The Need for Speed: Malaysian Moto GP- 2013, Sepang

If Moto GP racing gets your adrenaline pumping and your pulses racing, then perhaps you should make your way to the Sepang International Circuit this weekend for the 2013 Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix. The event which is slated for the 11th to 13th October 2013 will feature all the big guns of Moto GP as it constitutes round 15 of the 18-leg MotoGP World Championship.
In fact,  the 2013 Moto GP title hunt is currently poised at a very exciting stage as there is an ongoing tussle between the competition’s two leaders Tuenti HP 40’s Pol Espargaro who is in hot pursuit of championship leader, Marc VDS Racing Team’s Scott Redding. Twenty points separate them at this juncture and with Redding having suffered a loss to Espargaro at Aragón, the Brit will no doubt be looking for victory at Sepang in an effort to cement his grip on the title.
The 22nd edition of the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix hosted at Sepang in 2012 was a grand success so much so the event was declared the MotoGP event of the year by Dorna, the main marketing company for Moto GP. The 2012 event drew huge crowds on every day and this year, the numbers are expected to be even higher as tickets for the event have been selling very rapidly.

Aside from Espargo and Redding, spectators will have the chance to witness the exploits of various other championship drivers like Aspar Team Moto2’s Nico Terol, Espargaro’s teammate Tito Rabat, Alex Mariñelarena who is racing for Blusens Avintia this year and Thai rider Decha Kraisart, who is with the Singha Eneos Yamaha Tech3 team.
Malaysian Moto GP fans will be keenly following the achievements of home-grown talents like Hafizh Syahrin who is racing for Petronas Raceline and who narrowly missed a podium finish last year. Also competing in the tourney is local hero Muhammad Zulfahmi Khairuddin and the home crowd is  also pinning its hopes on him for a podium finish in the Moto3 Category. Other local talents creating a buzz amongst fans include Malaysia’s latest racing outfit, the Touchline SIC AJO Racing Team, which will have Amirul Hafiq & Husni Aizat, as Moto3 Wildcard Entries; and current SuperSports 600cc category ARRC championship leader, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, who qualified for the event on his own merit.
Apart from heart-stopping racing action, the 2013 Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix will also offer a number of entertaining  side attractions like the Ducati Club convoy scheduled for  race day, 13th October along with approximately 60 kiosks featuring various vendors including the best bike manufacturers from around the world. Also on offer at the 2013, Malaysian Moto GP will be an autograph signing section scheduled for 12th October 2013 at the Welcome Center. At this event, ticketholders will have the once in a life opportunity to interact with their idols in persons.
More information about the race program, public transport, contests and more is available at the official website of the event at http://www.sepangcircuit.com.my/race/7.

 

Viper challenge (17 Aug 2013 – 18 Aug 2013)

Adventure and extreme sports fans rejoice, for Malaysia has just launched Asia’s longest, most arduous obstacle challenge- The Viper Challenge. Extending over 20 km of the famed Sepang International Circuit, the  Viper Challenge which is in its inaugural year, in 2013, encompasses an obstacle-littered course. The event is scheduled for the weekend of 17^th and 18^th of August 2013.

The man-made obstacles that dot the route of Viper Challenge require much skill, dexterity and gumption to navigate. The challenge encourages the fittest to apply, but if you feel you are not quite there yet, organizers advise that you can easily rise to the test, if you sign up in advance for one of the many strenuous boot camp programs that are offered at gyms and fitness centers in Malaysia and elsewhere.

The Viper Challenge is currently Asia’s largest obstacle- based running event. The challenge is designed to shock your system out of its comfort zone, as it encourages you to use your body, mind and spirit to conquer the course’s various grueling Australia-made obstacles like pyramid trees, balance beams, jump platforms, incline walls and many more. Participants are expected to scale tall walls, crawl through barbed wire columns, dusty trenches and corrugated columns and be immersed in icy pools as they compete in the challenge. Definitely not for the faint-hearted, the Viper Challenge promises to make your heart race, your spirits soar and your muscles scream at the end of it all.

Viper Challenge FAQs                                                                                            

Take part as an individual or a part of a team

You can register as an individual competitor or a team member for the challenge. Moreover you can join an existing team or then form a team of your own.

Register at http://www.viperchallenge.com

You can only register for the Viper Challenge, via the event’s official website - http://www.viperchallenge.com.  More details about fees are offered on the event’s website.

The registration fee for the challenge entails you to an original Viper Challenge t-shirt and various other Viper Challenge official merchandise items. A pass for the post challenge party is also included in your challenge starter kit.

Age limit for participants

Participants, who wish to take part in the Viper Challenge, have to be at least 16 years of age. However, participants under the age of 18 have to supply a consent form signed by a parent or guardian allowing them to take part in the challenge.

A valid I.D. is required

All participants have also to show some form of government issued ID like a passport, driver’s license or an ID card, before they can compete in the challenge. This requirement is non-negotiable.

Signing a disclaimer

You are also expected to sign a disclaimer/waiver form which states that you are taking part in the event at your own risk and have understood that there may be a possibility of personal injury during the event. This disclaimer form is another necessity which has to be supplied before you can compete in the challenge.

No refund offered

Once you have paid your fees for participation in the event, no refund can be issued. Even in the case of injury before the event, the fees will not be refunded for organizers have no way of assessing the seriousness of the injury.

Not a race but a challenge

It is important to known that the Viper Challenge is not a race but it is a test of physical and mental skills. A participant’s time is not as important as the successful completion of the race. Most participants are expected to take 3 to 4 hours to complete the race.

If by chance an individual/ team has not reached the half-way mark by a particular designated hour, the race officials will supply these participants with a modified route to ensure that they finish the race by nightfall that day.

Start times

Race officials decide the start times of the various participants. The start times are decided in waves as the officials allow 500 participants into the field every thirty minutes. Once you have been informed of your start time you cannot change it.

Running gear and storage of personal belongings

Participants are required to wear appropriate running attire and sturdy, closed shoes for the challenge. They are also encouraged to leave all valuables and electronic devices like smartphones, tablets and cameras locked in the onsite lockers supplied.

Food and drink and other facilities

Water, energizing and first aid stations are available throughout the course. The event site is also equipped with toilet facilities for the participants.

Transportation and Accommodation

The Sepang International Circuit is easily accessible by various modes of transport like rail, road and air. The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is located close to the Sepang circuit and various car rental companies operate from outlets locate at the airport. If however, you are coming from the capital KL, you can use commuter or express trains, airport coach services or taxi or limousine services to get to the Sepang International Circuit. More many hotels are located within the Sepang area and offer a variety of accommodation options.

No cancellation for bad weather

The inaugural Viper Challenge will be conducted come rain or shine.

So if you believe you are strong of body and mind, why not take part in the Viper Challenge to put your abilities to the test?