HE has come a long way from racing in pocket bike tournaments. In fact, at the recent Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, our home-grown hero, 18-year-old Shafiq Rasol, did the nation proud by clinching top spot for the first time at the eighth race of the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup (ATC) and second place during the final race.
In the fast lane: At the recent MotoGP weekend, a Malaysian rider managed to top the podium – 18-year-old Shafiq Rasol (second from right). Shafiq finished first on Day One of the 2014 Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, and finished fifth overall in the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup (ATC). – Dorna Sports SL
Although he didn’t win the overall competition (he came out fifth, falling behind Japanese riders Kaito Toba, Yuta Date, Takuma Kinimine and his closest friend Ayumu Sasaki), current MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez congratulated him during an encounter at Sepang International Circuit, where the races took place two weeks ago. He even asked Shafiq to take a picture with him!
“I was so happy because he’s my idol and it was my first time standing that close to him. I heard he watched our races, so it was an honour that he came up to congratulate me. It was one of the highlights of my career,” said Shafiq with a huge grin.
The inaugural ATC championship was meant to be a stepping-stone for young riders aged 14-20, designed to expose Asian riders to the rigours of motor racing so they’ll have the experience they need for the big leagues.
Hoping to achieve his dream of being a MotoGP racer, Malacca native Shafiq registered for ATC’s selection in 2013 and became one of the 22 talents who made it through.
Shafiq at the starting grid of the Sepang International Circuit, right before the start of the Malaysia leg of the ATC. Top MotoGP riders like Marquez, Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo raced on the same track throughout that weekend!
But Shafiq said it was a bumpy ride. The start of the season almost saw him give up after he came in 16th during the second race at Indonesia’s Indospeed Race Series and last for race four at China’s Pan Delta.
“I was so upset at the time because I was the last Malaysian rider (out of seven) in ATC. But my dad (Rasol Mohamad) and coach (Lee Waye Siang) were really supportive. They had faith in me and encouraged me all the way,” said Shafiq, who was competing against the best young riders from Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Philippines, China and Indonesia.
“They gave me the confidence to do better and to up my game. From then on, I increased my technical and physical training.”
His family, especially his dad, has been with him every step of the way since he began in 2005.
Shafiq, who is the second child of five siblings, developed an interest in the sport at the tender age of nine after he saw a pocket bike parade during a Merdeka day celebration in Malacca. The next day, he persuaded his dad to get him a RM2,000 pocket bike.
Shafiq’s love for racing grew as he competed in pocket bike tournaments, before advancing to the next level – the Malaysian Cub Prix Championship – in 2009.
After completing high school in 2013, he decided to pursue his passion full-time because he felt he was lagging behind his international competitors.
“The young riders in Europe are aged 16 and 17, and they’re very much ahead of me in terms of track experience and training.
“If I study, I will have to divide my time. So, I chose to focus on one thing exclusively, which is to race,” said Shafiq.
Shafiq had no professional coaching prior to Cub Prix. His dad guided him the entire time.
Everything he has gleaned thus far, he has put into practice, which makes his achievements that much more remarkable.
And the same goes for his recent success at Sepang. Shafiq’s memorable day was heightened by his entire family coming out to watch him as he won. The jubilation even got the better of his dad, who shed tears of joy.
His victory at the 2014 ATC offers no guarantees for his qualification next season. The selections for ATC 2015, which will include riders from Australia and New Zealand next season, were held last week.
Shafiq didn’t attend the tryouts, though, but he is waiting for the owners of MotoGP, Dorna Sports SL, to revert to him on his fate in the tournament.
But already, Shafiq is hoping to take his experiences from this year to push himself all the way to win the overall ATC 2015 title.
He said: “I wish to follow in the footsteps of Malaysian riders like Hafiq Azmi and Zulfahmi Khairuddin, who made it to Moto3. If possible, I would like to race with them when I get to that level.”
But the humble Shafiq said he still has much to learn before he can join them.
“As long as I don’t give up and stay consistent in my races, I should get there some day.”
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