Malaysian Cub Prix
The Malaysian Cub Prix Championship is a national-level underbone or moped racing series for motorcycles with displacements from 100 to 150cc. The tournament is a grassroots developer with the main objective of discovering and developing Malaysian motorcycle racing talents. The title sponsor of the championship is Petronas and it is supported by motorcycle manufacturers Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki. History. The name Cub Prix itself is derived from the moniker Cub 仔. Pronounced ‘cub chai’ or ‘kapcai’, the phrase literally means Little Cub in Cantonese and refers to the original Honda Cub (Honda 50 that was introduced  by Soichiro Honda in 1958). Today, the name has become synonymous with underbone motorcycles in Malaysia. Begun in 1994, the concept was to create a motorsports championship that was accessible to people from all walks of life. That is why, to this day, Cub Prix races predominantly on the streets with a maximum of two rounds per year held at permanent circuits. To date, Cub Prix is still the only mobile motorsports event that brings the excitement of motorcycle racing to its fans throughout the country. Through Cub Prix's mobility, the championship has visited every major town and city  in Malaysia. A typical season for Cub Prix consists of 10 rounds beginning in late March and ending in December with a two-month break in between for the Ramadan and Shawwal celebrations. Underbone. The underbone motorcycle was born in Asia in 1958 when Soichiro Honda rolled out the first Honda 50. An underbone motorcycle is a small motorcycle built around a single tube frame called the underbone. This ‘underbone’ supports the whole vehicle and runs low all across the length of the motorcycle. There is a similarity in appearance to the scooter, largely due to the fuel tank position , the open-frame design which the fuel tank position allows and the splash guards. However, the entire power train, namely the engine position, power transmission and wheels are based on the design of conventional motorcycles. The position of the fuel tank, in fact, located below the seat, is the main aspect that truly differentiates the underbone with other conventional motorcycles. This allows for a design that improves ease of mounting and dismounting, making the underbone popular with consumers of both genders. The engine size of a typical underbone motorcycle can range between 80cc to 150cc. In the early years, two -stroke engines were the norm, but come the turn of the millennium, the four-stroke evolution picked up speed. The technical sophistication of larger motorcycles such as fuel injection systems, capacitor discharge ignition and electric starters, were gradually fused into the underbone. With each addition, the underbone became zippier, sportier and trendier. Objectives. Since its inception, Cub Prix's main objective is, and always has been, to build a strong base of grassroots talents from which promising and talented Malaysian riders can be filtered through to the higher levels of racing. Grassroots development forms a very important part in the  growth of any sport. Without a strong foundation, even the most glittering pinnacle at the top of the pyramid would crumble and fall Race Categories. The actual format of the race classes and their technical regulations differ from season to season, evolving either in response to, or to trigger changes in the industries. In 2017, the race categories are as follows: One-Make Categories. The one-make categories of the Malaysian Cub Prix play a vital role in the effort to bring in more fresh talent every season. Fully supported by motorcycle manufacturers Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha, the manufacturers prepare  the bikes for the riders who are also supplied with the proper racing gear and safety attire. The one-make races, therefore, become ideal platforms for first-time newbies to break into the sport. To qualify for the one-make races, the riders must range from ages 13 to 20 and must be first-time riders in Cub Prix. In 2017, the one-make categories are: The Malaysian Cub Prix is only open to Malaysian riders only and all entries must hold the appropriate racing license issued by the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM). Creating Malaysian Champions. In 2009, the  key teams and sponsors of the Malaysian Cub Prix came together as an industry to launch its first mega-project. A wildcard development programme aimed at training Malaysian riders to race in the World Motorcycle Grand Prix. After an exhaustive training and selection process, Elly Idzlianizar Ilias and Zulfahmi Khairuddin made their GP125 debut. From there, Zulfahmi was given the opportunity to race full-season in the GP125 class of the MotoGP and became the 2nd Malaysian to do so after Shahrol Yuzy. In 2010, the wildcard project moved from the GP125 class to the newly introduced Moto2 class. Only  one rider was selected – Md Zamri Baba. In 2011, the wildcard project was expanded to two riders – Md Zamri Baba and Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah. Future. The organiser considering to add a new 'Rookie' category into the championship because of overwhelming response received during the new season rider's registration. Organiser received near 1000 rider's applications for the Season 2017 championship. In December 2017, Benelli, one of the oldest Italian motorcycle manufacturers, testing their prototype for CP150 class category. Currently, there are only two constructors competes in CP150 class which is Honda and Yamaha. With Modenas expected to launch their  new supermoped in 2018, it is very likely Modenas will compete in the CP150 class in the future.