INDIA in F1

Author: David Bodapati

  • Gaurav Gill leads after Day 1; Dean, Aditya top their classes

    Gaurav Gill leads after Day 1; Dean, Aditya top their classes

    Bengaluru, 12 March 2022: Speed maestro Gaurav Gill and co-driver Musa Sherif of Kasargod overcame mechanical problems to take a sizeable lead in the K1000 Rally, the second round of the FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship 2021 organised by Karnataka Motor Sports Club (KMSC) with MRF as associate sponsors, at Gubbi in Tumkur District, about 100 km from here. The Rally concludes on Sunday with a repeat of the four Special Stages that were run today. The fourth stage uphill section was rendered unsafe today for the second run and with many cars failing to pass the treacherous stretch the Rally was stopped twice and finally many cars were given scratch times.

    Despite suffering a turbo problem which led to a noticeable drop in pace, Delhi-based Gill enjoys a comfortable position with a 29-second lead followed by Karna Kadur along co-driver Nikhil Pai, who displayed consistent pace through the day until his Volkswagen Polo suffered a gearbox issue that could impact his performance tomorrow. Third Overall is Kollam’s Younus Ilyas with co-driver Anirudha Ranganekar of Pune who is making a comeback after 8 years. The Race Concepts team are about10 seconds behind Kadur.

    Leading the INRC-2 category is Mangaluru’s Dean Mascarenhas (Gagan Karumbaiah, Virajpet) who paced himself well for a 13-second advantage over Palakkad’s Fabid Ahmer (Sanath G) with Virajpet’s Suhem Kabeer (Jeeva Rathinam, Bengaluru) in third.

    Winner of the first round in Coimbatore, Aditya Thakur (Virender Kashyap) from Himachal is placed seventh Overall, but first in INRC-3 category where he has established a healthy lead over another Himachal pairing of Kuber Sharma and Karan Aukta. In third place is Chandigarh’s Sanampreet Sekhon (Suhan Kabeer, Kodagu).

    Early in the day, seven times National champion Gill set a hot pace and at the end of the first loop of the two Stages, had opened a comfortable lead. But in the second run, his Mahindra XUV 300 developed a turbo problem that cost him some precious time as the focus shifted to nursing the vehicle to the finish.

    “The day began well. I got into a rhythm and the pace was good as we opened up a good lead. But unfortunately, there was a small issue with the turbo gasket that led to a leak in the turbo boost. So basically, it meant we were running on two cylinders, but I decided to push anyway. In SS-3, we lost a lot of time, but in SS-4, which was very technical, I didn’t lose too much time to Younus. Anyway, we are still safe and have a lead. Tomorrow, it will be safe and fast,” said Gill.

    The SS-4 was twice interrupted after a few cars blocked the route due to crashes and mechanical failures.  

    Leg-1 Classification (Provisional):

    Overall / INRC: 1. Gaurav Gill (Delhi) / Musa Sherif (Kasargod) (48mins, 58.200secs); 2. Karna Kadur / Nikhil Pai (both Bengaluru, Arka Motorsports) (49:27.700); 3. Younus Ilyas (Kollam) / Anirudha Ranganekar (Pune) (Race Concepts) (49:37.000).

    INRC-2: 1. Dean Mascarenhas (Mangaluru) / Gagan Karumbaiah (Virajpet) (51:23.000); 2. Fabid Ahmer / Sanath G (both Palakkad) (51:36.300); 3. Suhem Kabeer (Virajpet) / Jeeva Rathinam (Bengaluru) (52:27.800).

    INRC-3: 1. Aditya Thakur / Virender Kashyap (both Himachal) (Chettinad Sporting) (52:26.300); 2. Kuber Sharma / Karan Aukta (both Himachal) (54:04.800); 3. Sanampreet Sekhon (Chandigarh) / Suhan Kabeer (Kodagu) (54:49.600).

    INRC-4: 1. Mujeeb Rahman (Kasargod) / Ravinder Kumar (Bengaluru) (56:48.960); 2. Vaibhav Marathe (Goa) / Harsha Vardhana SN (Bengaluru) (58:05.400); 3. Shivani Parmar / Vani Parmar (both Mumbai) (1hr:01:19.200).

    FMSCI Gypsy Challenge: 1. Samrat Yadav (Chandigarh) / M Chandrashekar (Bengaluru) (54:06.800); 2. Rupender Sheoran (Gurugram) / Mohit Malik (Faridabad) (58:28.600); 3. Abhishek Gowda (Chikkamgalauru) / Dheeraj Manae (Bengaluru) (58:45.700).

  • K1000 flagged off

    K1000 flagged off

    Bengaluru, March 11: The Karnataka-1000 Rally organised by Karnataka Motor Sports Club was flagged off by Karnataka Minister for Youth Empowerment and Sports Narayana Gowda, here on Friday. The 45th edition of the iconic rally that began in 1975 is the second round of the delayed FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship 2021.

    With MRF Tyres as associate sponsor, the stage-rally attracted 53 entries from all over the country in all categories. While the top class, INRC, has five entries with strong contenders Gaurav Gill and Musa Sherif, leading the pack with Karna Kadur behind them in a Volkswagen Polo 1.6, along with senior navigator Nikhil Pai. The two INRC cars will open the stages in that order followed by 2019 champion brothers Chetan Shivram and Dilip Sharan, who spearhead the INRC2 bunch, followed by current INRC2 leader, Fabid Ahmer (co-driver Sanath G) and Sahil Khanna and co-driver Harish KN.

    There are 10 INRC2 cars while the number in INRC3 reduced from 23 in the first round in Coimbatore to 19 here. INRC4 will be with 9 entries while the FMSCI Gypsy Challenge will witness 10 competitors. Five of these drivers are eligible for the Junior INRC title-fight and the number of lady drivers reduced from 10 in Coimbatore to seven here. The fastest lady driver Athira Murali has skipped the event as her co-dirver George is not well and the popular Malayalam vlogger could not find a replacement in time.

    The competitors who tasted the terrain finishing the reccee on Friday headed back for tedious drive to Bengaluru again for the ill-conceived schedule pitted the important Driver’s briefing and Ceremonial start in a star hotel in the Garden city. Ideally, the show should have been completed on Thursday in Bengaluru. That would have allowed some breathing space for the competitors. The now have the Special Stages for two days of competition near the town of Gubbi, about 100 Kms from Bengaluru on Saturday and Sunday. The first Special Stage is scheduled to start at 9:15 am on Saturday.

    At a pre-event Press Conference, seven times National champion Gaurav Gill, along with co-driver Musa Sherif who is participating in his 300th Rally, described the Special Stages after this morning’s reccee as “super-fast and technical”, a view shared by all competitors.

    “There are some fast tarmac stretches where the speeds can touch 180kmph and there are some rough and tricky bits too. So, it is important to get the right speeds. For me, the mantra is controlled aggression to maximise the points,” Gill, a three times FIA Asia Pacific Rally champion, said.

    Sherif, 50, from Kasargod, in response to felicitations on reaching a milestone of 300 rallies, said: “It started as a hobby in 1993 but soon became a full-time passion and I never thought I would do so many rallies without a break. I thank all the drivers, sponsors, crews, teammates, and my fans, for this wonderful moment. It is they who gave me these opportunities.”

    Musa Sherif, will be starting his 300th rally. Starting as a rider in 1993, he shifted to cars in 1995. These 300 include bike rallies, four-wheeler rallies and also the TSD . rallies, both in India and abroad, for an overall triple century. He read pace notes and “called” for 49 different drivers and competed in 69 international events. Some of the top drivers who he ably assisted were Gaurav Gill, Karamjit Singh and Naren Kumar. He was nominated for Khel Ratna by the federation last year. He won 35 INRC 4W rounds out of which 33 victories came with Arjuna Awardee Gaurav Gill, the longest and greatest partnership ever in the history of Indian National Rally Championship.

    Leader in the INRC-2 category after a class win in the first round at Coimbatore a fortnight back, Palakkad’s Fabid Ahmer said: “The terrain is very technical, rough and bumpy. It is a challenge to understand the car at these speeds, but I have made good pace notes with my co-driver and am looking forward to a fast rally.”

    Echoing the sentiments, Mujeeb Rehman, winner of the INRC-4 class in Coimbatore, said: “The terrain is super. I like the fast stages and as they are technically tough, co-ordination with co-driver is very important.”

    Special invitees to the press conference were two top female drivers, Dr. Shivani Pruthvi from Davangere and Pragati Gowda (Bengaluru) who recently represented India in the Formula Woman McLaren (GT) trials in England. Both concurred that the Special Stages are “fast with flowing corners”, but the terrain called for a bit of caution.

    Dr. Shivani Pruthvi:

    “First stage has fast and flowing corners while there are rough, narrow and tight corners that will challenge us in the second stage. So it is very technical and it is important to keep the basics right,” said the Doctor from Davangere, who is also competing in the Junior INRC.

    Pragathi Gowda, who just represented India in the Formula Woman selections in England for a seat in the McLaren Customer Racing drive in the GT said: “Bringing the car home will be our primary goal as the stages are quite tricky compared to Coimbatore. There are uphill and downhill sections with fast-moving corners. We are game for it and looking forward to a good rally.”

    “The iconic K1000 is the mother of all rallies as it is the only rally in India which is active from 1975. The stages for the 45th edition are a re-visit to the 2014 stages and will challenge the drivers’ skills. All safety aspects are taken care of and I wish all the drivers a safe rally,” said Praneeth Perumal, Clerk of the Course, and a veteran administrator of KMSC.

    Pragathi Gowda said: “Bringing the car home will be our primary goal as the stages are quite tricky compared to Coimbatore. There are uphill and downhill sections with fast corners. We are game for it and looking forward to a good rally.”

    About the FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship 2021The Indian National Rally Championship 2021, promoted by The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India, comprises three rounds – Rally of Coimbatore (Feb 25-27), Karnataka-1000 (March 11-13) and the South India Rally (Chennai, March 25-27). The grid is segregated into five categories based on various specifications – the INRC, INRC-2, INRC-3, INRC-4 and Junior INRC (26 years and below, and without a win). Competitors are eligible for Overall classification and also separately in their respective categories. The top 15 finishers are eligible for points ranging from 30 to 1. The five quickest on each of the two days (Leg-1 and Leg-2) and in each category receive bonus points (5 to 1) in the respective Legs provided they complete the Rally. The maximum points that can be won in each round is 40. A stand-alone sixth category, the FMSCI Gypsy Challenge, restricted to Maruti Gypsy, and not eligible for championship points or classification, completes the grid.

  • India gets FIM MiniGP Series; Bengaluru, Hyd to host six rounds

    India gets FIM MiniGP Series; Bengaluru, Hyd to host six rounds

    Bengaluru, 11 March 2022: The FIM MiniGP India Series is the newest Cup to join the FIM MiniGP World Series. India joins Australia, Austria, Indonesia, Japan and Qatar as additions for 2022, adding to the 10 Series that began in 2021, says Dorna, the MotoGP promoters.

    India joins the 10 series namely, Alpe Adria, France, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, North America, Portugal, Spain and the UK. 

    Six rounds in Bengaluru & Hyderabad

    The FIM MiniGP World Series is designed as the first step on the Road to MotoGP, aiming to create an equal platform for young riders around the world to begin their motorcycle racing careers. India is the world’s second most populous country and has a huge number of two-wheeled vehicles, meaning motorcycles already form part of the daily life of millions of people.  

    The FIM MiniGP India Series will serve an established appetite for racing, creating an economically viable and equal environment in which young riders can begin to compete, gain experience and sharpen their skills. The 2022 FIM MiniGP India Series will comprise six rounds, with competition split between Bangalore and Hyderabad. 

    As ever, the best riders will qualify for the FIM MiniGP World Final alongside the top riders from each Series, with the possibility of promotions up for grabs on the Road to MotoGP™.

  • Historic K1000 to begin 45th edition on Friday; 300th rally start for Musa Sherif

    Historic K1000 to begin 45th edition on Friday; 300th rally start for Musa Sherif

    Bengaluru, 9 March 2022: The historic Karnataka-1000 Rally, popularly known as K1000, the longest running rally in India, will see a revival of sorts this weekend when the cream of Indian rallying descends on the dirt stages near Tumkur for the second round of the delayed FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) 2021 that will begin with recce on Friday. Motorsports stalwart Musa Sherif will be entering his 300th rally as a navigator.

    The thrice postponed INRC, saw the departure of Promoters Champions Yacht Club after the Vizag round became a non-starter due to lack of police permissions. Thus, the 7-round original calendar was reduced to three after the FMSCI took upon itself to host three rounds and successfully completed the Coimbatore leg last month. However, they failed to find a sponsor for the iconic Indian Rally Nationals that acquired a National championship status in 1988. But the tyre giants, MRF chipped in once again, but the pandemic hit corporate got involved only as an Associate Sponsor. The event, which has been continuously organised by the Karnataka Motor Sports Club (KMSC), annually since 1975, save for a couple of years, was hit by the pandemic last year after it was dropped from the calendar in 2020.

    However, the 45th edition to be held from March 11 to 13, has attracted 53 entries with giants Gaurav Gill and Musa Sherif beginning as strong contenders. Musa, 50, a native of Kasargod, is knocking on the doors of a huge record as he steps into the Rally car for his personal milestone of 300 rallies, in a non-stop motor sports career of 30 years that began in 1993 as a teenager.

    Musa Sherif – all set for 300th Rally of his career. Photo: Anand Philar

    After a ceremonial flag-off in Bengaluru at the Fairfield Marriott on Friday evening, the action shifts to the Special Stages near Tumakuru, about 65 Kms from the State capital, for a two-day competition on Saturday and Sunday. The total distance of the Rally is 159.82 km of which 121.72 km forms the competitive section.

    Clerk-of-the-Course (CoC) Praneeth Perumal said: “The Karnataka Motor Sports Club welcomes all the competitors to the iconic Karnataka-1000 Rally which we are organising after a gap of two years. The response has been good, going by the 53 entries we have received.

    “Being one of the oldest rallies in India, K-1000 occupies a special place in the country’s motorsport ethos. The event was held every year without a break for over four decades before the pandemic interrupted. The Special Stages, located near Tumakuru, are fairly quick and smooth. We do hope that the competitors have a safe, successful and enjoyable run this weekend.”

    Fabid Ahmer, who lost the 2019 championship by a whisker, losing in road penalties, will be gunning to challenge JK Tyre’s big brother and Guru Gaurav Gill, at K1000.

    The FMSCI INRC 2021 comprises of three rounds – Rally of Coimbatore (Feb 25-27), Karnataka-1000 (March 11-13) and the South India Rally (Chennai, March 25-27).

    With barely a fortnight’s turnaround time between the first round in Coimbatore and the Karnataka-1000, the service crews of the competitors have been working overtime to get the cars in shape after many of them received a pounding in the first round which saw 33 retirements across all categories, including seven times National champion Gaurav Gill (co-driver Musa Sherif).

    Delhi-based Gill, 40, the triple FIA Asia-Pacific Rally champion and Arjuna Award winner, will be keen to add a seventh K-1000 crown after last winning it in 2017.

    Apart from favourite Gill, the performance of Coimbatore round winner (Overall and INRC-3), Aditya Thakur (co-driver Virender Kashyap) from Himachal, will be closely watched. The 32-year old farmer from Rasol showed good pace to pick up 38 of the maximum 40 points and heads the Overall leaderboard, nine clear of second-placed Fabid Ahmer (G Sanath) from Palakkad, with Gurugram’s Sahil Khanna (KN Harish, Bengaluru), a further three points adrift in third.

    Mujeeb Rehman, who was briefly in Yellow Colours after his class win in Itanagar last year, is back in favourite Greens, leading the INRC 4 class.

    The leaders in other categories of the National championship, promoted by the FMSCI, after Round-1 are: Fabid Ahmer (co-driver G Sanath) in INRC-2; Aditya Thakur (Virender Kashyap) in Overall and INRC-3; Kasargod’s Mujeeb Rehman (co-driver Ravindra Kumar, Bengaluru)) in INRC-4; Coimbatore’s Raghuram Saminathan (Bharat Sargur, Bengaluru) in Junior INRC.

    Gurugram’s Rupender Sheoran (Mohit Malik, Faridabad) heads the non-championship FMSCI Gypsy Challenge category.

    About the FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship 2021

    The Indian National Rally Championship 2021, promoted by The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India is segregated into five categories based on various specifications, the INRC, INRC-2, INRC-3, INRC-4 and Junior INRC (26 years and below, and without a win).

    Competitors are eligible for Overall classification and also separately in their respective categories. The top-15 finishers are eligible for points ranging from 30 to 1. The five quickest on each of the two days (Leg-1 and Leg-2) and in each category receive bonus points (5 points for 1st…, 4 for 2nd, 3 for 3rd, 2 for 4th and 1 for 5th) in the respective Legs only if they complete the Rally and bring the car home (Parc Ferme). The maximum points that can be won in each round is 40. A stand-alone sixth category, the FMSCI Gypsy Challenge, restricted to Maruti Gypsy, completes the grid. The gypsy drivers are not eligible for championship points or classification.

  • Hero signs drag champ Hemanth Muddappa as brand ambassador

    Hero signs drag champ Hemanth Muddappa as brand ambassador

    Bengaluru, 8 March 2022: Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, has signed nine-time national drag racing champion Hemanth Muddappa as a Brand Ambassador for the Hero Xtreme 160R.

    Hemanth will promote the drag racing culture in India with Hero MotoCorp’s on-going XDrags, a pan India drag racing experiential event organised on the Hero Xtreme 160R. Hero MotoCorp and Hemanth have already hosted 16 XDrags events so far, said a press release received here on Tuesday.

    Bengaluru-based Hemanth has been breaking records, including his own, in the drag racing circuit. Earlier this month, he bagged his fifth consecutive title at the MMSC FMSCI Indian National Drag Racing Championship 2021.

    Hemanth won two golds in the above 1050cc (Super Sport) and 851-1050cc (Super Sport) categories and races across three classes – 851-1050cc, 1050cc and above, and foreign open unrestricted. He is the only Indian Drag Racer to win in two classes and holds the record for the fastest time across drag strips in India.

    From being told by doctors that he will hardly be able to walk after meeting with a life-threatening accident to clinching the title of India’s Fastest Racer, Muddappa’s race with his life has been inspirational and thrilling as well.

    Ranjivjit Singh, Chief Growth Officer, Hero MotoCorp said, “We are delighted to welcome Hemanth as a new addition to our team. We heartily congratulate him for his recent wins. Muddappa’s presence bolsters our commitment to the advancement of drag racing culture in India, which hasn’t been fully explored so far. Drag racing is the shortest and quickest form of motorsports and the Hero Xtreme 160R, the fastest to 0-60 km/h in its segment, is a perfect fit for this racing format.”

    Hemanth Muddappa, Rider, Hero MotoCorp said, “This is the beginning of a thrilling ride and I am elated to join the Hero family as it aims to grow the drag racing culture in India. The sport has the power to take the young Indian sportspersons to the world podium. Hero MotoCorp is continuously doing great work towards the enhancement of all motorsport. I have always admired the company from afar and now it is a privilege to represent it. I will continue to do my best to win and break records and keep the Hero flag flying high always. Go Boom!” 

  • Rugved bags a golden double; Prajwal, Jinendra sparkle

    Rugved bags a golden double; Prajwal, Jinendra sparkle

    Raipur, 7 March 2022: Rugved Barguje of TVS Racing dominated the proceedings spearheading a successful TVS romp with a golden double in the feature event while young Jinendra Sangave and upcoming Prajwal, too, bagged a brace in the MRF National Supercross Bike Racing championship which attracted a crowd of over 30,000 at the Budha Para Outdoor Stadium here on Sunday under floodlights.

    Ably organised by Chhattisgarh Motor Sports Association (CGMSA) to promote tourism and adventure, the tiny state rose to the occasion and hosted a glittering gala as the cream of Supercross talent from all over the country descended on the State capital. The Chief Minister of Chhattisgrah, Bhupesh Baghel, who arrived on a motorcycle, into the packed stadium to a standing ovation, to inaugurate the mega event and, Supercross was back with a bang after a two-year haitus due to the pandemic.

    Astride a TVS RTR 300, the 21-year Barguje, took the hole shot in both the motos and withstood immense pressure from veteran CD Jinnan of Thrussur to bag the feature event with 40 points. The under-16 and 2016 Foreign Open champion, who graduated to the top class, won the first moto comfortably to lead the TVS campaign.

    TVS Racing also bagged the prestigious Indian Experts class with Imran Pasha of Mysuru beating teammate and former National champion R Nataraj. Arun (Hassan) took the bronze to make it an all-Karnataka affair. Jinendra Sangave, 12, from Kolhapur displayed his wares with superb bike control to not only win both the Junior SX1 but punched about his weight, getting a podium in the Foreign Open SX2 class.

    Bengaluru’s Prajval V, son of former bike champion TK Viswanath, got his golden double in the SX2, the Foreign Open class. Meanwhile, Akshat Hupale of Pune, making his debut in a major event, also claimed two gold in the Junior SX2 while Arun from Hassan, Banteiling (Shillong) and Kamendra Saho (Raipur) won their classes.

    Russian Freestyle Motocross experts and stunt riders thrilled the spectators with amazing acrobatics and super stunts jumping over 50 feet in the sky.

    Secretary, Chhattisgarh Motor Sports Association, Umesh Bansi said: “It is the endeavour of CGMSA to promote motorsports and, Supercross with freestyle jumps fitted the bill. Thanks to the support from the government, the event became a roaring success promoting tourism and adventure. We thank the Chief Minister, Tourism Department, MRF and all the riders and teams as Raipur establishes itself in the motorsports map of India.”

    “Indian motorsports has not seen an event of this magnitude. It was meticulously organised and the we are having Supercross in an outdoor stadium after many years. The huge crowds and the enormous support from the government, made it a huge success,” Shyam Kothari, a past legend The 7-time National champion is the brain behind the Supercross championships in India.

    Provisional Results: Class 1 – SX Foreign Open Class (2 motos): 1. Rigved Burguje (TVS Racing, Pune) 40 points; 2. CD Jinnan (TVS Racing, Thrissur) 34; 3.  Prajwal V (Privateer, Bengaluru) 28.

    Class 2 – Novice  Group C (1 Moto): 1. Banteilang Jerwa (TVS Racing, Shillong) 20; 2. Sachin D (TVS Racing, Bengaluru) 17; 3. Anthony L (Pvt. Shillong) 15.

    Class 3 – Junior SX2 (2 motos): 1. Akshat Hupale (Pune) 40; 2. Dev Agastya (Bengaluru) 28; 2. Yash Shinde (Pune) 28;  2. Aleena Shaikh (Bengaluru) 28 (All 3 tied on 28points).

    Class 4 – Local Class Group B: 1. Kamendra Saho 20; 2. Premnath Yadav 17; Praveen Yadav 15 (All Raipur).

    Class 5 – INDIAN EXPERTS Class C (1 moto): 1. Imran Pasha (TVS Racing, Mysore) 20; 2. R Nataraj (TVS Racing, Bengaluru) 17; 3. Arun (Hassan) 15.

    Class 6 – Private Experts Group C (1 moto): 1. Arun (Hassan) 20; 2. Jayden WN (Shillong) 17; 3. Darren DK (Shillong) 15.

    Class 7 – SX2 FOREIGN OPEN Class Group A (2 motos): 1. Prajwal V (Bengaluru) 40; 2. Jinendra Sangave (Kolhapur) 32; 3. Jatin Jain (Nagpur) 28.

    Class 8 – Junior SX1 (2 Motos): 1. Jinendra Sangave (Pvt. Kolhapur) 40; 2. Jayden WN (Pvt. Shillong) 34; 3. Mangal Patidar (Indore) 28.

  • Bastianini, the beast, delivers a masterclass: MotoGP season opener

    Bastianini, the beast, delivers a masterclass: MotoGP season opener

    Sunday, 06 March 2022:There was history on the table in the first Grand Prix of the season, and Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP) stepped up to the plate. The ‘Beast’ delivered a masterclass in the Grand Prix of Qatar to claim an emotional victory under the lights, which he dedicated to the late Fausto Gresini. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) produced a terrific ride to seal P2 and KTM’s best at the track by some margin, the South African ultimately just 0.3s away from the win. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team), after leading the way for much of the race, completed the podium on the opening night, taking his second rostrum with Honda. And the headlines didn’t stop there.

    As the lights went out and the curtain went up on the season, polesitter Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) got an uncharacteristically poor start, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) grabbed the holeshot from the outside of the front row and his teammate Pol Espargaro then shot past into the lead. Brad Binder made a great start to go P3 early doors, with Bastianini slotting into P4. World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was eighth battling with Martin, and just up the road, 2020 World Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was making rapid gains. Francesco Bagnaia and Ducati Lenovo Team teammate Jack Miller didn’t get away well, however, and both were outside the top ten.

    Four laps in, it was as you were. Pol Espargaro led Marc Marquez, Brad Binder, Mir, Bastianini, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) and Martin. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) picked off Quartararo on the front straight for P8. Pecco recovered to P10, the Italian sitting behind Quartararo, and the top 10 were all line astern – the riders not yet on the limit, tyre consumption on their minds.

    After going in hot on Lap 2 at Turn 1, Marc Marquez was then wide again on Lap 6 to allow Brad Binder into P2. On the next lap, the eight-time World Champion lost out to Bastianini into the first corner too, with Aleix Espargaro and Mir scrapping away for P5 and P6. Miller then pulled into pitlane at the end of Lap 7 to retire from the race, a technical issue seeing his season off to a disappointing start.

    Meanwhile, the race had settled down at the front and the pace was starting to pick up between the leaders. Needing to make up time, Bagnaia was trying to get up the inside of Martin at Turn 1 on Lap 12, and drama was about to unfold. The Italian tucked the front, leaving Martin with nowhere to go and the Ducati duo both crashing out of contention, thankfully both riders ok but compounding a difficult evening for the Borgo Panigale factory with Miller, Pecco, Martin, and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), the latter crashing out of points contention, out of the Qatar GP.

    Back at the front, Pol Espargaro was a second clear of Brad Binder with 10 laps to go. Second place then changed though as Bastianini, flying the flag for Ducati, picked off the KTM on the run into Turn 1. The Beast then started chipping away at Pol Espargaro’s lead, and with seven laps to go it was back down to under a second. It was 0.6s at the beginning of Lap 17 of 22, and just 0.189s on Lap 18. Bastianini set the fastest lap of the race to slash Pol Espargaro’s advantage, as Aleix Espargaro got the better of Marc Marquez for P4 and homed in.

    With four laps to go, Bastianini blasted past Pol Espargaro on the straight to take the lead, and to compound the problem for the Repsol Honda, the number 44 was then in too hot at Turn 1. That allowed Brad Binder to carve past into second as the HRC rider went from P1 to P3 in a matter of seconds, leaving Bastianini with a 1.4s lead with three to go.

    Two to go and it was 1.2s for Bastianini over Binder, Pol Espargaro was 0.7s off the KTM, and Aleix Espargaro was threatening his younger brother for the final podium spot – Pol on the soft rear, Aleix on the medium.

    Onto the last lap. Bastianini lost another tenth to Binder on the penultimate lap, and the gap was 1.1s. It was down to as little as 0.6s heading into the final sector too, but the Beast held on. The Italian powered his GP21 out the final corner and took an incredible, emotional victory under the lights in Qatar, the perfect tribute to the late, great Fausto Gresini and a history-making first premier class win.

    Brad Binder’s second place was a warning shot for their rivals after a more muted pre-season on the timesheets for KTM, and the South African, as he so often does, pulled a rabbit out the hat on Sunday. Pol Espargaro, after leading for so long, held onto a fantastic podium too – his second with HRC.

    Aleix Espargaro was 0.8s away from the rostrum in the end but becomes the Aprilia rider to finish closest to victory – 2.2s. Marc Marquez’s return to action in Qatar for the first time since 2019 was celebrated with a solid P5, a good opening weekend for the eight-time Champion. It was, however, the first time the number 93 has finished a MotoGP™ race at Lusail and not come home as top Honda.

    The two Suzukis, meanwhile, finished a low key sixth and seventh – Mir leading teammate Rins by 3.9s and both looking for more although still showing off some serious top speed gains from the Hamamatsu factory.

    So where are the Yamahas? Quartararo looked set to take home P8 but Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing), on the run to the line, demoted the reigning Champion to P9. A disappointing start to El Diablo’s season, and a surprise for the factory who took two wins last season in Qatar with Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) coming home in P11.

    Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) split the Yamahas in P10, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) a lonely 12th. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) edged out Andrea Dovizioso (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team) in P13 and P14.

    The fight for the final points went down to the wire as reigning Moto2™ World Champion Remy Gardner (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) won the rookie battle for 15th, despite still struggling with a wrist broken in pre-season. Darryn Binder (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team) gave it one final lap push but the South African was just 0.012s away from a debut premier class point in the end, nevertheless impressing as second rookie as he moves from Moto3™ to MotoGP™.

    Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Raul Fernandez (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) leave Round 1 empty handed, and Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) crashed out unhurt, separately, at Turn 1.

    And that’s all she wrote in the season opener. What a night it was under the lights in Qatar, with a new MotoGP™ race winner in the field. Surprises and drama aplenty, and The Beast delivered a beauty. Indonesia is next up – bring it on as Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit welcomes the paddock back to Lombok.
  • Hero MotoSports begins well with all-3 riders in top-6

    Hero MotoSports begins well with all-3 riders in top-6

    Yas Marina, 5 March 2022: Hero MotoSports Team Rally’s Franco Caimi led the Indian team’s challenge taking a creditable fourth place followed by his teammates in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (ADDC) 2022, the second round of the FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship  here on Saturday.

    Following the Dakar Rally earlier this year with a first-ever Dakar stage win, the team is back in action with renewed focus.

    At Abu Dhabi, the team is represented by riders Joaquim Rodrigues and Franco Caimi, with Ross Branch becoming the third rider. Competing in the Rally GP class, the three riders Caimi, Branch and JRod finished the Prologue stage in the 4th, 5th and 6th positions respectively, making a dominant entry into the five-day race.

    After completing the administrative checks and technical scrutiny on March 4, the riders took to the start line for the Prologue on Saturday. A short 2-km sprint, starting from the Yas Marina Circuit, determined the start order for Stage 1.

    ADDC 2022 is also the debut race for Ross Branch a.k.a the Kalahari Ferrari, in Hero MotoSports colors. A well-known top talent in the Rally-Raid circuits, Branch is expected to enhance the overall outlook, performance, and competitiveness of the 6-year-old young team. JRod, who won a stage at the Dakar Rally 2022 is currently at his peak performance, and Franco Caimi makes a comeback after his unfortunate injury from before the Dakar.

    The first official stage of the ADDC 2022 is due on Sunday and this will take the riders on a 262-km special in the sands of Arabia.  The team will start from the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, and end the day in the desert, at Hameem-Qasr Al Sarab.

    Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager, Hero MotoSports Team Rally:

    “We are back again at Abu Dhabi, not long after the race here in last November. ADDC is now the second race of the year according to the calendar of the new World Rally-Raid Championship. We had a very productive week here in training and preparations with our three riders – Franco Caimi, Joaquim Rodrigues, and the new entry to the team, Ross Branch. The presence of Ross with us reinforces our position as a top rally team. We’re also much happy about Franco’s recovery and return to the team. We are still waiting for Sebastian Buhler to recover completely from his crash at ADDC last year.

    All the big names in the Rally GP class and the big teams are here at the start of ADDC, and we’re eager to get on the track for this exciting race. Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is also the only race in the world that feature 100% sand and dunes. I hope we will have a good end to the race, and finish safe and healthy. We are privileged and glad that we can enjoy the sport we dearly love. Our thoughts go out to people in other parts of the world who are going through brutally difficult times, and we wish things will get better soon.”

    Joaquim Rodrigues:

    “The prologue here at Abu Dhabi was short, but a good start to the testing conditions that start tomorrow. We have been working hard, the bikes are running well, and I am feeling good. So, looking forward to a good rally.”

    Franco Caimi:

    “I’m super happy to be back with the team and racing once again. The prologue today was fun, and I really enjoyed being back on my Hero Rally 450. It was definitely a good first contact before the show that starts tomorrow, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the race.”

    Ross Branch:

    “It was really fun to be back on the track today! It was just 2 kms so it wasn’t long enough to make good time, but I still enjoyed it and felt great to ride my new bike. I am really excited to be a part of Hero MotoSports Team Rally, and am very happy to have started my first race with the team. I think we have prepared well, and I can’t wait for stage 1!

    Provisional Rankings – Qualifying Stage (Rally GP Class)

    1.           Matthias Walkner                     Red Bull KTM Factory Team                 20m 16s

    2.           Toby Price                                   Red Bull KTM Factory Team                 + 8s

    3.           Kevin Benavides                        Red Bull KTM Factory Team                 + 40s

    4.           Franco Caimi                            Hero MotoSports Team Rally   + 40s

    5.           Ross Branch                              Hero MotoSports Team Rally   + 40s

    6.           Joaquim Rodrigues               Hero MotoSports Team Rally   + 48s

  • Rins heads Marc Marquez by just 0.035 as 2022 blasts out the blocks in Qatar

    Rins heads Marc Marquez by just 0.035 as 2022 blasts out the blocks in Qatar

    The eight-time World Champion puts the Honda amongst the Suzukis on Day 1 in the desert

    Qatar, 4 March 2022: More Suzuki power? Day 1 certainly suggests so. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) topped the timesheets on the first day of 2022 as MotoGP™ returned to blistering action at the Grand Prix of Qatar, with teammate and 2020 Champion Joan Mir in third. Splitting the Hamamatsu assault on the top was eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) as the number 93 missed out on first by just 0.035.

    FP1
    Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder pipped Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) to the first MotoGP™ P1 of the season, lunging to the top with a 1:54.851. It was close, however, with 0.056 between the two. Rins rounded out the top three.

    Pol Espargaro and Repsol Honda Team teammate Marc Marquez made it three Hondas in the top five to kick off the season too, with just 0.2s splitting the fastest quintet.

    Darryn Binder (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team) encountered an early issue when his YZR-M1’s belly pan was loose, but nothing came of it for the South African rookie. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) crashed unhurt with just over 15 minutes to go at Turn 3.

    Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), the runner-up in 2021, then crashed at Turn 6 with five minutes to go – rider ok. The front of the Italian’s GP22 washed away early in the braking zone in an early mistake for Pecco in 2022 as he ended FP1 in P18.
    FP2
    FP2 saw the floodlights at Lusail International Circuit beaming and the premier class got straight to work. The lap times soon fell, and Marc Marquez sat top before Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) took over.

    The riders got some valuable laps under their belts at the same time the race is going to be at on Sunday, but with 20 minutes to go, the time attacks started. Pol Espargaro climbed to the summit, then went even faster on his second flying lap on the soft tyres, the gap up to 0.4. A whole heap of rapid laps were about to appear, however.

    The first 1:53 came in from Mir with 13 minutes to go. That was swiftly beaten by Marc Marquez, the new benchmark a 1:53.711, but that didn’t stand as the fastest for long either – and it was Rins who struck back to go 0.174 clear. Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) then closed the gap with two minutes to go, before Mir made it a Suzuki 1-2. It still wasn’t done, however, as Marc Marquez returned to P1 with a minute left on the clock.

    Again, though, Rins struck back and at the end of play, the Suzuki man is the rider to beat heading into Day 2.

    Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) crashed unhurt at Turn 1, and Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) crashed twice in quick succession in FP2, once at Turn 6 and then on the next lap at Turn 10 – rider ok.

    Provisional Q2 places
    Behind Rins, Marc Marquez and Mir, Martin ends the day in P4 and as both top Independent Team rider and Ducati. For the most part, it had been a quiet day for the Borgo Panigale factory before the 2021 Rookie of the Year struck.

    The fastest Yamaha was Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) as a late time saw the Italian leap up the timesheets, with Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) sixth ahead of qualifying day in the desert. Aleix Espargaro grabbed P7 overall, despite nearly getting in a bit of a tangle with teammate Maverick Viñales on his final flying effort.

    Reigning World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) is four tenths off the pace in P8, just ahead of Pol Espargaro in ninth and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) in tenth – the Italian sneaking into the top 10 after a crash at Turn 6 in FP1 dampened his first session.

    0.8s splits the top 15 right down to FP1 pacesetter Brad Binder, and the riders outside the top 10 now face an uphill battle to try and earn an automatic Q2 place in the warmer, daytime conditions… see who can hit back on Saturday with FP3 at 13:15 (GMT +3), before qualifying for the first race of the season kicks off at 18:00.
    FRIDAY: TOP 3: 1 Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) – Suzuki – 1’53.432
    2 Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) – Honda – +0.035
    3 Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) – Suzuki – +0.147
  • Pragathi Gowda, Deepa, Anushriya land in England for McLaren Formula Woman finals

    Pragathi Gowda, Deepa, Anushriya land in England for McLaren Formula Woman finals

    Bengaluru, 1 March 2022: Pragati Gowda, the talented youngster from Bengaluru, rushed back from the Rally of Coimbatore on Sunday night and took a flight to England Monday morning, to take part in the Global Finals selection and was at the Nottingham Raceway, for the Formula Women McLaren trials on Wednesday. The other two to represent India are Deepa S John from Kerala and Anushriya Gulati, a racing champ from Uttarakhand.

    “I am super excited and nervous at the same time. I am trying to adapt to the weather here. The weather is too chilling. I am looking forward to a new adventure in my life and tomorrow is going to be very special as it is the selection day. Just now, I finished my practice and came back. Trying to sort out certain things but yes, it is all going good and I am looking forward to a great run tomorrow,” the 19-year MBA graduate, who made a winning INRC debut in Itanagar in 2020 December, told INDIAinF1.com through an exclusive voice file over WhatsApp.

    Pragathi Gowda, left, and Deepa John are well-prepared for the English weather but we missed Anushriya Gulati at the McLaren Global Finals venue on Tuesday. INDIAinF1 photo

    The attacking speedster, found the going tough in Coimbatore due to mechanical issues with a fan failure on Day 1, and as they were speeding to make up time on Sunday, their drive shaft broke in Special Stage (SS) 6, which halted their progress. Along with navigator, Trisha Jagannath, she returned to Bengaluru on Sunday itself, and took the Monday morning flight.

    “I just finished practice at another circuit and I am too excited right now. It is really cold here and getting adapted to this weather is tricky, but fun. It is a new learning experience for me but it is also thrilling to be here and am looking forward to the practice session, qualifier and selection race tomorrow morning. Driving in this biting cold and representing India in itself is a wonderful feeling and I am eager to have a go,” said Deepa John, who beat a bevy of biggies in Vadodara last November. The automobile engineer by profession came first among women’s category and third in expert category during India trials.

    Deepa John, is a gifted fresher from Thiruvananthapuram, a find at the India Formula Women selections. On the other hand, Anushriya Gulati, despite racing only for a couple of years both at the Madras Race Track and Kari Speedway is both a biker and an open-wheel Formula racer. She was also credited with a ride to the Khardung La pass up the mountains and when she moved to racing four-wheeler, she won the Rookie title in the JK Tyre National Championship beating seniors like Mira Erda. These two along with Pragathi, won the India trials. The Formula India Women selections were conducted in November 2021 at the Erda Speedway in Vadodara. Another Indian, Manisha Kelkar, will also take part in the Global Finals but not as an Indian contestant as she directly chose to come to the UK and successfully finished her assessment.

    Manisha Khelkar file photo of Dec 2021

    The trio will represent India at the finals to stand a chance to be a McLaren Customer Racing Driver. The three drivers came out flying among 23 contestants who were assessed over five parameters namely, driving ability, karting craft, physical fitness, media skills, and a general written test.

    The Global finals will witness about 70 participants who would be competing against each other on March 2 and 3 at the PF1 International circuit which is the largest outdoor karting circuit in UK. Then 15 shortlisted drivers will head to Croft Circuit on March 3 for a further round of finals. Then the top 10 participants will head to Sweden for a final shootout on a different terrain, that is Ice. The final six will have two reserve drivers while the top four will get a drive in the British GT championship where McLaren will have two cars, with two drivers each.

    Fans who wish to send their wishes to the three Formula India Women can comment here and we will forward them to the star drivers.