Malaysian Cub Prix

The Malaysian Cub Prix Championship is a national-level underbone racing series for motorcycles with displacements from 115cc to 130cc. The tournament is a grassroots developer with the main objective of discovering and developing Malaysian motorcycle racing talents.

The title sponsor of the championship is Petronas and it is supported by motorcycle manufacturers Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki.

History

The name Cub Prix itself is derived from the moniker Cub 仔. Pronounced ‘cub chai’ or ‘kapcai’, the phrase literally means Little Cub in Cantonese and refers to the original Honda Cub (Honda 50 that was introduced by Soichiro Honda in 1958). Today, the name has become synonymous with underbone motorcycles in Malaysia.

Begun in 1994, the concept was to create a motorsports championship that was accessible to people from all walks of life. That is why, to this day, Cub Prix races predominantly on the streets with a maximum of two rounds per year held at permanent circuits. To date, Cub Prix is still the only mobile motorsports event that brings the excitement of motorcycle racing to its fans throughout the country. Through Cub Prix’s mobility, the championship has visited every major town and city in Malaysia. A typical season for Cub Prix consists of 10 rounds beginning in late March and ending in December with a two-month break in between for the Ramadan and Shawwal celebrations.

Underbone

The underbone motorcycle was born in Asia in 1958 when Soichiro Honda rolled out the first Honda 50.

An underbone motorcycle is a small motorcycle built around a single tube frame called the underbone. This ‘underbone’ supports the whole vehicle and runs low all across the length of the motorcycle. There is a similarity in appearance to the scooter, largely due to the fuel tank position, the open-frame design which the fuel tank position allows and the splash guards. However, the entire power train, namely the engine position, power transmission and wheels are based on the design of conventional motorcycles.

The position of the fuel tank, in fact, located below the seat, is the main aspect that truly differentiates the underbone with other conventional motorcycles. This allows for a design that improves ease of mounting and dismounting, making the underbone popular with consumers of both genders.

The engine size of a typical underbone motorcycle can range between 80cc to 150cc. In the early years, two-stroke engines were the norm, but come the turn of the millennium, the four-stroke evolution picked up speed.

The technical sophistication of larger motorcycles such as fuel injection systems, capacitor discharge ignition and electric starters, were gradually fused into the underbone. With each addition, the underbone became zippier, sportier and trendier.

Objectives

Since its inception, Cub Prix’s main objective is, and always has been, to build a strong base of grassroots talents from which promising and talented Malaysian riders can be filtered through to the higher levels of racing. Grassroots development forms a very important part in the growth of any sport. Without a strong foundation, even the most glittering pinnacle at the top of the pyramid would crumble and fall

Race Categories

The actual format of the race classes and their technical regulations differ from season to season, evolving either in response to, or to trigger changes in the industries.

In 2012, the race categories are as follows:

Open-Make Categories

One-Make Categories

The one-make categories of the Malaysian Cub Prix play a vital role in the effort to bring in more fresh talent every season. Fully supported by motorcycle manufacturers Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha, the manufacturers prepare the bikes for the riders who are also supplied with the proper racing gear and safety attire. The one-make races, therefore, become ideal platforms for first-time newbies to break into the sport. To qualify for the one-make races, the riders must range from ages 13 to 20 and must be first-time riders in Cub Prix. In 2012, the one-make categories are:

The Malaysian Cub Prix is only open to Malaysian riders only and all entries must hold the appropriate racing license issued by the Automobile Association of Malaysia.

Key Milestones

Creating Malaysian Champions

In 2009, the key teams and sponsors of the Malaysian Cub Prix came together as an industry to launch its first mega-project. A wildcard development programme aimed at training Malaysian riders to race in the World Motorcycle Grand Prix. After an exhaustive training and selection process, Elly Idzlianizar Ilias and Zulfahmi Khairuddin made their GP125 debut. From there, Zulfahmi was given the opportunity to race full-season in the GP125 class of the MotoGP and became the 2nd Malaysian to do so after Shahrol Yuzy Ahmad Zaini.

In 2010, the wildcard project moved from the GP125 class to the newly introduced Moto2 class. Only one rider was selected – Md Zamri Baba.

In 2011, the wildcard project was expanded to two riders – Md Zamri Baba and Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah.

Participating motorcycle manufacturers

Trivia

External links

See also