Ratthapark the Thai flavour at Malaysian GP

There was no local interest on the track for the Malaysian Grand Prix races at the Sepang Circuit this weekend.

However, fans from Thailand did cheer their local hero, Ratthapark Wilairot, who competes in the 250cc class. The 19-year old rider from Chonburi represents Team Thai Honda PTT-SAG and he is in 16th place in the standings on 29 points.

Ratthapark competed in the Japanese GP as a wild card last year and did well to finish 10th. He was the runner-up in the Japanese national championships last year. Ratthapark is the first Thai rider to compete in a full season of the 250cc class of the FIM World Motorcycle Championships. He is riding for the Thai-Honda PTT-SAG team.

The region will have a second rider in the 250cc class in Indonesian Doni Prata Pradita. He competes in the Asian Grand Prix Series and has earned a wild card from the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) for the world championships round in Sepang.

The Sepang International Circuit senior general manager, Datuk Azmi Murad, hoped the entries of the two riders would help them achieve the targeted attendance of 50,000 fans. "Their entries have generated a lot of interest among fans in Thailand and Indonesia."

"All the turnout of fans from the two countries in Sepang this weekend was less then expected."