DESMO Owners Club Malaysia (DOCM) and TOC Automotive College recently partnered up to launch the inaugural TOC-Desmo Cup 2018, held during the second round of the 2018 Malaysia Superbike Championship at Sepang International Circuit (SIC) last weekend.
TOC Automotive College, the title sponsor of the series sent their trained mechanics to assist with the race motorcycles.
“The mechanics consisted of undergraduates and trainers who will assist riders with mechanical adjustments or minor repairs in a dedicated pit,” said TOC Motorsports Consultant, Oh Kah Beng.
TOC Automotive College and its partner, Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF), introduced their new Superbike Technician course in July.
The Desmo Cup race is exclusively for Ducati owners.
“We (the DOCM members), created the Desmo Cup because the current Ducati capacity engine does not suit both the super sport and superbike category and are in a grey area.
“Hence, the Desmo Cup race was created to give Ducati owners the opportunity to race on their 898, 1098 and 1198 machines,” said DOCM President, Mohd Nageb Abdul Majid.
The Desmo Cup race is a 10-lap race format, unlike the Malaysian Superbike Championship (MSC) series race which has two races per weekend.
Present at the grid was SIC chairman Tan Sri Mohamed Azman Yahya.
The first race consisted of six riders on their Ducati 898, 1098 and 1198 machines but unfortunately, one did not make it through the scrutineering process, leaving only five on the grid.
Zulkiply Yahya took the first place on podium followed by Syamsul Bakthiar Esa and Sarul Fahmi Mohd Zaini.
TOC Desmo Cup is open to the Ducati 848, Panigale 899 and 959, the 1098, 1198, Panigale 1199, 1299 and the brand-new Panigale V4.
“In the future, when the Panigale V4 comes in to the market, then we will start a racing team to race the V4 in super stock or superbike for the MSC,” said Nageb.
“We see a synergy between TOC and racing because they are an automotive college which had just started their superbike course. We are happy to provide their mechanics this platform,” said Nageb.