“This brings back a lot of memories…”
Looking at a photo taken at the Asia Road Racing Championship in 2016, the owner of HONDA ESTREMO YUZY RACING, Shahrol Yuzy Ahmad Zaini, was flooded with a sense of nostalgia and pride.
Yuzy said, “At that time, my role as a team manager was both challenging and rewarding. We were collaborating closely with a team from Japan, which meant I had to manage and coordinate with a diverse group of people. It was a period of significant learning for me, particularly in handling the complexities of managing a large and international team. The experience taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, teamwork, and cross-cultural communication, which continue to benefit me and the team today.”
Yuzy reflected on his racing team’s journey in the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC). “Our journey with the ARRC began in 2011 when Yuzy Racing made its debut. Over the past 12 years, participating in the ARRC has been an incredible learning experience for us. The competition has always been fierce, but it has been instrumental in developing our riders’ skills and professionalism. We’ve also gained crucial insights into managing a team across different countries, which has helped us grow into a more cohesive and strategic unit. Each year, we faced new challenges and opportunities that contributed to our evolution and success in the racing world.”
Yuzy shared a particularly memorable moment: “We have many valuable memories from our time in the ARRC. One unforgettable moment was when our riders, Md Rozaiman Said and Md Amirul Ariff Musa, both stood on the podium in first and second place during Round 5 of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship 2013 at the AutoPolis International Racing Course, Japan for the UB150 category. It was a proud achievement for our team.”
When asked about rejoining the ARRC in the future, Yuzy did not hesitate to share his plans. “Without a doubt, we miss competing in the ARRC. The thrill of racing, the challenge of facing top-tier competitors, and the camaraderie within the team are aspects we deeply cherish. We are planning to return to the ARRC in the future. After the economic uncertainties caused by COVID, things are starting to stabilize, making it easier for us to find sponsors. While our last participation was in the UB150 category, we are considering entering more challenging categories like the AP250 and ASB1000. We believe these categories will provide an exciting new level of competition and allow us to showcase our growth.”
“If we rejoin the ARRC, we hope for smoother processes regarding travel and logistics for all participating countries. Streamlining these arrangements would greatly enhance our experience and efficiency. More importantly, we wish for the ARRC to gain greater recognition and prominence in every country that hosts the championship. By elevating its profile and increasing its visibility in each host nation, the ARRC can foster a stronger connection with local audiences. This heightened recognition would not only enrich the event itself but also open up more opportunities for teams and riders to engage with the series in a meaningful and impactful way.”