Sepang International Circuit (SIC) race calendar for 2007 officially opens this weekend with the opening rounds of this year’s Sepang Drag Battle and the third edition of SIC-AAM Malaysian Motocross Championship; providing a double treat for local motor racing fans.

“It will be double the excitement, double the thrill at Sepang this weekend for racing fans. It is indeed an explosive start for 2007; and something racing fans would not want to miss,” says SIC General Manager Datuk Azmi Murad.

Azmi, who took over from Datuk Ahmad Mustafa as the new General Manager from January 19, said while the Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix remained as the top priority at the moment, the local events organised by the circuit would continue to be key events for the circuit as well.

“Apart from organising F1, we also have a duty of developing the local motorsports in Malaysia. The drag battle and motocross championship are among events organised and promoted by SIC for the sole purpose of taking Malaysian motorsports to a higher plane,” said Azmi, who is also the Senior General Manager (Operations) for Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad.

Having served SIC before in 2000 and 2001, and delivering two F1 races during his tenure as the General Manager, Azmi would not be unfamiliar with the aspirations and overall mission of SIC, which was established by the Government as a catalyst to jumpstart motorsports in Malaysia.

Entering its fourth year, Sepang Drag Battle pits modified cars from as far as Thailand and Singapore in a contest to determine the fastest among them in a 400-meter dash at the front straight of the circuit.

The AAM-SIC Malaysian Motocross Championship will be at Sepang’s new motocross track, situated next to Sepang Go-Kart Circuit with Malaysian top rider Mohd Amirul Ash-shahid Abdul Hamid of Boon Siew Honda Racing ready to defend his crown.

Famously known as Gaban in the motocross fraternity, Amirul is expected to face stiff challenge from the more established international riders including 2005 champion Pierre Yves-Catry of France and Australian Brett McNamara.

While the 2007 Sepang Drag Battle would run in five rounds, the motocross championship would run in eight rounds this year with the final leg to be run as a support event for the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix on October 20.

Apart from Sepang Drag Battle and the SIC-AAM Malaysian Motocross Championship, SIC’s other key local event would be the Malaysian Super Series, which would kick off in April.