KUCHING: Cub prix races could provide a good outlet for youths in Sarawak to prove their racing talents, said Social Development and Urbanisation Minister Dato Sri William Mawan Ikom.

As such, he feels that more organised and bigger competitions should be held to attract more youths to be involved in the sport.

Mawan said the response to cub prix races in the state had always been very encouraging, judging from the large number of youths taking part and flocking to watch the races whenever a competition was organised here.

“You could see the young people flocking into this very attractive sport and initially we always feel that it is one of the various ways to provide an outlet for their zest and desire to prove themselves rather than having them racing around in towns and causing a lot of problems because of illegal racing, sometimes using their girlfriends as bets and resulting in accidents which is not a very healthy social phenomena,” he said.

“We are expecting a much more organised effort by everybody and we would want the youths to get themselves organised and interested in these type of racing opportunities,” he told reporters after presenting the prizes and trophies to the winners of the Sarawak Cub Prix Championship at State Stadium here yesterday.

Also present were permanent secretary to Social Development and Urbanisation Ministry Ik Pahon Joyik, the ministry’s head of sports Mering Wan, Motorsports Association of Malaysia chief executive officer Mia Sharidzman and Sarawak Automotive Racing Sports Association (Sarsa) president Sim Hang Seng.

Mawan said the championship had really given the youths the opportunity to enjoy themselves and prove their talents in Sarawak and he believed it also presented a good opportunity for them to prove themselves to be equally as good at national level, adding that Sarawak now has five racers competing in the national circuits.

He said this was rather an impressive achievement considering the short span of time that such races are being organised in Sarawak.

“We have unearthed some talents and in future, once we get more organised, you will see a lot more racers being able to compete at national meets and we can be proud of them,” said Mawan.

He was also confident that besides Kuching, the sport would also grow in Miri, Mukah and Sibu.

“A lot of challenges and a lot of interest will be generated. It is one of the sports that has the huge potential of attracting participation from everybody to enjoy themselves and also to prove themselves, especially the youths and that should be the area which the private sector is also very keen to see besides other sports activities they have sponsored,” he said.

He said the ministry was also looking into attracting foreign racers to compete here in future races as “we have the potential and support of the government.”

Meanwhile, Faito Boon Kui Racing Team had a field day at the temporary racetrack, with five of their racers capturing the top positions in Novice A and B races.

Their riders made a clean sweep in Novice A, with Ahmad Kadir winning the race while teammates Mohd Aswandy Rambli and Ghazali Hakiki finished second and third respectively.

For the win, Ahmad pocketed RM800 and received a trophy while Aswandy received RM500 plus a trophy and Ghazali, RM300 and a trophy.

Faito Boon Kui’s racers also made it 1-2 in Novice B, with Abdul Haffiz finishing first and Eddie Bryan second. Coming in third was Dominic Fabian.

Haffiz received RM600 and a trophy for his effort while Eddie got RM400 and a trophy and Dominic received RM200 and a trophy.

This race was marred by an accident where Mohd Hafiz Jalil on bike No. 84 slipped and fell, bringing down Ahmad Fareedzuan in the process. Hafiz was sent to the hospital for treatment while the latter only suffered minor injuries.

In the NB-Daichi One Make Race, Wan Aziela Wan Ibrahim finished first to collect RM200 and a trophy while Nor Azree Mahri was second and he received RM150 and a trophy. Muhd Yuzairul Yusop received RM70 and a trophy for finishing third.

The Kuching qualifying round is the first of three series of the championship held to select racing talent to represent Sarawak in national championships such as the Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship.

The next round will be held in Mukah on May 30 and 31, and move on to Miri on June 13 and 14.