KUALA LUMPUR – After spending the past four to five years celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri in Europe, motorcycle racer Muhammad Syarifuddin Azman is preparing for an unforgettable celebration this year.
Syarifuddin, who rides for the Idemitsu Boon Siew Honda Racing Team in the AP 250cc class in the Asian Road Racing Championships (ARRC), is thankful that he can spend the holiday season with his beloved family, including his wife and child.
Reflecting on past years spent training and racing in Europe during Ramadan and Hari Raya, Syarifuddin expressed gratitude for the chance to reunite with his family this year, a departure from the loneliness he felt in previous years.
“Before this, I would often spend Ramadan and Hari Raya in Europe as I spent most of my time training and racing there.
“It was really sad being away from my family at such a young age.
“So I’m really grateful and excited that I get to be with my family this year,” said the 22-year-old racer.
Fondly known as Damok, Syarifuddin tied the knot with Wan Hurool Ain Wan Sukri in October 2022, and the couple welcomed their son, Muhammad Syareeq Haqqi, last year.
He looks forward to spending quality time with his family at their home in Puchong, eager for an extravagant celebration this year, marking a significant reunion after an extended period.
“I’m going all out this year since it will be the first time in a long time that I’m celebrating with my family.
“My siblings and I will gather at our family home and we plan to have a huge gathering to enliven the atmosphere. I can’t wait,” he added.
Syarifuddin rose to fame after winning Race 1 in the Moto3 category of the FIM World Junior Championships at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit in 2021 at the age of 19.
He kept showing promise in the junior championships and secured his first Moto3 wildcard slot in the MotoGP world championships, replacing Scottish rider John McPhee of Petronas Sprinta Racing.
In 2022, he was given two wildcard chances – at the Portuguese GP and Jerez GP – with the Rivacold Snipers Team, replacing Albert Surra, who was out after suffering serious injuries in a crash.
Although his stint with MTHelmets-MSi in the Moto3 World Championships concluded without leaving a lasting impression, Syarifuddin made a triumphant return to the podium in the ARRC last month, securing a commendable third-place finish in Race 2 of the season opener in Buriram, Thailand.
His next race will be in China at the Zhuhai International Circuit from April 19 to 21. – April 10, 2024