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The new SIC Yamaha MotoGP team has confirmed it will carry title sponsorship from Petronas, while officially unveiling 2019 riders Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo and its Moto2 and Moto3 line-ups.
SIC will replace the Angel Nieto Ducati team on the MotoGP grid next year, and will take over from Tech3 as Yamaha’s satellite team.
In a press conference during MotoGP’s British Grand Prix, it was confirmed that the Sepang-owned team will field Morbidelli and Quartararo next year and be sponsored Malaysian oil company Petronas.
Valentino Rossi protege and reigning Moto2 champion Morbidelli moves across from the Marc VDS Honda team where he is spending his MotoGP rookie season.
Quartararo graduates from Moto2 having been picked over current Nieto rider Alvaro Bautista, who is heading for World Superbikes with Ducati, and after Dani Pedrosa chose to retire rather than join SIC.
Azman Yahya, chairman of the Sepang International Circuit, said: “The formation of this team completes our motorsport development programme for Sepang.
“We started four years ago with Moto3, moving to Moto2 this year, and within a four-year period we are present in Asian Talent Cup, Spanish CEV, Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP, it is an unprecedented position for any team in the world.
“This dream of having a MotoGP team is shared not just by us but by millions of Malaysians, the fans.
“We saw as a track owner how the support of Malaysian MotoGP improved over the last few years since we had riders in the lower categories and we expect this year we will surpass last year’s crowd record, 150.000 over the weekend.
“This is very important for us as the track owner.”
SIC entered Moto2 for the first time this year, but its original rider Hafizh Syahrin ended up moving to MotoGP with Tech3, and neither of his replacements – Zulfahmi Khairuddin and Niki Tuuli – have managed to score a point so far.
For 2019, the team will field Khairul Idham Pawi, who is currently in his second year in Moto2 and is 27th in the standings.
In Moto3, SIC has signed series veteran John McPhee alongside Ayumu Sasaki – who will continue with the team for a third consecutive season.
2019 MotoGP rider line-up so far
Honda
Marc Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo
Yamaha
Valentino Rossi, Maverick Vinales
Ducati
Andrea Dovizioso, Danilo Petrucci
Suzuki
Alex Rins, Joan Mir
KTM
Johann Zarco, Pol Espargaro
Aprilia
Andrea Iannone, Aleix Espargaro
Pramac Ducati
Jack Miller, Francesco Bagnaia
Tech3 KTM
Hafiz Syahrin, Miguel Oliveira
LCR Honda
Cal Crutchlow, TBA
Avintia Ducati
TBA, TBA
SIC Yamaha
Franco Morbidelli, Fabio Quartararo