Caterham becomes SIC Moto3 entry?

Caterham team rebranded as 'Sepang International Circuit' Moto3 squad

23 Oct 2014

The Caterham team is notably absent from the provisional entry lists for the 2015 Moto2 and Moto3 World Championships.

Caterham only joined the motorcycle world championship this season and, while apparently avoiding the fate of its troubled F1 team, was rumoured to be moving from Moto2 to Moto3.

So where has it gone?

Crash.net understands that the newly revealed 'Sepang International Circuit' Moto3 team has been formed by effectively taking over the Caterham project, with Johan Stigefelt expected to continue as team manager.

Malaysian star Zulfahmi Khairuddin and a 'to be announced' second rider are due to race the team's KTM machines.

"This registration by SIC brings our commitment to growing the two-wheel racing ecosystem in Malaysia to the next level, a step up from our initiatives in the last five years, since 2010," said Dato' Razlan Razali, Chief Executive Officer of Sepang International Circuit. "This move marks the next phase of our investment into developing motorsports in the nation. With the entries registered under Sepang International Circuit, we can now test extensively at the circuit in November this year and February and March next year, ahead of the 2015 season's opening race in Qatar."

Dato' Razlan added: "We decided to sign up Zulfahmi as our first rider as he is still very much relevant to Malaysian motorsports and MotoGP, particularly having held on to his record as the fastest Southeast Asian rider in the Moto3 category. We believe in the importance of starting a new venture on the right track with an experienced rider. Certainly, we are aiming to be very competitive in our first year, with a target of breaking into the Top 10 in the 2015 championship, if not the Top 5."

Caterham presented details of its motorcycle grand prix debut in the intermediate 600cc class exactly one year ago at Sepang.

The team formed a technical partnership with Suter for Moto2 and - despite a disastrous start and mid-season replacement of American star Josh Herrin - has been able to celebrate three podiums and one pole position with lead rider Johann Zarco.

Zarco will remain in Moto2 by moving to a new Kalex squad run by Aki Ajo. Ratthapark Wilairot, hired to replace the non-scoring Herrin, is yet to claim a point and not present on the provisional entry lists.