSMA technical changes protocols. ^[17]
4. Non-bracketed number refers to the number accumulated with the motorcycle, with number in brackets referring to the total accumulated for the season.

References

1. "About Us | Sepang Racing Team". www.sepangracingteam.com. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
2. Abdullah, Wahid Ooi (29 January 2019). "PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team – Malaysia's First MotoGP Team Launched!". BikesRepublic. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
3. "7 Malaysians Who Made The World Championship". Red Bull. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
4. "SIC Racing Team: Moto3™ riders remain, Syahrin in Moto2™". motogp.com. 24 October 2017.
5. "MotoGP: Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Confirms Hafizh Syahrin As Jonas Folger's Full-Time Replacement". roadracingworld.com. 21 February 2018.
6. "Angel Nieto Team join forces with SIC from 2019". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports . Retrieved 5 July 2018.
7. "Yamaha signs memorandum of understanding with SIC". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports . Retrieved 5 July 2018.
8. "Jarvis confirms: Morbidelli and Quartararo at SIC Yamaha". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
9. Sepang Racing Team Homepage, Retrieved 5 May 2019
10. Petronas Yamaha SRT Yamaha Racing, Retrieved 4 May 2019
11. Quartararo: "Incredible" to repay SRT Yamaha's faith Motorsport , 4 May 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2019
12. "'Steel and chemistry' - Petronas now inside the M1". Crash. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
13. Petronas Sepang Racing Team to conclude Moto GP 27 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021
14. Petronas SRT to cease operations Auto Action 27 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021
15. Michael Laverty: Former MotoGP rider sets up Moto3 team to help British riders BBC News , 17 September 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2022
16. AFP (2 March 2020). "Qatar MotoGP cancelled over Covid-19 | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
17. "Yamaha handed penalties, no effect on rider points". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
18. AFP (2 March 2020). "Qatar MotoGP cancelled over Covid-19 | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 25 October 2020.

External links

• Official website