SITI Norafizah Muhammad created history in Malaysian motorsports when she was crowned as the first woman champion in the Malaysian Super Series (MSS) after winning the 250cc Open championship overall title at Sepang Circuit (SIC) on Saturday.
Fondly known as Fifi in the paddock, the Bike Art Racing rider secured the overall title after clinching second place in Race 2 on Saturday to collect 20 championship points to put her two ahead of Muhammad Jazli Juraimi of Chia PJ Racing Team after five rounds.
Recording five wins and three second places, Fifi accumulated 209 points against Jazli’s haul of 207. Muhammad Fazli Mansuar was third overall with 172 points and Vinod Dhanabala took fourth place overall with 119 points. Angelo Neo was fifth overall with 114 points.
Fifi, 19, attributed her success to the support of the team especially her Bike Art Racing teammate Fazli who won both races for the round.
“I would say this is a team effort. And, I must really thank Bulat (Fazli) for his support.
We approached the last two races as a team and secured a 1-2 to allow me to win the overall title. I would also like to thank my trainers at Bike Art Racing Team, especially our team principal Abang Ahmad Zamani (Baharuddin).
“I am very happy to win. It is unexpected in a way. When we first started the championship, I had never targeted the overall title.
“But after three rounds, I found myself among the top contenders and we then put extra effort to challenge the crown. I am grateful to win it,” said the Johor-born lass who was also the first woman racer to win an MSS race.
Two years ago when competing in the SIC Ninja 250 Cup, Fifi scored a sensational win to join Super GT, Cyndie Allerman of Switzerland, who was the first woman driver to win at the MSS when she partnered Hong Kong’s Samson Chan to win the Super GT race in a Ginetta G50Z in May 2012.
With the MSS overall title, Fifi said she would be offered a seat by Bike Art Racing team to compete in the 250cc class at the Asia Road Racing Championship next year along with an opportunity to defend her title.
Fazli, who was 2012 SIC Ninja 250 Open champion, said he was very happy to help Fifi to win the overall crown.
“We developed a strategy with the team. We knew that we needed to finish ahead of Jazli.
“So, we pushed hard for the two
1-2 finish. I am so happy for Fifi,” said Fazli who took 21 minutes 42.812 seconds to complete the race.
Finishing 0.182 seconds behind her teammate, Fifi had to fend off the challenge of Jazli throughout the eight-lap contest, edging out her rival in a photo finish with a mere 0.074 seconds to the cheers of her supporters.
Siti Norafizah Muhammad won the 250cc Open championship overall title on Saturday.