Organisers of the Malaysian MotoGP, Moto2 and 125cc races are to agree a five-year extension to continue hosting the event and will secure a place for a local rider to compete in the championship until 2015.
The fate of the Malaysian MotoGP Wildcard programme introduced with creditable success this in 2009 was amajor factor in the extension.
The deal to be signed with rights holders Dorna, subject to ministry approval, is a further boost for the sport in Malaysia, with the expected announcement of a team from the Southeast Asian country competing in the 125cc class.
"If we agree to the deal with Dorna, it comes with the understanding that we will have a Malaysian rider competing until 2015," Razlan Razali, Sepang International Circuit chief executive officer, told the Malasian Star newspaper on Thursday.
"The aim is to develop young talent to participate in future world championships. After all, what is the point of having a Malaysian Motorcycle GP with no promising local talent coming up?"
Sepang has to date hosted 11 editions of the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix since 1999, with this year's event, held on Oct 25, proving to be its biggest success with over 100,000 fans turning up over three days.
