MotoGP ticket sales have not reached 50 percent – SIC

KUALA LUMPUR: Ticket sales for the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship (MotoGP) scheduled to take place from October 21 to 23 have not yet reached 50 percent.

Chief Executive Officer of the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) Azhan Shafriman Hanif said that the possibility of ticket sales starting last April was a little slow due to the absence of Malaysian riders in the organization of this edition.
“In addition, the factor of 25 percent entertainment tax imposed by the Selangor State Government also affects the ticket price which has doubled,” he said when met by Bernama.

He said that although ticket sales show an increasing trend from motor sports fans in the country over the past three weeks, ticket sales have not yet reached 50 percent.
In this regard, he said the SIC is in discussions with the state government to reduce the entertainment tax in an effort to increase the number of ticket sales.

“Last year we discussed with the Menteri Besar of Selangor but so far we have not received any final word yet. Before this we got an exemption until last year, but this year there is no exemption.
“So if the tax imposed can be reduced, we expect ticket sales to move faster. For those who have already bought tickets, SIC will make a refund to them,” he said.
He informed that this year’s ticket sales start from as low as RM90 to more than RM500.
“Actually, the price is much different from the previous edition which started at RM40 after the state government gave an exemption for the entertainment tax,” he said.
Azhan Shafriman at the same time is optimistic that the race at the SIC will still be lively after two years of organizing in this country were canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
— BERNAMA