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Author: David Bodapati
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Advait Deodhar, the man on a mission, wants to redeem himself in 2022
By Advait Deodhar
Mumbai, 2 Nov 2021: I went into the weekend with a strong chance of finishing 3rd overall in the Championship. We were off to a great start, finishing Practice in P3. However, it went downhill straight after.
Qualifying : Due to a clutch issue, I didn’t manage to put in a lap with full power. I had to bring the car into the pits after 4 troubled laps.
Race 1 : After having to start down in 13th, I was rapidly making may way through the field with some overtaking moves i’m extremely proud of!
However, mid-way through the race, after overtaking (on the outside with two wheels on the grass) my main rival for P3 in the Championship, I engaged a wrong gear, threw the car into a dramatic spin and had to retire the car . I am still unsure if it was my fault or a mechanical issue for which the wrong gear was selected.Race 2 : I was off to another lightning start and made some brave overtaking moves. However, I had a clutch issue once again from lap 3 and had to retire the car.
End of the most difficult racing season I’ve ever had.
It’s been a year full of unfortunate events at the circuit and in my personal life.I had 5 DNFs out of 12 races in which 2 of them were at the final where each race is double points.
Mechanical issues and incidents on track were out of my control.There were some big positives though, with 2 pole positions, 1 win and 2 more podiums. Proof of what what could have been this year…!
Overall, it’s been a very difficult year which I can only learn from but also one which I hope to forget.
Big thanks to everyone that’s been part of it.
I’m a man on a mission and want my redemption next year!
With a strong package, I have no doubt we will be Championship
contenders in 2022. -
Moto2: Gardner on the edge of glory
As we return to the Algarve, the Championship is on the line for the Australian as he heads in 18 points up
Algarve, 2 Nov 2021: During the Moto2 race the Emilia-Romagna GP, the World Championship looked like it was boiling up to get closer than ever. But in one dramatic moment the landscape changed again, with Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) crashing out the lead and losing a key chance to cut the gap as teammate and Championship leader Remy Gardner suffered a tougher race in the latter half of the top ten. Instantly, what had been a tough day for the Australian then became his own chance to strike, and the nine points for seventh place saw his lead double in the blink of an eye.
Now 18 points clear, Gardner has a shot at the crown on the Algarve. He needs to ends the race more than 25 clear to wrap up the crown, so the easiest way is to win the race and his teammate not finish second. But there are plenty of possibilities, just as there are in the race… because the last time the intermediate class raced at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Raul Fernandez took his first Moto2™ win.
That bodes well, and it wasn’t as if Gardner failed to finish or suffered a mistake: he came home third. But the Australian also took his first Moto2™ win at the venue last season, so there’s good form for both. In Raul Fernandez’ favour there’s also his proven ability to bounce back when needed – after each of his other two DNFs he returned to the top step in the race after – but then in Gardner’s there’s that incontrovertible 18-point lead. He doesn’t need to stop his teammate taking victory in either of the two remaining races, so Raul Fernandez’ record at both venues isn’t cause to put everything on the line at Portimão.
Aside from the two-horse race for the title though, there are a good few more riders who’ll be lining up alongside the Red Bull KTM Ajo duo and one in particular could play a key role: Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team). The Brit arrives from his third win of the season and joked himself he was looking forward to taking on Portimão again, having earlier in the season made it as far as Turn 1. Can the Brit come out swinging and fight for another victory? He knows the track well and has shown speed there. Lowes’ teammate Augusto Fernandez may also be one to watch, the number 37 coming back from a Long Lap penalty to take second last time out, and he was in the top five on take one at the track even before he’d hammered out the kinks in his season.
Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team) will also want to finish ahead of Augusto Fernandez as they fight for fifth in the Championship, and remain in reach of Lowes in fourth, and Canet impressed at the Portuguese GP with his first Moto2™ podium in second place earlier in the year. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) is only four points behind Canet too, and he’ll want to get in the mix again after an up and down last few races, with top eights mixed with podium finishes.
Only two riders remain in the fight for the crown. Either Remy Gardner or Raul Fernandez will be the 2021 FIM Moto2 World Champion, and the Algarve GP could prove the decider. Can Gardner wrap it up? 18 points is a serious advantage, but taking more than seven points more than his teammate has become a serious challenge too. Tune in for the Moto2™ race on Sunday at the later time of 14:30 local time – and it’s now GMT.
Moto2 Championship top five:
1 Remy Gardner – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 280
2 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 262
3 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 206
4 Sam Lowes – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – 165
5 Augusto Fernandez – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – 151Acosta vs Foggia: will the Algarve stage the final showdown for the crown?
Take two for Acosta sees the scales swing in his favour, but it won’t be over till it’s over – and Foggia won’t go down without a fight
The Emilia-Romagna GP was a nail-biter for Moto3. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had his first shot at the crown and rival Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) started down in 14th, then even dropping a few more places on Lap 1. But the Italian dug deep despite the pressure, keeping his head to take victory – his third on home soil this season and second at Misano – and keep the battle raging on to the rollercoaster. There could hardly be a better place to stage another showdown either, as the paddock’s first visit to the venue this season saw the fight for the win boil down to a duel: Acosta vs Foggia.
Then, it was the Spaniard’s second win and third podium in his first three Moto3™ races, but now there’s a little more on the line as he arrives 21 points clear in a bid to become the first rookie lightweight class Champion since Loris Capirossi in 1990. And unlike Misano, where Acosta depended on Foggia’s result to be able to secure the crown, Portimão offers the Spaniard a simple equation: win the race, win the Championship. There are other combinations too of course, but a victory for Acosta in one guarantees a victory in the other regardless. Otherwise, the magic number is 26 for the rookie sensation… so just five more than Foggia.
The fact the two already duelled at the track only adds to the spectacle, and we know already there will be a spectacle. We also know, however, that there will likely be a group fight at the front for at least some of the race. Last time on the Algarve it was polesitter Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) completing the podium as he fought off the rest of the freight train, which included compatriots Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia VR46 Academy) and Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team). Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech3) took fourth as part of his pre-injury early season run of form he’s getting back to, and Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was fast throughout the weekend before crashing in the race but still rejoining to take ninth place. He also arrives fresh from second place at Misano.
Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) is also expected to be back, and his rookie teammate Izan Guevara was fast once again at Misano. Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing) will want more after having a pitlane start in the Portuguese GP, too now taking on two final chances to score big in Moto3 ahead of his move to the premier class, and teammate John McPhee will hope for a smoother weekend after suffering with illness at Emilia-Romagna.
Acosta vs Foggia has been the duel for the Championship for a few races now, and the Algarve GP could be the final showdown for the crown. Can Acosta wrap it up on the second time of asking? Or will Foggia find one final stand to take it down to Valencia? Find out at the slightly later local time of 11:20, and we’ll be racing in GMT.
Moto3 Championship top five:
1 Pedro Acosta – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM – 234
2 Dennis Foggia – Leopard Racing – Honda – 213
3 Sergio Garcia – Gaviota GASGAS Aspar – GASGAS – 168
4 Jaume Masia – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM – 155
5 Romano Fenati – Sterilgarda Max Racing Team – Husqvarna – 147 -
MotoGP ready for Round 2 vs the rollercoaster; Marquez sidelined
A second visit to the stunning Algarve venue sees plenty on the line but one key player missing as the winner of the last two races sits it out…
Algarve, 2 Nov 2021: The 2021 FIM MotoGP World Champion is decided, but there’s plenty still on the line this season. Two Grands Prix remain, and there are also the Team and Constructor crowns to be fought for. Interestingly too, the next stop is a return ticket to the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve as the paddock gears up for the Grande Premio Brembo do Algarve, so there’s already a point of comparison from this season to get a possible glimpse of what to expect. And now it won’t include the added presence of a stronger Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) as the eight-time World Champion is sidelined as a precaution, having suffered a slight concussion in training on Saturday.
An exact re-run of the Portuguese GP would probably suit newly-crowned Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) just fine though. The Frenchman dominated on our first visit, and headed a top three on the podium that mirrors the 2021 standings exactly. If there hasn’t been a shake up since then, that’s no problem at all for El Diablo – especially as the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team arrive 13 points clear in the Team standings. But Quartararo was already in his stride as the season began, something that, arguably, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) hit a little later.
The other obstacle for Bagnaia’s charge to stay with Quartararo on take one in Portugal was a rollercoaster qualifying that saw one lap chalked off for track limits and another for a Yellow Flag. That dropped him ten places behind Quartararo on the grid, and Bagnaia and Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) charged from 11th and ninth to second and third, respectively. Now, Bagnaia arrives with the last four pole positions in his pocket… so the sensible bet is against the Italian having to repeat his comeback on take two.
Mir and Suzuki, meanwhile, arrive hoping to repeat that podium but still looking for some Saturday secrets. The 2020 Champion hasn’t ever had a front row in MotoGP and despite five podiums this season, has a 2021 best of fifth and that – at the Styrian GP – is the only time he’s started on the front two rows this season. That’s a lot of extra work to do on Sunday and he also arrives on the back foot after a crash out at Misano from 18th on the grid. His performance in Portugal last time out was impressive though, and that will be a positive on the way in – as will the reappearance of Valencia on the horizon, scene of his first MotoGP™ win.
Another positive as the Hamamatsu factory aim to push back towards the very front will be the pace shown by Mir’s teammate Alex Rins in the Portuguese GP. The Spaniard ultimately crashed out, but he’d been able to stay with Quartararo until that point. Can Suzuki come out swinging and challenge again in the Algarve GP?
Ducati and Yamaha will hope not, as the Hamamatsu factory are out of the running in the Team and Constructor standings but could complicate life just ahead of them. The aforementioned 13-point lead for Monster Energy Yamaha in the Teams’ standings is a lead ahead of Ducati Lenovo Team, and Ducati have a 12-point lead in the Constructors’ over… that’s right, Yamaha. Suzuki are third in both. So there could be plenty of key players: Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), Pramac Racing’s Johann Zarco and Jorge Martin, Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama), Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Valentino Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso…
The fight for Rookie of the Year is also heating up. After Martin had taken an early lead, Bastianini is now the rider in the hot seat following another stunning podium taken in the Emilia-Romagna GP. The Italian has a five-point lead over the Spaniard with only two races to go, so it could potentially be wrapped up this weekend, although it seems likely to roll all the way on. Who will come out on top in Portugal?
Top Independent Team rider is another up for grabs this weekend, but it’s a bigger gap and advantage in favour of Zarco. He’s back into fourth overall after a DNF for Miller last time out too, and the Pramac rider has 39 points over Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini). Zarco needs to leave the Algarve GP 26 clear to wrap up the title, so he needs to lose less than 13 to the Aprilia rider.
Aleix Espargaro could also lose touch with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) this weekend in the fight for seventh and higher in the overall standings, so the number 41 will want to maximise his potential in Portugal. But Binder and KTM are also on the tails of both Marc Marquez and Honda, and Suzuki aren’t mathematically out of reach either for the Austrian factory. With Marc Marquez sidelined too, Honda’s hopes fall more to Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team), fresh from the podium, as well as Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) and Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol).
Back to KTM, the Algarve GP will also be a huge weekend for Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). The Portuguese rider has had some incredible rides this year, including that impressive win in Catalunya, but after a tougher run he’ll want to end the season on a high. He is a previous winner at Portimão after that demolition job in 2020, although he’ll more likely be aiming for a good points haul and a return to the front this time around. The number 88 was back on form at Misano too, fighting for the podium before his charge was ended by a crash. What can he bring on home turf?
The Championship is settled but there’s plenty more spectacle remaining in 2021. Tune in for the Grande Premio Brembo do Algarve at the earlier time of 13:00 (and now GMT) as the rollercoaster returns to deliver another stunner!
MotoGP Championship top five:
1 Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 267
2 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 202
3 Joan Mir – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki – 175
4 Johann Zarco* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – 152
5 Jack Miller – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 149
*Independent Team rider -
Women In Motorsports India inducts Deepa Malik
New Delhi, 29 October 2021: Women In Motorsport (WIM) India has inducted well-know achiever and Special motorsports talent Deepa Malik into the Commission on Friday.
“It’s no longer about women in power, it’s about women with horsepower. The governing body for motorsport in India; the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), instituted the Women In Motorsport (WIM) commission in January 2017.
The aim of this commission is to engage, empower, educate and support all women who want to compete. Be it at as participants behind the wheels or behind the scenes in motorsport events, women’s motorsport has grown.
Beginning at the grassroot level and moving onto the National stage and then enabling them to step up to the world stage by providing guidelines, training and license / certification in all areas of motorsport, the WIM has been doing its job diligently.
Padma Shri Deepa Malik had the honour of taking part in the National Anthem ceremony at the start of the Formula One race held at the Buddh International Circuit in 2013. She is also the first Indian to receive a rally licence from fmsci for a modified rally vehicle and she went on to receive the Khel Ratna award among many other records including a swimming feat for crossing Yamuna.
The high for the WIM was in 2019 when bike queen Aishwariya Pissay won the first place in the women’s category at the FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme) Baja World Cup and second in the juniors. Aishwarya, based in Bengaluru, is passionate about racing and even over the weekend won in Bengaluru.
Women in Motorsports, Mira Erda (F4) and Aashi Hanspal (karting) joined online from Bengaluru. A photo grab from Zoom When the Corona virus pandemic broke out in 2020, Ashi Hanspal was chosen to represent India in the Girls on Track, a global talent development programme of the FIA (Federation International de l’Automobile) Women In Motorsport (WIM).
In 2021,Dr. Sweety Purushotham, was selected, trained and certified by the FIA as a Chief Medical officer. Divya Miglani ,our first women Deputy Clerk of the Course in India, is also certified by the FIA, and trained by them as Circuit Race Director. This was in a year when there were so many restrictions across all sport in the world.
The National Championships of Racing and Rallying scene was active during the 2020 season despite pandemic. In the Women’s category of the two-wheeler MRF MMSC National Racing Championship the category was won by Ann Jennifer.
In the two-wheeler Indian National Sprint Rally Championship the winner in the Women’s category was Ryhana Bee, The two-wheeler Indian National Rally Championship winner was Aishwarya Pissay and the JK Tyre National Racing Championship was dominated in women’s section by Anushriya Gulati. She was the rookie champion in the Formula 4 LGB category.
In 2021 Zena Lani Fernandez is the first girl to participate in the JK Tyre Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup riding a 650cc bike.
The efforts of the WIM during the pandemic was to focus on training and instituting a welfare policy and sustainability programme. The WIM continued to involve women in motorsport with webinars by experts – ‘Tune into your mind and body’, ‘Emotional Intelligence’, ‘Training of Volunteers and officials’ and was invited by the FIM to host a global webinar on ‘Yogic breathing and Meditation in motorsport’.
Further, Mira Erda was invited to participate in a FIA webinar on a career in journalism and Niharika Ghorpade ,on a discussion panel on F1 by FIA WIM in 2020.
There are four dynamic women spearheading the Women’s Commission in India , Sita Raina — her father was Suresh Kumar — the chairman of the Calcutta motorsport club and founder member of the FMSCI. She was the first woman councillor on the board of FMSCI , first Chairperson of WIM and represents India on the FIA WIM board. She is also a director of The Peninsula Studios.Celebrated Para athlete Deepa Malik, Padmashri ,Arjuna Award and Khel Ratna awardee is also the chairperson of the Paralympic committee 2021 . Because of Deepa, WIM India will be inviting people with disability to train as Marshals and volunteers in motorsport.
Anita Nanjapa, eight-time national champion as co-rider represents India on the FIM WIM.
Renuka Kirpalani has National Podiums for Circuit racing and rallies. She is an Executive Editor of Video Content on a well known car network.WIM would like to Invite all girls and women who are passionate about cars, engineering and speed to come and be a part of our community, starting as young as young eight years of age. Source: WIM Press Release
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Red Bull manages to capitalise on aggressive strategy
Max Verstappen took his first win since the 2021 Dutch Grand Prix in early September as chief title rival Lewis Hamilton chased the dutchman but could only manage P2 ahead of the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez- his second consecutive podium after the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix.
London, 27 October 2021: Max Verstappen won the US Grand Prix after being chased down by Lewis Hamilton the whole race as the Briton had to settle for P2, finishing just 1.3s behind the Red Bull driver. Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez finished on the podium again to help Red Bull close the gap in the constructor’s championship as Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas could only manage P6 after starting P9, taking another new Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). Charles Leclerc crossed the line in an impressive fourth (P4) in his Ferrari ahead of McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo in P5. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz finished in P7 ahead of ex-teammate Lando Norris in P8. Japanese rookie Yuki Tsunoda finished in P9 for AlphaTauri and Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel rounded of the points paying positions.
Italian driver Antonio Giovinazzi finished in P11 ahead of Alfa Romeo teammate Kimi Raikkonen in P13, sandwiched between them was Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in P12. Williams duo of George Russell and Nicholas Latifi finished in P14 and P15 respectively as did the Haas duo of Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin in P16 and P17, albeit two laps down from the leaders. Alpine suffered a double DNF with Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso as AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly retired as well with a suspected suspension damage at the rear of the car.
Title protagonists Verstappen and Hamilton started on the front row with the 7-time world champion getting a better start, keeping his car on the inside of turn 1. As they exited the corner, Hamilton emerged in the lead with Verstappen settling in P2 ahead of teammate Perez. Behind, there was a three way fight going on for P5 between Ricciardo, Sainz and Norris.
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda during the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on October 24. Photo Jared C Tilton/Getty It was evident that the Red Bull was the superior car as Hamilton was unable to extend his lead over Verstappen as the Dutchman stayed in and around 1s behind Hamilton. Red Bull made an aggressive strategy call to undercut Hamilton by pitting Verstappen on lap 10 for a set of hard tyres. The strategy appeared to work as Hamilton finally pitted on lap 13 for hard tyres and emerged around 6s behind Verstappen. Behind them, Perez was running his own race in P3, ahead of Leclerc in P4 and Ricciardo still maintaining P5, keeping Sainz at bay.
As Hamilton started chasing Verstappen, before the Mercedes driver could get close enough, Red Bull pitted Verstappen again for a set of hard tyres on lap 29. Seemingly too early at that stage of the race. Hamilton carried on for another eight extra laps, pitting on lap 37 and emerging around 8s behind Verstappen, albeit on fresher hard tyres.
Hamilton started to chase Verstappen as his lead diminished lap by lap. With only ten laps to go Hamilton was within 3s of the Dutchman and closing in rapidly. Hamilton was hovering around 1.5s with five laps to go as Verstappen was able to defend and not let the Mercedes driver close up, making full use of the dirty air characteristics of these turbo-hybrid cars.
Verstappen held on to victory by just 1.3s ahead of Hamilton, who even with fresher tyres found it difficult to close up and get past his title rival. With this win Verstappen extended his championship lead to 12 points over Hamilton with five races to go in the 2021 season.
Red Bull had the upper hand over Mercedes throughout the weekend as they triumphed in qualifying and the race. Even when Hamilton took the lead on lap 1, Verstappen was able to stick within 1s of the Mercedes and was able to make the undercut work. With a double podium Red Bull also closed the gap in constructor’s championship to Mercedes in first place. Mercedes lacked both qualifying and race pace. Their highly optimised rear suspension which drops the car at high speed to improve straight line speed had less effect on this circuit, owing to the circuits high speed corners where downforce is required. Mercedes also have reliability issues to deal with regarding their internal combustion engine, as Bottas took his sixth of the year and there is a possibility that Hamilton might have to take one more. The next two races coming up are Mexico and Brazil, which on paper suit the Red Bull more than the Mercedes. With the wind in Red Bull’s sails, it looks like they currently hold the upper hand in the championship.
Ferrari once again had the superior pace compared to McLaren with Leclerc finishing in P4, 24s ahead of McLaren rival Ricciardo in P5. Their new power unit has played a key role in their ascendency over McLaren as the two team are separated by just 3.5 points for the fight for P3 in the constructor’s championship. McLaren did not have the pace to fight with Ferrari this weekend, themselves admitting that the Italian rivals have now got the upper hand in the battle going into the last five races of the season.
Alpine and AlphaTauri are in a close fight for P5, separated by just ten points. Alpine had a disastrous race with both cars suffering DNF’s in the grand prix, so did AlphaTauri’s Gasly. A positive to take for the team from Faenza is that rookie Tsunoda scored points to help them close up to Alpine in the constructor’s championship. Aston Martin had a dismal qualifying as neither car made it to Q3 and Vettel’s power unit penalty meant he started from back of the grid. They struggled to find the race pace as well with Vettel just managing to scrape P10 after Raikkonen spun in the late stages of the race.
Alfa Romeo once again showed improved race pace compared to qualifying pace, with Raikkonen running in the points until a mistake and spin saw him finish in P13. Giovinazzi too was on the fringes of points paying position as he finished P11. Williams once again lacked the race pace to fight for points with both cars only beating the Haas cars.
Saturday’s Qualifying results were:
P1: Max Verstappen- 33 (Red Bull) P2: Lewis Hamilton- 44 (Mercedes) P3: Sergio Perez- 11 (Red Bull) P4: Valtteri Bottas- 77 (Mercedes) P5: Charles Leclerc- 16 (Ferrari) P6: Carlos Sainz- 55 (Ferrari) P7: Daniel Ricciardo- 3 (McLaren) P8: Lando Norris- 4 (McLaren) P9: Pierre Gasly- 10 (AlphaTauri) P10: Yuki Tsunoda- 22 (AlphaTauri) P11: Esteban Ocon- 31 (Alpine) P12: Sebastian Vettel- 5 (Aston Martin) P13: Antonio Giovinazzi- 99 (Alfa Romeo) P14: Fernando Alonso- 14 (Alpine) P15: George Russell- 63 (Williams) P16: Lance Stroll- 18 (Aston Martin) P17: Nicholas Latifi- 6 (Williams) P18: Kimi Raikkonen- 7 (Alfa Romeo) P19: Mick Schumacher- 47 (Haas) P20: Nikita Mazepin- 9 (Haas) Note – Bottas drops 5 grid places for taking on a new ICE after exceeding his allocation. Vettel, Alonso and Russell start from the back of the grid after taking on new PU components.
Caption: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda makes a pitstop during the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on October 24, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
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Ruhaan Alva completes clean sweep in Novice class; Vishnu, Sohil win a race each
Coimbatore, 24 October 2021: Young Ruhaan Alva of Bengaluru made it a memorable day as he completed a clean sweep in the Novice Class winning the third and final race in the first round of the 24th JK Tyre FMSCI Indian National Racing Championship at the Kari Motor Speedway here on Sunday.
The talented Team MSport driver, steered his yellow #27 to another clinical finish and did it in style starting from 13th on the grid. After winning the two rounds on the opening day of the season on Saturday in the Novice Class, the Bengaluru teenager changed his gear-box and suffered a 5-place grid penalty and along with the first-eight reverse grid, made him start on P13. Undaunted, the calm and lanky Ruhaan, overtook one by one and drove a fantastic race to claim another seemingly improbable victory.
He came out triumphant posting 30 out of 30 points and is leading the 4-round Championship table in his Class.
Behind him Chetan Surineni, who started on P5 had a consistent race as he made up a few places and defended his place even as another karting graduate Jaden R Pariat, was actually the ‘Driver of the Day’. Having started among the back benchers at P17, he exhibited good driving skills and made up postions one-by-one to get on to the top and took the final place on the podium for a well-deserved third place.
Meanwhile, in the Senior section, former champion and mentor Vishnu Prasad from Chennai and experienced youngster Sohil Shah of Bengaluru, also from MSport, won a race each in the premier LGB Formula 4 class.
A quick get-away from the lights saw, Vishnu Prasad take the lead from P3 as he was adept at his reflex timings won the first race, and after dilly dallying midway through with his ward, Amir Sayed of Ahura Racing. Amir, the Novice Cup 2020 champion graduated to F4 this season.
The experienced Vishnu, winner of several titles year after year, managed to break free towards the end for a place atop the podium. “I think we got a lucky break in the beginning when everyone else was fighting,” said the 28-year-old, who mentored Amir last season.
“Amir is doing really well and I am very happy for him. The guys are fighting it out in the middle with their teachers and are coming up the ranks,” explained Vishnu. Sohil Shash wh got a 10-second penalty finished 10th. But, Sohil came back strongly to take the chequered flag in the second race ahead of Vishnu.
Earlier, Anish Damodara Shetty of Hubli won the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup’s second race too.
The results (provisional): FLGB4:
Race 1: Vishnu Prasad (MSport) 22:45.828; 2. Amir Sayed (Ahura Racing) 22:49.736; 3. Chirag Ghorpade (Momentum Motorsports) 22:53.650.
Race 2: 1. Sohil Shah 19:01.088; 2. Vishnu Prasad 19:02.222; 3. A. Sandeep Kumar 19:03.875.
Novice Cup: 1. Ruhaan Alva (MSport) 21:48.110; 2. Chetan Surineni (Quest Motorsports) 21:48.714; 3. Jaden R. Pariat (MSport) 21:48.985.
Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup: 1. Anish Damodara Shetty (Hubli) 13:57.731; 2. Allwin Xavier (Thrissur) 14:06.374; 3. Anfal Akdhar (Thrissur) 14:08.009.
Saturday results (revised): FLGB4: 1. Arya Singh (Dark Don Racing) 23:27.088; 2. Raghul Rangaswamy (MSport) 23:29.179; 3. Mohamed Ryan (MSport) 23:29.308.
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Simone Campedelli and Tania Canton finish fifth for MRF: ERC Rally Hungary
Nyíregyháza (Hungary), 25 October 2021:Team MRF Tyres successfully completed the data and development exercise at the FIA European Rally Championship at Rally Hungary.
The day’s action saw seven stages and 78.83km of action on the unique tarmac roads in north-east Hungary that took in forest and farming paths.
Simone Campedelli and Tania Canton were flying the flag for Team MRF Tyres in their Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo and started the day in eighth position.
The aim of this rally was to gain data for the development of the tyres, as MRF Tyres looks forward to further tarmac developments into 2022.
The rapid development of the MRF Tyres tarmac product is aimed to pay dividends into next year.
The Sunday action in Hungary saw high speeds with, the MRF Tyres duo pushing on the super-fast stages, clocking average speeds of more than 120km/h over a stage.
Throughout the rally, the MRF Tyres ran faultlessly with the tarmac tyres proving to be more than a match for the rough tarmac and gravel sections that this rally provides.
Campedelli and Canton were consistent throughout the day and were able to move up the field, moving into fifth place by the end of the rally.
Nil Solans and Marc Marti did not start the day.
The FIA European Rally Championship now has just one round to go, on the tarmac surface of the Rally Islas Canarias.
The Spanish Island offers yet another different type of tarmac surface with smooth and flowing tarmac on offer.
In the meantime, Team MRF Tyres will not rest with the aggressive testing regime and the final round of the Italian Gravel Rally Championship (CIRT) with the 12th Liburna Terra where Paolo Andreucci and Rudy Briani have an outside chance of becoming champions.
The final round of the FIA ERC will take place from 18-20 November.
Quotes
Simone Campedelli, Driver, Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo.
“Rally Hungary was a challenging rally. The speeds were very high and the tarmac was unique. We tried many things with the tyres to get the data we needed.”“I also pushed a lot through the rally and particularly on stage 12, I enjoyed the drive and my performance with the MRF Tyres. In the dark, I was on the limit. The long straights on the limiter and into a tight corner, there was no margin for error.”
“It is my first time in Hungary, it is a beautiful rally. Warm, people, warm fans. I would like to thank everyone at Team MRF Tyres for their work at this rally and I am looking forward to the final rounds of the season with the Liburna Terra and Rally Islas Canarias. I am happy to bring the car home and for now, I am happy.”
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Max Verstappen holds off late pressure from Hamilton
Austin, 24 October 2021: Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen fended off intense late-race pressure from title rival Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes to claim a well-worked United States Grand Prix win at the Circuit of the Americas. Sergio Pérez doubled Red Bull’s celebrations by taking third place and the Team’s 200th podium finish.
When the lights went out at the start Hamilton was quickest off the line and though he was forced to take a deep inside line on the run up the hill to Turn 1 as Verstappen defended, the Mercedes driver held firm and as the title rivals went through Turn 1 the Red Bull driver had to go off track on the outside, handing the lead to Hamilton.
Behind them Pérez held third place ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc but McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo passed Carlos Sainz at the start to take fifth position. Sainz ended the first lap in P6 ahead of Lando Norris in the second McLaren and AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda who had risen to eighth from P10 at the start.
Vertsappen shadowed Hamilton for the first 10 laps but unable to get close enough in the turbulent wake from the Mercedes. And with his starting medium tyres overheating, the Dutchman pitted at the end of lap 10 to take on hard rubber. He rejoined in P5 behind Ricciardo but soon passed the McLaren driver.
Pérez made his first stop on lap 12 taking on medium tyres and Mercedes reacted to the Red Bull stops by bringing Hamilton in at the end of lap 13. The Briton’s move to hard tyres was clean and quick but as he left his pit box Verstappen powered down the start-finish straight to take a 6.7s lead.
The leaders then settled into the second stint, with Verstappen carefully trying to managed the gap. Hamilton though showed greater pace and he edged to within three seconds as the race headed past half distance.
On lap 29 Verdstappen dived into the pits for another set of hard tyres. He weas followed a lap later by team-mate Pérez, with the Mexican this time taking hard tyres. Verstappen now found himself just over 16.5s behind Hamilton who was being told to extend his second stint.
Armed with fresher tyres, Verstappen closed to within 13 seconds of Hamiltin and after 37 laps the Mercedes driver eventually made his second stop for more hard tyres. When he emerged he was 8.7s behind Verstappen but with tyres that were eight laps newer. He quickly began to once again reel in the Red Bull driver.
With 10 laps remaining, Hamilton was within three seconds and Verstappen was warned by his pit wall to save rear tyre life to fend off attacks through the DRS zones.
With three laps remaining, it looked like his efforts might be in vain. Hamilton closed to within 1.2 second and then broke into DRS range of the Red Bull. Verstappen, though, had done a good job of preserving tyre life and he was able to keep Hamilton at bay. And when Hamilton made small mistake with a lap left and the gap expanded back to 1.7s, the race was won. Verstappen crossed the line to take his eighth win of the season. The victory means he extends his Drivers’ Championship lead. He now has 287.5 points, 12 more than Hamilton.
Hamilton finished second, 1.3s behind the Dutchman, and soon after Pérez crossed the line to hand Red Bull a double podium finish.
Pérez’s podium, allied to a sixth place finish for Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes, means that Red Bull close the Constructors’ Championship gap to Mercedes to 23 points.
Behind Pérez, Charles Leclerc claimed fourth place for Ferrari ahead of McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo and Bottas. Seventh place went to Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari, with McLaren’s Lando Norris eighth. Yuki Tsunoda scored two points for AlphaTauri with ninth place and Sebastian Vettel finished tenth to take a single point for Aston Martin.
2021 FIA Formula 1 United States Grand Prix – Race
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda 56 1’34:36.552
2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 56 1’34:37.885 1.333
3 Sergio Pérez Red Bull/Honda 56 1’35:18.775 42.223
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 56 1’35:28.798 52.246
5 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren/Mercedes 56 1’35:53.406 1:16.854
6 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 56 1’35:56.680 1:20.128
7 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 56 1’36:00.097 1:23.545
8 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 56 1’36:00.947 1:24.395
9 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri/Honda 55 1’35:10.081 1 lap /33.529
10 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin/Mercedes 55 1’35:12.119 1 lap /35.567
11 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo/Ferrari 55 1’35:21.613 1 lap /45.061
12 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 55 1’35:35.793 1 lap /59.241
13 Kimi Räikkönen Alfa Romeo/Ferrari 55 1’35:39.194 1 lap /1:02.642
14 George Russell Williams/Mercedes 55 1’35:41.751 1 lap /1:05.199
15 Nicholas Latifi Williams/Mercedes 55 1’36:13.510 1 lap /1:36.958
16 Mick Schumacher Haas/Ferrari 54 1’34:42.164 2 laps /5.612
17 Nikita Mazepin Haas/Ferrari 54 1’36:09.665 2 laps /1:33.113
Fernando Alonso Alpine/Renault 49 1’25:09.274 Wing
Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 40 1’10:46.671 Retirement
Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri/Honda 14 25:27.042 Suspension -
Fabio Quartararo is the 2021 FIM MotoGP World Champion!
Quartararo is the sixth-youngest rider to clinch a premier class world title, aged 22 years and 187 days old, behind John Surtees (22 years and 182 days old) and ahead of Valentino Rossi (22 years and 240 days old).
In the MotoGP era, Quartararo is the third-youngest Champion behind Marc Marquez (20 years and 266 days old) and Casey Stoner (21 years and 342 days old).
In addition, Quartararo became the youngest Yamaha rider to clinch the premier class world title, ahead of Jorge Lorenzo, who was 23 years and 159 days old when he took the title in Malaysia back in 2010.
Quartararo became the first French rider to clinch a premier class world title and the seventh overall in GP racing along with Johann Zarco (two titles), Mike Di Meglio (1), Arnaud Vincent (1), Olivier Jacque (1), Christian Sarron (1) and Jean-Louis Tournadre (1). Thanks to Quartararo, France became the seventh different nation to win a premier class Championship.
Quartararo became the first European rider to clinch the premier class world title without having previously taken a title in one of the smaller GP classes since Franco Uncini in 1982. Overall, Quartararo is the 17th rider to do so along with Les Graham (first Championship season in 1949), Umberto Masetti, Libero Liberati, Barry Sheene, Kenny Roberts, Marco Lucchinelli, Franco Uncini, Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Gardner, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz, Mick Doohan, Kenny Roberts Jr., Nicky Hayden and Casey Stoner.
In the MotoGP™ era, Quartararo is the third rider to clinch the title without having previously taken a title in one of the smaller classes along with Nicky Hayden and Casey Stoner.
By taking the crown, Quartararo brought to an end a sequence of nine premier class titles from Spanish riders: six with Marc Marquez, two with Jorge Lorenzo and one with Joan Mir (the longest sequence for a country in the class).
Quartararo became the first Yamaha rider to take the premier class crown since Jorge Lorenzo in 2015 and the seventh overall along with Giacomo Agostini (one premier class title), Kenny Roberts (3), Eddie Lawson (3), Wayne Rainey (3), Valentino Rossi (4) and Jorge Lorenzo (3). This is the 18th title for a Yamaha rider in the premier class.
Quartararo is tied in sixth place with Max Biaggi and Maverick Viñales on the list of Yamaha riders with most premier class wins, just behind Kenny Roberts (22 wins). Valentino Rossi leads the way with 56 premier class wins with Yamaha.
With 20 premier class podiums so far, Quartararo is the French rider with most podiums in the class ahead of Christian Sarron (18 podiums).
With eight premier class wins so far, since his maiden premier class wins at the 2020 Spanish GP, Quartararo has almost tripled the number of French victories before him (one for Régis Laconi, plus Christian Sarron and Pierre Monneret).
This season Quartararo has stood on the MotoGP™ podium more than any other rider (10 times), including five wins. This is this first time that a Yamaha rider has taken five (or more) premier class wins since Jorge Lorenzo in 2015 (seven). The last Yamaha riders with more than 10 podiums in a single season were Valentino Rossi (15 podiums) and Jorge Lorenzo (12) in 2015.
For the seventh successive year, the rider who clinched the premier class world title failed to win the opening race of the season. The last to do so was Marc Marquez in 2014.
Fabio Quartararo: “I already don’t have my normal voice just a few hours after, I’ve cried a lot an screamed a lot! It feels amazing. When I crossed the finish line I thought about all the tough moments I had, and to be World Champion in MotoGP is something I never expected when I was in bad situations only a few years ago. So right now I feel like I’m in a dream and I don’t realise what’s happening to me right now!
“Of course I had extra nerves, I never started further back than P11 in MotoGP, and I’m starting P15 in one of the most important races of my career! We chose the safe, let’s say, tyres but for us the hard would have been better and I think the podium was there with the hard. I didn’t have stability when I was with the group, I couldn’t overtake. But I’m really happy with my race, even if I hadn’t won the Championship it’s great to finish P4. Super happy about the race and of course with the Championship it’s something extra.
“Just before starting the race I was with Tom in the office and I was nervous, feeling stressed and he said, ‘just think about the last three races you had last year’. They were a total disaster and I just wanted to finish the Championship whatever the position was. And today I started the race that made me World Champion. I think everything that happened last year helped me a lot to win the title today. Thanks to the people for supporting me in these tough moments, I think I learned a lot during these years in MotoGP and still have a lot to learn to achieve more results like that.
“To be honest, last year we fought to have the factory bike but with Covid and everything, the 2019 bike was better. But with the 2021 bike I felt much better, the feeling with the front is what has made me win this year, I think. The feeling I had. We know the power is something we have to work on, but the feeling on the braking to overtake – not this race but in general – has been much higher than 2019 and 2020. Yamaha has worked a lot, we still have a lot to improve for next year because we know that power is something important, but right now with the bike I was feeling like on, I’m enjoying riding. Also today I had a lot of struggles with the front but I still enjoyed it a lot, and that was the most important thing of the day.”
Biography
First Grand Prix: Qatar 2015, Moto3™
First pole position: Jerez 2015, Moto3™
First podium: Austin 2015, Moto3™
First victory: Barcelona 2018, Moto2™
Grands Prix: 116 (49 in MotoGP™)
Victories: 9 (8 in MotoGP™)
Podiums: 24 (20 in MotoGP™)
Pole positions: 18 (15 in MotoGP™)
Fastest laps: 10 (9 in MotoGP™)
World Championships: MotoGP™ (2021)World Championship career:
2015: Moto3™ World Championship – 10th, Honda, 13 races, 92 points
2016: Moto3™ World Championship – 13th, KTM, 18 races, 83 points
2017: Moto2™ World Championship – 13th, Kalex, 18 races, 64 points
2018: Moto2™ World Championship – 10th, Speed Up, 18 races, 138 points
2019: MotoGP™ World Championship – 5th, Yamaha, 19 races, 192 points
2020: MotoGP™ World Championship – 8th, Yamaha, 14 races, 127 points
2021: MotoGP™ World Championship – 1st, Yamaha, 16 races, 267 points -
Bagnaia crashes out to hand Quartararo the 2021 title; Marquez wins;
Emilia Romagna (Italy), 24 October 2021: Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) is the 2021 MotoGP World Champion. After Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) crashed out of the race lead in the closing stages of the Gran Premio Nolan del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia-Romagna, the title was decided as Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) emerges victorious, with Pol Espargaro securing his maiden podium with Honda. Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) passed Quartararo on the last lap to bag his second podium of the season, but the day – and year – belongs to the Frenchman.
Bagnaia crashes, Marc Marquez wins, Quartararo crowned Champion
From pole position, Bagnaia got a decent getaway but it was teammate Jack Miller who got the best launch from the front row. Pecco grabbed the holeshot though as Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) carved his way into P2 from the second row. Miller grabbed P2 from Oliveira at Turn 4 though, with Marc Marquez then getting the better of Oliveira down into Turn 8. Quartararo didn’t make a rapid start, but more importantly, he stayed trouble-free.
The top three of Pecco, Miller and Marc Marquez soon found themselves 1.3s clear of Pol Espargaro, who had also dispatched Oliveira, before drama unfolded for one of the Ducatis. Miller, at Turn 15, was down and out of the race from P2 on Lap 4, Bagnaia’s wingman was no longer able to help the Italian. Now, Pecco had Marc Marquez swarming all over his rear wheel. Meanwhile, Quartararo was up into P10, scrapping with Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing).
By Lap 9, Quartararo was up to ninth. Martin, on Lap 13, crashed at Turn 1 as Quartararo become embroiled in a five-rider battle – fifth to ninth split by less than a second. Quartararo, keeping calm, picked his way past teammate Franco Morbidelli and Luca Marini (SKY VR46 Avintia) to climb to P7 on Lap 15 of 27, with Pecco continuing to hold the relentless Marc Marquez at bay.
With 10 to go, Quartararo sliced his way past Rins for P6, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) next on El Diablo’s radar. And sure enough, with nine to go, Quartararo was ahead of the Aprilia RS-GP and now in P5. Baring a disaster from Oliveira, that was as good as it was going to get for Quartararo, with the KTM star eight seconds up the road. Or so we thought.
17 seconds ahead of Quartararo, Bagnaia was holding up his end of the bargain. All Pecco could do on home soil was win, but he had an eight-time World Champion hanging onto his coattails. Pecco was looking incredibly strong, starting to pull clear of Marc Marquez, before Lap 23 of the Emilia-Romagna GP became the title-deciding lap of 2021. Turn 15, where Miller crashed earlier in the race, saw Bagnaia crash unhurt. Straight back up on his feet, Pecco knew. Ducati knew. Yamaha knew. Quartararo knew. A new MotoGP™ World Champion was about to be crowned.
Pecco’s crash, closely followed by an Oliveira crash, left Marc Marquez P1, Pol Espargaro P2 and Quartararo, the new World Champion a sensational P3 from P15 on the grid. Enea Bastianini wasn’t going to allow Quartararo to have an easy cruise home to the podium though, the Italian was hungry for a second P3 of the season.
The chequered flag came out and Marc Marquez won his second race in a row, his third of the season, with Pol Espargaro coming home second to hand Repsol Honda a fantastic 1-2. Bastianini, with a move at Turn 14, got the better of Quartararo on the last lap to cement another wonderful rostrum to take the lead in the Rookie of the Year fight, but just behind, introducing the 2021 MotoGP™ World Champion: Fabio Quartararo! Jubilation ensued for the Frenchman and Yamaha – what a phenomenal season for all involved.
A historic day as Rossi earns top 10 in final Italian race
Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) crossed the line in fifth to beat sixth place Rins by 1.2s, with Aleix Espargaro taking P7. P8 went the way of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) who claims his best result in Aprilia colours, Marini secured a second top 10 of the season in P9 sporting a special Grazie Vale colour scheme, and speaking of, Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) crossed the line in 10th in his final MotoGP™ race on Italian soil. A fitting send-off to the nine-time World Champion in front of his adoring fans. Two races remain in Portugal and Valencia to enjoy The Doctor doing what he loves best – racing motorcycles.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had an eventful day. The South African crashed on the sighting lap, started from pitlane and ended up finishing P11. Michele Pirro (Ducati Lenovo Team), Andrea Dovizioso (Petronas Yamaha SRT), Morbidelli and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) – despite a crash – were the final points scorers at Misano.
There we have it. The 2021 MotoGP™ World Champion is crowned, congratulations to Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha on an incredible season, as we now look forward to the final two races of the season. (Source: EuroSport Press Release)
MotoGP Top 10:
1. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team)
2. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 4.859
3. Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) + 12.013
4. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 12.775
5. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) + 16.458
6. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 17.669
7. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) + 18.468
8. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) + 18.607
9. Luca Marini (SKY VR46 Avintia) + 25.417
10. Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) + 27.735
