SEPANG: Sepang International Circuit (SIC) hopes Petronas will continue its commitment as title sponsor of the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) after the current contract expires this year, ensuring the continuity of a strategic partnership that began in 2022.
SIC chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif said the circuit hoped discussions between the current title sponsor and MotoGP commercial rights holder Dorna Sports would reach a positive outcome, allowing both parties to continue staging the prestigious race together.
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He said that if an agreement was reached, SIC hoped the sponsorship extension would align with Dorna’s five-year contract, which runs until 2031.
“Petronas is a very good brand and highly synonymous with MotoGP. We hope the discussions will produce a positive decision.
“If possible, we want to match the previous contract with Dorna, which is five years,” he told reporters here today.
He was commenting on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s meeting with MotoGP executive director Carmelo Ezpeleta yesterday, during which Ahmad Zahid, among other things, expressed hope that Petronas would renew its MotoGP sponsorship commitment.
Shafriman said SIC had yet to receive any further updates on Petronas’ intention to continue the sponsorship, stressing that the decision rested entirely with the company.
Petronas became the Malaysian GP title sponsor in 2022, taking over the role from Shell.
Yesterday, Ahmad Zahid said the proposal to ensure Petronas remained the MotoGP title sponsor in the coming years would be discussed with Petronas president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz.
