Alif Satar’s Ultra-Rare Petronas FP1 Motorcycle Goes Viral Online

The Malaysian entertainer showcases one of the rarest road-legal superbikes ever built, reigniting interest in a forgotten chapter of local motorsport history.

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Malaysian singer, actor and television host Alif Satar has sent social media into a frenzy after sharing photos of his motorcycle collection, placing the spotlight firmly on an ultra-rare Petronas FP1 besides a Ducati Sport Classic 1000. 

“A piece of Malaysian history. A true unicorn icon,” Alif wrote on his personal social media account, a caption that quickly resonated with motorsport fans and collectors alike. The post has since gone viral, with many praising the FP1 as one of the most iconic yet overlooked motorcycles ever linked to Malaysia.

The Petronas FP1 is a road-legal homologation superbike, with only 150 units produced worldwide. Of these, 75 units were built by MSX in the United Kingdom, while the remaining 75 were assembled by Modenas in Malaysia, making it one of the rarest production motorcycles ever associated with the country.

At its heart is an 899.5cc inline-triple, liquid-cooled DOHC engine, producing approximately 127.4 bhp at 10,000 rpm and 92 Nm of torque at 9,700 rpm, with approximate top speed over 270 km/h (168 mph). Developed in the early 2000s, the FP1 was created by Petronas in collaboration with the Foggy Petronas Racing team to compete in the World Superbike Championship (WSBK).

The project originally began as an ambitious attempt by Petronas to enter MotoGP, but the focus later shifted to WorldSBK. With input from legendary rider Carl Fogarty and technical assistance from the Sauber Formula 1 team, the Foggy-Petronas FP1 was born.

However, timing proved cruel. Although the FP1 featured a fire-breathing inline-three engine, WorldSBK regulations at the time forced the displacement to be reduced to 899cc. When rules changed in 2003 to allow 1000cc engines, the FP1 suddenly found itself at a disadvantage. Despite being raced by top riders such as Troy Corser and Chris Walker, the bike never achieved the success its engineering promised.

Interest in the FP1 has resurfaced in recent years. The bike made a rare public appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2025, reminding fans of its striking design and unique place in motorsport history.

The mystique deepened further back in 2018, when UK-based restoration firm Lazante Motorsports revealed it had acquired 60 Foggy-Petronas FP1 units. The firm has since been restoring the bikes using new-old-stock components and repainting them in their original aqua green livery, returning each machine to running condition.

They are expected to go on sale once completed. Prices are said to start from around RM132,250, though values are widely expected to climb significantly due to the FP1’s rarity and collector appeal.

With Alif Satar’s viral post bringing the FP1 back into the public eye, the legendary superbike is once again being celebrated, not just as a rare machine, but as a bold and fascinating chapter in Malaysian motorsport history.