In grades-obsessed Singapore, it is uncommon for parents to support their children's non-academic pursuits. This family is determined to walk a different path.
Since April 2022, Muhammad Fazlin Abdul Rahim and his family have been travelling from Singapore to Johor, Malaysia, every weekend so his sons Ian Fareez Muhammad Fazlin, 13, and Iman Faiq Muhammad Fazlin, 11, can train for motocross.
From left, Ian, his riding buddy Seth Loh, 14, and Iman watch motocross races on YouTube before going to bed on Friday, June 30, 2023, at Ian's grandparents' house in Johor. Motocross is a sport where riders compete on off-road tracks with obstacles using dirt bikes.
Brother Iman, left, and sister Iris Sayra Muhammad Fazlin, 12, play with a fidget spinner while doing homework in the living room before leaving for Johor on Friday, June 30, 2023, at their flat in Singapore. All three siblings are allowed to use electronic gadgets such as phones and laptops only on weekends.
Ian, second from left, secures tent poles to the trailer which will carry their bikes and equipment to the dirt track on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at his grandparents' house in Johor. Ian rides in the 85cc class for riders aged 13 to 16, while Iman, second from right, races in the 65cc class for riders aged nine to 12.
From left, Iman, his riding buddies Callum Lim and Seth, and Ian, walk the track before practice on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the Medini track in Johor. To keep pace with their competitors, the boys train on Saturdays and Sundays. Most of the other Singaporean riders spend only a day in Malaysia. “It’s all about mileage,” Muhammad Fazlin Abdul Rahim said. “I told my wife that we have to commit to training twice a week.”
Ian hits a jump during practice on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the Medini track in Johor. He was wearing a knee guard after a crash following a jump in June that resulted in a sprained ligament in his left knee.
Blisters and calluses on Ian's palms after training on Sunday, July 2, 2025, at the Medini track in Johor. Ian said he feels the pressure to excel because he knows how much his parents have invested in them. “I try to make my parents proud, so they don’t feel like they’re wasting their money.” Motocross is not a cheap sport – buying dirt bikes, bike parts and petrol all add up. To fund the hobby, Muhammad Fazlin Abdul Rahim works long hours as a safety manager and a workplace safety consultant. His wife Nasuha Slamat, who quit her job as a logistics executive four months ago, is looking for a new job.
Muhammad Fazlin Abdul Rahim, front right, teaches Iman, front left, how to wash his dirt bike caked in mud after a training session on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at Iman's grandparents' house in Johor. Mr Fazlin, who started working life with an N-Level certificate, said he hopes his children graduate with a bachelor’s degree. He is also working on getting a degree. “I’ve always told them that whatever they do, do it well. It’s not just about results. It’s about building character,” he added.
Muhammad Nurhaziq Norzahari Saiful, 15, swinging teammate Iman, front, around on Sunday, July 2, 2025, at motorcycle workshop PGM Tech 23 in Johor. Iman is eyeing a career in motocross and wants to race at different tracks around the world.
Nasuha Slamat and daughter Iris rest on Sunday, July 2, 2025, at motorcycle workshop PGM Tech 23 in Johor. In May 2023, the boys joined the newly formed PGM Tech 23 Racing – a motocross team with Singaporean and Malaysian riders – so their bikes needed new sponsor decals.
Ian, centre, watches a race on Friday, July 7, 2025, at the Malaysian Motocross Championship (MMC) in Penang, Malaysia. On July 6, the family flew to Penang for the opening leg of the MMC – the boys’ first race overseas as part of a team. Established in 2022, the championship had more than 15 participating teams in 2023 with over 100 competitors from countries including Malaysia and Thailand.
Singaporean rider Mohammad Romano Aziz (front, with cap), Nasuha Slamat (far right) and friends cheer for Iman at the 65cc class moto two race on Sunday, July 9, 2025, at the MMC in Penang. They were among hundreds of spectators perched on the edge of a hillside around the track perimeter despite a drizzle. Nasuha Slamat said: “Sometimes when they take the jumps, I will gasp.”
Iman races in the 65cc class moto one race on Saturday, July 8, 2025, at the MMC in Penang. Iman beat 10 riders to come in sixth, while Ian came in 13th in a field of 22 riders after the two-day competition. A proud Muhammad Fazlin Abdul Rahim told his sons: “You guys did good.”
Iman listens to Muhammad Fazlin Abdul Rahim's pep talk as Nasuha Slamat looks on after practice on Friday, July 7, 2025, at the team's tent in Penang. Iman, who wanted to mark his debut with a podium finish, was disappointed but was comforted by his mother, who encouraged him to try to do better in the next one.
Despite the disappointment, Iman is already looking forward to taking on faster opponents. "It's not fun to win against people who are slow," Iman said.
From left, Nasuha Slamat tells Iman and Iris to behave on Sunday, July 9, 2025, at the airport in Penang. The family rushed to the airport after the competition ended because the children had school the next day.
Iris, left, rushes to complete her assignments on the flight on Sunday, July 9, 2025. The 12-year-old was months away from taking the Primary School Leaving Examination, a national examination that determines which secondary school a student may be admitted to.
Full story at https://str.sg/motocross
