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Author: David Bodapati
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Ruhaan Alva bags a grand double in F4; Goa Aces JA Racing clinch IRL title
Coimbatore, 17 November 2024: Bengaluru’s racing star Ruhaan Alva of Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers closed the championship in style bagging a grand double in the FIA Formula 4 Indian Championship while Raoul Hyman and Gabriela Jilkova not only delivered a 1-2 finish for Goa Aces JA Racing but also helped the team clinch the Indian Racing League championship as the curtains came down at the Kari Motor Speedway, here on Sunday.
South African teenager Aqil Alibhai (Hyderabad Blackbirds) clinched the F4 title. Alva finished second in the Championship as the fifth and final round of the IRL promoted by Racing Promotions private limited concluded on Sunday.
Alibhai, enjoying a successful season with six wins, had two podium finishes (P2 and P3) today which fetched sufficient points to win him the crown.
South African teenager Aqil Alibhai (Hyderabad Blackbirds) clinched the F4 title Alva displayed rare sparks of aggression as he won the day’s first race starting from P5 on the reverse grid easily outpacing Alibhai and Divy Nandan (Bangalore Speedsters). He carried the momentum to win the next from P4 ahead of Canadian Hady Noah Mimassi (Chennai Turbo Riders) and Alibhai. In both races, the 18-year-old came up with a couple of daring moves to notch deserving wins.
An unperturbed Alibhai played it smart. With one eye on the points, he was content to run in P2 behind Alva in the first race as the Indian took the honours by over nine seconds. Alibhai had enough lead on third-placed Nandan to survive a 10-second post-race penalty for a “infringement”.
The P2 finish ensured Alibhai the championship as he led Alva by 29 points going into the final race which had a maximum of 26 on offer.
For the several Indian drivers, the season in F4 was an eye-opener in the context of the level of competition at this level. The championship made it affordable for the home-grown racers to take the next step up in their racing careers and the experience should stand them in good stead going forward.
Alibhai said: “I wanted to finish the season with a win, but it was not to be. But I have had a good season, and I am very happy to win the championship. Going forward, let’s see where this success takes me.”
Indian Racing League
Raoul Hyman tops IRL race as Goa Aces clinch title on Sunday at Kari Speedway. Photo by Rahul Reghu Raoul Hyman and Gabriela Jilkova not only delivered a 1-2 finish for Goa Aces JA Racing but also helped the team clinch the Indian Racing League championship. There was icing on Goa Aces’ cake too as the team also won the car championship to finish the season with a memorable double.
Going into the final race which began after sharp showers, the Goa Aces led Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers by just two points, but the latter virtually handed over the championship on a platter within seconds after the race commenced from a rolling start following a crash.
Ruhaan Alva, sandwiched between pole-sitter Hyman and Jilkova in P2, lost the rear of his car, slid across the track and rammed into Akash Gowda (Speed Demons Delhi) just as they approached the start-finish line, leading to their retirement. The Safety Car made a brief appearance before racing resumed.
Thereafter, Hyman and Jilkova cruised along without any serious challenge with the former eventually winning by 28 seconds as they came up with a 1-2 finish for their team which followed yesterday’s win by their team-mate Sohil Shah. Mohd Ryan (Chennai Turbo Riders) completed the podium.
The second Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers car, driven by Malaysian Alister Yoong, finished a distant seventh.
“We are very happy for the 1-2 finish. We are grateful to the team for giving us cars that won the races for us. It is their hardwork which enabled us to win the championship,” said Hyman.
The two-day Indian Racing Festival was sponsored by Kingfisher Soda, JK Tyres, Mobil 1 and Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Limited.
The results (Provisional):
John Abraham with Goa Aces Team Medium Indian Racing League (Race-2, Driver-B) 25 mins+1 lap:1. Raul Hyman (UK, Goa Aces JA Racing) (26:39.020); 2.Gabriela Jilkova (Czech Republic, Goa Aces JA Racing) (27:07.684);3. Mohamed Ryan (India, Chennai Turbo Riders) (27:29.813). Best Lap:Raoul Hyman (01:10.359).
Formula 4 Indian Open (Race-2, 25mins+1 lap):1. Ruhaan Alva (India, Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers) (26:55.114);2. Aqil Alibhai (South Africa, Hyderabad Blackbirds) (27:14.880);3. Divy Nandan (India, Bangalore Speedsters) (27:24.987).Best Lap:Ruhaan Alva (01:06.492).
Race-3:1. Ruhaan Alva (India, Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers) (27:00.884);2. Hady Noah Mimassi (Canada, Chennai Turbo Riders) (27:10.373);3. Aqil Alibhai (South Africa, Hyderabad Blackbirds) (27:16.425).Best Lap:RuhaanAlva (01:06.386).
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Sohil Shah aces the field for maiden win in Indian Racing League
Coimbatore, 16 Nov 2024: Championship contenders Goa Aces JA Racing received a massive boost when Sohil Shah destroyed a high-quality field and delivered a hat-trick of pole position, race win and best lap, in the Round 5 of the Indian Racing League at the Kari Motor Speedway here on Saturday.
It was 23-year-old Shah’s first win in the Indian Racing League which is promoted by the Racing Promotions private limited. He did it in style beating the likes of veterans Neel Jani of Black Birds Hyderabad and Alvaro Parente of Speed Demons Delhi, who came in second and third respectively. However, Parente was docked a five-second penalty for a “infringement”and was pushed to P4 with Jon Lancaster of Chennai Turbo Riders moving upa spot to P3.
The winning margin of 17.156 seconds underlined the dominating performance by the Bengalurean that came on the back of several podium finishes this season.
With the sun out and track almost fully dry following rains earlier in the day, it was Shah who roared away from the rolling start and with every lap increased his lead over Jaani, Lancaster and Parente who got involved in a close battle.
In the latter half of the race, Lancaster slowed down with an engine issue, giving up his P3 spot to Parente. Up the road, Shah kept increasing the lead, followed by Jaani and Parente and the trio finished in that order while Lancaster came in fourth, but subsequently moved up to third as the Portuguese driver was penalized for an infringement.
Behind the front-runners, Shah’s team-mate Shahan Ali Mohsin finished an impressive fifth after starting from P12 to bring more cheer to Goa Aces JA Racing team. However, Shahan dropped to seventh following a 20-second penalty for a “infringement”.
“I am very happy with this win today after several podium finishes. It was a good race and am pleased with my performance as the grid had top drivers like Jaani, Parente and Lancaster,” said Shah.
The two-day Indian Racing Festival, sponsored by Kingfisher Soda, JK Tyres, Mobil 1 and Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Limited.
Formula 4 Indian Championship
South African Aqil Alibhai (Black Birds Hyderabad) came up with yet another brilliant drive on a drying Kari Motor Speedway track to post his sixth overall and fifth win in a row to consolidate his spot on top of the leaderboard in the FIA-certified Formula 4 Indian Championship.
Finishing in P2 was his closest rival,Ruhaan Alva (SrachiRarh Royal Bengal Tigers) who wasted a pole-position start while Canadian Hady Noah Mimassi(Chennai Turbo Riders) completed the podium while also winning the Rookie award besides clocking the best lap of the race.
At the start, Alva made a poor getaway and left the door open at Turn-1 for Alibhai to forge ahead. Thereafter, the South African maintained his lead, literally tiptoeing past the water patches and later the back markers. Behind him Alva settled in second place unable to come close to making a move on Alibhai while Mimassicouldn’t make much headawayand had to be content with P3.
Reflecting on his performance today, Alibhai said: “I am happy to win today. I had a good start but had to be careful due to the water on the track. Towards the end, others were catching up, but I managed to maintain my lead and want to maintain the momentum tomorrow and win the championship.”
27thJK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship
Starting from P2 on the grid, Bengaluru’s Tijil Rao (Dark Don Racing) pulled off yet another win to move closer to the championship title in the 27th JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship on Saturday at the Kari Motor Speedway.
In a close LGB Formula 4 race, Tijil held off a strong challenge from Chennai’s Saran Vikram Tmars (Momentum Motorsports) while Rookie Dhruvh Goswami (MSPORT) from Bengaluru finished third.Meanwhile, as many as seven drivers failed to finish the incident-filled race.
Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup
Championship leader Navaneeth Kumar S from Puducherry consolidated his position on the points table with one win and a P2 finish in the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup. His arch-rival, Rohan R from Coimbatore matched the performance to remain in title contention.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru’s Yogesh P also notched a double in the Amateurs category to seal the championship in this class.
The results (Provisional):
Indian Racing League (Race-1, Driver-A) 25 mins+1 lap:1. Sohil Shah (India, Goa Aces JA Racing) (26mins, 34.598secs);2. Neel Jani (Switzerland, Black Birds Hyderabad) (26:51.754);3.Jon Lancaster (UK, Chennai Turbo Riders) (26:54.848).Best Lap:Sohil Shah (01:03.088).
Formula 4 Indian Open (Race-1, 25mins+1 lap):1. Aqil Alibhai (South Africa, Black Birds Hyderabad) (26:14.474);2. Ruhan Alva (India, ShrachiRarh Royal Bengal Tigers) (26:15.614);3. Hady Noah Mimassi (Canada, Chennai Turbo Riders) (26:17.254).Best Lap:Mimassi(01:10.638).
JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship:
LGB Formula 4 (Race-1, 15 laps):1. Tijil Rao (Bengaluru, Dark Don Racing) (22:02.750);2. Saran Vikram Tmars (Chennai, Momentum Motorsports) (23:03.725);3.Dhruvh Goswami (Bengaluru, MSPORT) (23:04.504).Rookie: 1. Dhruvh Goswami (23:04.504); 2. Abhay Mohan (Bengaluru, 23:06.147); 3. Neythan McPherson (Pune, Momentum Motorsports) (23:08.494).
Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup (Race-1, 9 laps) – Professionals: 1.Rohan R (Coimbatore) (11:44.984);2. Navaneeth Kumar S (Puducherry) (11:45.320);3. Anish Shetty (Bengaluru) (11:45.470).Amateurs:1. Yogesh P (Bengaluru) (12:16.480); 2. Johring Warisa (Umrangso) (12:16.891); Johnson Saldanha (Mangaluru) (12:22.450).
Race-2 (6 laps) – Professionals:1. Navaneeth Kumar S (07:48.397);2.Anish Shetty (07:50.894);3. Rohan R (07:51.227).Amateurs:1. Yogesh P (Bengaluru) (08:08.594); 2. Johring Warisa (08:10.664); 3. Johnson Saldanha (08:21.798).
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Despite a serious injury, Jagathishree wins National title with grit and gumption
Chennai, 14 November 2024: In a dramatic final race of the year that decided the championship, she crashed. As scores of hearts skipped their beat both in the pits and the stands, she rose like a phoenix and finished the race to be crowned the Indian National champion in the Stock 165cc girls’ category of the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 at the Madras International Circuit recently.
It was Jagathishree Kumaresan, a professional circuit racer and an Archaeology student, who rides for Team Oneracing India, taking part in various categories, apart from the Ladies class.
The oft-repeated adage goes, ‘One has to first finish (the race) to finish first’! Yes, one has to finish the race, to be counted. She did not finish first that day, but she finished last. But ‘FINISH’, she did, and that’s what mattered the most. By then, she garnered enough points to race to the title edging out two champions, Rakshitha Dave and Rehana Bee, who clashed in the penultimate race and failed to finish the race that cost them dear. Rehana, a former champion and an aggressive rider, came back roaring into the title fight midway through the championship and what appeared like a sure shot at the title, vanished into the thin air when she made contact with Rakshitha, another former champ, and both the riders crashed out. Not just out of the race, but virtually out of the championship. Rehana injured her fingers and could not take part in the final race which was won by Rakshitha. But it was a bit late for her championship battle. Thus, Jagathishree, who wears a smile all the time, win or lose, powered her way to glory winning her maiden National Championship title. In fact, after limping back and jumping on to the bike, she crossed the chequered flag twice, counting her laps wrong, but escaped with a cash penalty and retained her points as she completed 75 per cent of the race distance.
A visit to the karting track
Jagathishree with one of her trophies, sporting her trademark smile. Currently, Jagathishree is leading the Drag Nationals table in Stock 165 Girls’ category. INDIAinF1 image by Karan Ravi A chance visit to a karting track got her hooked to the sport. “One fine day, my dad took me to a karting track to show me how riders ride on tracks. The same day, I met coach Mohamed Hanif for the first time and the very next day I joined the team,” said the girl, who looks like the normal lass next door, until she is on the track riding. “That’s how my racing journey started in 2019,” she adds.
Five years after it began with the experience at the karting track, the fun outing turned into a passion. “The urge to learn new things and to win more made me the person who I am now. Both failures and victories push me towards my goal and my goal is bigger than the National crown, the INMRC championship,” she said. She plans to train well and take part in international championships, before getting on to the Worlds.
“In 2024, my goal was to win the individual Championship and team Championship in the stock category in both circuit and Drag Nationals,” she added. She started her practice early for the 2024 season and injured her right ankle. But the Chennai rider, braved her injury throughout the season and compiled her points race by race to come out triumphant. In fact, she needs a surgery to be done. But with a goal to win the Drag Nationals title later in December, she delayed the surgery.
She began the season on a positive note making it to the podium in both the races in Round 1 of the Racing Nationals. After the races she said: “Definitely not the result we wanted. We want to dominate this season but because of my mistakes I could not achieve.” She was frank to accept her mistakes. And she bounced back with a double win and maintained her grip on the championship staying in the top-three thereafter. The victories are admirable and all the more sweet as she suffered a bad crash in the practice session during that weekend, where she broke her helmet and aggravated her injury.
The injury troubled her, and one could witness that she was struggling on all the right corners, but with grit and determination, she endured the pain and managed to get a podium in all the four races of the third and fourth rounds.
In between, she got a shot in the arm as she won both the second and third rounds of the Drag National Championship, and that boosted her confidence.
And then came the last round of National Motorcycle Racing Championship that was the decider and after she won the first race of the last round, the final race became a winner-take-all event. She had a comfortable 13-point lead over her main rivals and just needed to finish the final race.
But the crash in the second lap notwithstanding, she achieved her goal with aplomb. “I got incredible support from my team, Oneracing India and my coach Mr Mohamed Hanif. But for whom I would not have been a champion. The team worked day in and day out and put in extra hours to work on my bike and to support my sessions. I want to make a special mention of our team boss Mr Praveen Kumar for all his support and guidance. Also my thanks are also due to all my wonderful teammates, who made the season a time for fun and frolic, apart from the serious action. I want to give my special thanks to our technical crew SDZ Garage for the technical support on the bike,” said Jagathishree remembering those who stood with her during the successful journey. Not to forget the sponsors, she thanked from the bottom of her heart mentioning Bikerzmodule, Team Farooq Warriors, Revnitro and Evtron motorsports for their outstanding support. I also want to remember the important feedback and guidance from DDRS (Data Driven Racing Solutions) for the support on data side, which improved my work. In the end, I am very grateful to Mahendran uncle, Anil sir, Ananth sir for all their help and suggestions. Last but not the least, my love and affection to my family whose support and encouragement keeps me in good stead as I move forward.
Jagathishree of OneRacing India, receiving trophy from Vicky Chandhok of MMSC. However, the season without a proper sponsor, which has been the story for all the last five years, has been causing serious financial issues as she has to think twice while doing budgets for a proper bike and other necessary equipment, leave alone the nitty-gritty like entry fees and transportation costs. She promises to bring mileage and enough returns to any prospective sponsor.
After the struggle and the pain, “It feels good to be a champion and the feeling one experiences being called a champion by the team members is so sweet,” she concluded.
But it’s just a first step as she races towards her ultimate goal!
The Journey
2020: Debut in the National Championship – 2nd runner-up champion in the TVS One Make Championship (OMC).
2021: Only girl to get podium places in the TVS OMC rookie category. She also took part in the Stock Novice category, again the only girl to finish in the top-five among 40 boys on the gird.
2022: Podiums in women dirt championship, a first time private event for her.
2023: National drag champion in Ladies class, a clean sweep winning all the rounds.
2024: The only girl in the top-18 in the Castrol presents India’s Ultimate Motostar on Mtv. Many other podiums in the various categories. National Champion in the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 – Girls’ category…
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Rohit Shinde hattrick of titles in National Stunt Championship
Bengaluru, 14 Nov. 2024: Celebrated stunt rider Rohit Shinde achieved a hattrick winning his third consecutive title in the National Stunt Championship held at Sanctity Ferme, Sholagiri, near here on November 9 and 10.
Hosted by Stunter Paradise, CRF Women on Wheels, and HTRzModz, at Sanctity Ferme, a registered motorcycle stunt academy, the private National event attracted 66 participants. The judging panel included Florian Caraminot, a French professional stunt rider from the Switch Riders team, DJ Deep from Pro-Guyz Stunt Team, and Jupsy Kushalappa.
There were six main categories this year: Super Athlete, Pro Athlete, Women Athlete, Intermediate, Obstacle Challenge, and Circle Challenge, and Shinde took part in Super Athlete, Obstacle Challenge and Circle Challenge categories.
“I am very happy with my performance. This event marked a big milestone in my career as I achieved a hat-trick, winning the championship title for three years in a row starting with 2022,” a beaming Rohit said, after the event.
In the Super Athlete category, he pulled off a strong four-minute final run, covering wheelies, stoppies, acrobatics, burnouts, and drifts that thrilled the spectators and participants alike. Despite a packed schedule, he found time for night training sessions to ensure he was ready to showcase his talent.
In the Obstacle Challenge, he took first place again. The category tests control and finesse of a rider, and he said: “ I am proud to have maintained the top spot here.”
The highlight, though, was the Circle Challenge, where he set a ‘new record’ with a continuous Circle Wheelie lasting for 33 minutes where he pushed himself to the limit.
Shinde is also the reigning 2023 National Dirt Track and National Rally Champion. He is also gunning for honours in the Sprint Rally Championship this December, aiming to add another title to his coveted list.
“My long-term goal is to represent India on the global stage to bring Indian motorsport to the forefront on the world stage,” was the parting shot for a rider who started his journey when he was 17, and 11 years later he is a champion. “With the support of an amazing community, I am determined to keep pushing limits and I have good memories on and off the track,” he added.
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Lando Norris handed Sprint win by Oscar Piastri; Verstappen third
Sau Paulo, 2 Nov. 2024: Lando Norris took his first F1 Sprint win after being waved through by McLaren team-mate and long-time leader Oscar Piastri in the closing stages of the 24-lap race at the Autódromo Carlos Pace. Red Bull’s Championship leader Max Verstappen crossed the line in third but was handed a five-second time after the race for a VSC infringment dropping him to fourth behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the final classification.
At the race start, both McLarens got away well and polesitter Piastri moved across the track successful defend the inside line against front-row starter Norris who held second. Leclerc also defended well into the Senna S to keep Verstappen at bay.
Across the opening laps Verstappen pressed hard to provoke a mistake from Leclerc and initially that allowed the McLarens to open a gap. But Norris, in his team-mate’s dirty air, then fell back from Piastri who was subsequently asked to drop back and provide DRS to his team-mate.
As the race reached half distance, Verstappen began to get some reward for his efforts, as Leclerc began to struggle more on his Medium tyres. And on lap 18 the Ferrari driver made a small mistake in the Senna S. Verstappen closed in through Turn 3 and with DRS engaged muscles his way around the outside through Turn 4 to claim third place,
The Dutchman then began to eat into the gap to Norris, narrowing McLaren’s chances of pulling off a positional swap between Piastri and Norris.
However, both McLarens were able to build a healthier two-second gap to the Red Bull and when Haas’ Nico Hülkenberg stopped at the edge of the track at Turn 8 and the threat of a Safety Car appeared, the McLaren pitwall pulled the trigger.
Piastri moved across on the run to Turn 4 and Norris slipped past to take the lead. The time lost meant that Piastri was now under threat from Verstappen but just before the start of the penultimate lap, race officials imposed a VSC to deal with Hülkenberg’s stranded car and the gaps froze.
The VSC ended midway through the final lap and Verstappen closed right up to Piastri in Turn 4 just as the caution was coming to an end. The Dutch driver’s proximity to the Australian was noted and then was investigated after the Sprint.
The Stewards handed Verstappen a five-second penalty, saying that “Article 56.5 states in part ‘All cars must also be above this minimum time when the FIA light panels change to green.’ The driver was 0.63 seconds below the minimum time at VSC End when the FIA light panels changed to green. This indicates a sporting advantage gained under VSC.’
Verstappen crossed the line third but the time penalty dropped him to fourth behind Leclerc and ahead of the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz, with Mercedes’ George Russell in sixth,. Pierre Gasly held on to seventh place for Alpine, just ahead of the hard-charging Sergio Pérez who battled through from P13 to take the final point on offer.
2024 FIA Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix – Sprint
1 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 24 –
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 24 0.593
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 24 1.497
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 24 5.656
5 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 24 7.224
6 George Russell Mercedes 24 12.475
7 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 24 18.161
8 Sergio Pérez Red Bull/Honda RBPT 24 18.717
9 Liam Lawson RB/Honda RBPT 24 20.773
10 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 24 24.606
11 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 24 29.764
12 Franco Colapinto Williams/Mercedes 24 33.233
13 Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 24 34.128
14 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 24 35.507
15 Yuki Tsunoda RB/Honda RBPT 24 41.374
16 Valtteri Bottas Sauber/Ferrari 24 43.231
17 Zhou Guanyu Sauber/Ferrari 24 54.139
18 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 24 56.537
19 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 24 57.983
Nico Hülkenberg Haas/Ferrari 19 – Retirement -
Martin supreme to set up match point on Sunday as Bagnaia suffers shock crash at Sepang
#TheRematch: It’s all on the line on Sunday as a seismic Tissot Sprint sees the Martinator rule as the reigning Champion slides out from second to fall 29 points behind.
Sepang, 2 Nov. 2024: The Tissot Sprint at the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia was always going to be pivotal. How pivotal was to be decided over 10 laps of technical racetrack shared by 22 riders in the searing heat, two of whom are fighting it out to be crowned 2024 Champion. In the dance of risk and reward, points leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) took off at the front to lay down the gauntlet. And as he so rarely has when under pressure, reigning Champion Francesco Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) took just that tiny bit too much risk as he slid out from second. Now, it’s 29 points at the top… and it could all come down to Sunday at the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.
Behind that drama, Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) came home second after keeping Martin honest following Bagnaia’s crash, with Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) completing the podium.
The tension rose even more following a brief spattering of raindrops, but as the grid roared off, the track was dry and Martin got the jump from second on the grid, nabbing the inside as Bagnaia hung it round the outside. But the #1 had to concede into Turn 2 and they shot off at the front together as the shuffle settled, with Marc Marquez for close company.
Just behind, Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) had dropped back from the front row and was squabbling with Franco Morbidelli (Prima Prama Racing) for fifth, with Bastianini having leapfrogged them into fourth. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was soon up into that mix too, off the mark quick and with the speed to go with it.
Meanwhile at the front, the leading trio pounded on. Martin was setting some serious space, with the #1 and #93 in hot pursuit. And then it happened – the moment that may have decided the 2024 MotoGP™ World Championship. Or certainty one of them.
As Martin pushed on, Bagnaia had no choice but to push just as hard – with a 17-point deficit on the way into the Sprint. That then suddenly became a potential 29 as the reigning Champion slid out in one of the lowest speed, highest stakes crashes in recent memory. Rider ok, Bagnaia was forced to watch on as Martin kept Marquez at bay at the front, likely cheering for the #93 for the first time in his life.
Martin did keep him at bay, however, never letting the Gresini machine really home in over the seven laps between the him and that 29-point advantage. The #89 kept it calm to cross the line with just under a second in hand, setting up his first ever outright Championship point in MotoGP™. Marc Marquez took second, keeping some pressure on but not able to really cut that lead.
Bastianini’s quick start and good pace rewarded him with third after he proved able to pull away from Alex Marquez, with the #73 taking P4. Just behind him came Quartararo after a stunning Saturday afternoon for El Diablo, taking his and Yamaha’s best result of the season in a Sprint or GP, equalling the P5 from Jerez on Saturday.
Morbidelli was forced to settle for sixth, ahead of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) at the head of a KTM/GASGAS showdown – with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) just able to stay ahead of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) this time round, returning the favour from Buriram. Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) missed out on the final Sprint point by just seven tenths.
Was that the moment that decided the crown? After racing for 678 points, every moment has its sway. But in the final stint they decide when and where that ultimate prize is on the line, and in 2024 that will now be Sunday at the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia.
If Martin wins the Grand Prix, Bagnaia has to follow him home in second or it’s game over in the title fight and a new name will be etched onto the trophy. But Saturday already showed how quickly everything can change… so join us for match point on Sunday at 15:00 (UTC +8)! -
#GoldenAi: Ogura crowned 2024 Moto2 World Champion
Ai came, Ai saw, Ai conquered: a podium in Thailand sees the Japanese rider secure the crown
Buriram (Thailand), 27 October 2024: Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) is crowned the 2024 Moto2 World Champion at the Chang circuit here on Sunday! The Japanese star took second place at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand to seal the crown, becoming the first former Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup rider to become a World Champion and the first rider from Japan to win a world title since Hiroshi Aoyama’s 250cc triumph in 2009.
The #79’s journey to Moto2 World Champion status began in the ATC back in 2015, and it didn’t take long for a first win to arrive. Three podiums – including that win – were achieved in his first ATC season and in 2016, three more wins were pocketed on his way to a P2 overall finish. 2016 also saw Ogura race in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and in just his third race, the Japanese rider notched up a P3 finish.
2017 brought more success as Ogura claimed two wins in the Rookies Cup and a debut win in the JuniorGP World Championship. In 2018, Ogura continued in the JuniorGP class and racked up a further five podiums, one of which was a victory, which helped Ogura finish fifth overall.
2018 also saw Ogura make his World Championship debut in Jerez – and it was an impressive one too. A first Moto3 point was earned and after making three more appearances on the world stage that year, a full-time World Championship ride beckoned for the 2019 campaign with Honda Team Asia.
In his first full season as a Grand Prix rider, Ogura collected nine top 10 results, including a second place finish in Aragon, on his way to P10 in the standings. That signalled a strong start to life as a World Championship rider, and in 2020, Ogura was a title contender. Despite not winning a race, consistency was key for the Japanese star. Seven podiums saw Ogura finish third in the Championship, as a move up to Moto2 awaited.
Promoted through the Idemitsu Honda Team Asia ranks, Ogura didn’t take long to gel with a Moto2 bike. After pocketing six top seven finishes in his first 10 intermediate class races, Ogura’s maiden Moto2 rostrum was bagged at the Austrian GP with a P2 and having secured a P8 Championship finish in his first season, Ogura went into 2022 as a serious title contender.
And that’s exactly how it played out. Ogura’s first Moto2 win came in Jerez, with two more following in Austria and Japan. Unfortunately, a disappointing final three races – including a crash out of P2 on the last lap in Malaysia – saw Ogura narrowly miss out on the title to Augusto Fernandez.
Ogura’s 2023 campaign was curtailed before a wheel had been turned in anger when a pre-season training crash resulted in a broken wrist. That caused Ogura to miss the opening two rounds of the season, and it was an injury that plagued him for a number of months. Three podiums were still enjoyed by the Japanese rider, but another title charge was out of the equation and ahead of going again in 2024, a new challenge was on the horizon.
A switch from Idemitsu Honda Team Asia and Kalex machinery to an MT Helmets – MSI and Boscoscuro combination was a big change. However, now fully fit and firing on all cylinders, Ogura’s season started well with a P4, P5, P7, P6 run up to the French GP. In Le Mans, he was back on the podium in second and at the following race in Barcelona, Ogura’s first win with his new outfit arrived. Two more wins in Assen and at the San Marino GP cemented Ogura’s name as one of the main title candidates, and back-to-back P2s in Indonesia and on home turf in Japan, while his main Championship rivals slipped up, put Ogura in a commanding position – 60 points clear to be exact – ahead of a date with Phillip Island.
There, he took another solid P4 as he kept cool under pressure, not converting his first match point but setting himself up for glory at the Thai GP. After fighting his way up to second place, the changing weather then brought the race to an early end – and with full points awarded. Those 20 more ensure the #79 is the 2024 Moto2 World Champion – from the ATC to the top of the world!
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Gaurav Gill back to winning ways; Clinches Rally of Hyderabad: INRC Round 4
Hyderabad, 20 October 2024: Celebrated motorsports driver Gaurav Gill displayed high skills and admirable car control to come out triumphant in the Blueband Rally of Hyderabad, the fourth round of the Blueband FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship 2024, which concluded in Shamshabad, near here, on Sunday. The round of the Nationals was organised by Telangana Motors Sports Foundation and promoted Blueband Sports.
The only Arjuna Awardee in motorsports, Gill, along with co-driver Anirudha Rangnekar, supported by JK Tyre, began the second day with a blistering run in the first stage and the seven-time National champion, eased off to nurture the car with superb consistency thereafter, and notched a well-deserving victory. “This is one of the hottest rallies and the terrain is treacherous. So, we were calm and consistent and that paid rich dividends. We had some new upgrades and new compounds and JK Tyre has been supporting me with a lot of faith and we are happy to get back a win in the middle of the year,” said a visibly happy Gill. When asked if this win can change the fortunes, he paused for a second. “You never know. A win always changes the path to a positive one. If you have noticed, this season we had different winners in all the rallies. And two more rallies with more than 70 points to win. Despite not getting good results, JK has backed me thoroughly and it is time to get back to winning ways,” was his parting shot.
Former champion Chetan Shivram and co-driver E Shivaprakash of A & A Motorsports took an admirable overall second, with two stage wins, and they also won their class, INRC2. Kerala’s ace driver, Fabid Ahmer and co-driver Milen George, supported by MRF, showed great resilience to grab an overall podium pipping a marauding Arka Motorsports pair, Karna Kadur and co-driver Musa Sherif, by a mere two seconds. However, Karna and Musa, supported by MRF, took the overall lead in the INRC 2024 championships with two more rallies to go.
Gurugram’s Arnav Pratap Singh and co-driver Rohit of Bengaluru won the INRC3 class and also came out on top in the Junior INRC. Anushriya Gulati of Dehradun with Karan Aukta as co-driver won the Ladies class while the Chikmagalur-Bengaluru pair of Dr Akarsh Sundar and co-driver Ravikumar won the gypsy class.
“The husband-wife duo of Aneeshnath and Amitha Aneesh from A & A Motorsports won the FMSCI Classic Challenge Cup. ‘We are very happy to clinch victory in this tricky rally,’ said the Bengaluru pair. When asked about having his wife as a navigator, Aneesh replied, ‘It has been wonderful over the last few rallies, and she has played a big part in my success. We share great chemistry both inside and outside the car,’ he quipped, adding a sparkle to the eyes of his life partner.”
Out of the 55 that took the start, 12 cars logged a DNF as the terrain proved treacherous for many drivers. The next rally will be in Coorg followed by season finale, the popular K-1000 at Tumkur, also in Karnataka.
Final Provisional Results:
INRC Overall:
1. Gaurav Gill (privateers, Delhi)/ Anirudha Rangnekar (Pune) (01hour, 48 minutes, 18.7 seconds);
2. Chetan Shivram/ E Shivaprakash (A&A Motorsports, Both Bengaluru) (01:49:39.4);
3. Fabid Ahmer (Chettinad Sporting, Palakkad)/ Milen George (Kottayam) (01:51:06.1);
INRC2:
1. Chetan Shivram/ E Shivaprakash (A&A Motorsports, Both Bengaluru) (01:49:39.4);
2. Fabid Ahmer (Chettinad Sporting, Palakkad)/ Milen George (Kottayam) (01:51:06.1);
3. Jason Saldhanha (Arka Motorsports, Hassan)/ Thimmu Uddapanda (Kodagu) (01:51:14.0);
INRC3:
1. Arnav Pratap Singh (Snap Racing, Gurugram)/ Rohit (Bengaluru) (01:51:46.1)
2. Daraius Shroff (Chettinad Sporting, Mumbai)/ Arjun Dheerendra (Bengaluru) (01:51.59.4);
3. Arjun Rajiv (Chettinadu Sporting)/ Vinay Padmashali (Both Bengaluru) (01:52:00.2);
Ladies Class:
1. Anushriya Gulati (Arka Motorsports, Dehradun)/ Karan Aukta (01:55:26.0);
2. Nikeetaa Takkale (Pvt, Pune)/ Arvind Dheerendra (Bengaluru) (01:58:23.3);
3. Phoebe Nongrum (Snap Racing, Shillong)/ KP Aravind (Bengaluru) (02:11:00.7);
Junior INRC:
1. Arnav Pratap Singh (Snap Racing, Gurugram)/ Rohit N (Bengaluru) (01:51:46.1)
2. Arjun Rajiv (Chettinadu Sporting)/ Vinay (Both Bengaluru) (01:52:00.2);
3. Abhin Rai (Ideal Racing)/ Moideen Jasheer (both Chikmagalur) (01:53:08.3);
Fmsci Classic Challenge:
1. Aneeshnath S (A & A Motorsports)/ Amitha Aneesh (Both Bengaluru) (02:03:48.0);
2. Shaik Hussain Pasha (Addons Motorsports, Hyderabad)/ Ashfaque Afrid (Sattupalli, AP) (02:30:43.9);
3. Praveen Dwarakanath (Pvt., Bengaluru). Arun V (Tirupur) (02:39:38.7);
Fmsci Gypsy Challenge:
1. Dr Akarsh Sundar (Pvt., Chikmagalur)/ Ravi Kumar (Bengaluru) (02:02:51.2);
2. Baljinder Singh Dhillon (A & A Motorsports, Delhi)/ Goutham CP (Chikmagalur) (02:04:39.8);
3.Sachin Singh (Pvt., Hyderabad)/ Anand Raj (Erode) (02:05:47.5);
Star of Hyderabad:
1. Uday Pilani (Chettinad Sporting)/ Sheraz Ahmed (01:58.48.7);
2. Amit Sanghi (Arka Motorsports)/ Dinky Varghese K (02:04:10.9);
3. Sravan Kumar Kuttoor (pvt.)/ Nash Ross 02:04:32.7).
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Duel Down Under: Marquez vs Martin lights up the Island
Nightmare start, dream end: the #93 charges through and gets the gloves off to beat Martin, with Bagnaia doing some damage limitation in third.
Melbourne, 20 October 2024: Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) went toe-to-toe at the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, escaping to create a private showdown at front and dueling through the final four laps – split by less than a second over the line. Marquez came out on top despite dropping back after a nightmare start, with the #93 stalking the #89 through the latter stages before making his attack and making it stick. In the title fight, Martin’s second place nevertheless sees him increase his lead by four points, with key rival and reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completing the podium at a distance on Sunday.
The drama was immediate as Marquez’ rear wheel spun up a cloud of smoke off the line, a tear off trapped under the rear tyre which was then unceremoniously ejected as he dropped the clutch. That allowed the Gresini machine to quickly take off and slot back into the fight, but the kerfuffle – and a great start from the #89 – saw Martin streak away to take the holeshot ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), with Bagnaia up into third early on as he threaded the needle past Marquez’ drama. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) was in P4, with another stunning launch from Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) putting the South African into fifth from P11 on the grid.
Behind, in no time at all Marquez was somehow already attacking Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) to move back into sixth, and after a tango at Turn 4 the #93 made it through. From there, he was on a mission. Next was Binder, and the gap to the South African was gone in a couple of laps. Then it was Morbidelli and with 22 to go into Turn 1, Marquez was through and into the podium places. Now, the clear air to his 2025 teammate was the target as the #1 continued to hold race leader Martin within around half a second.
By 16 to go, a small mistake from the Championship leader made it a six-wheeler at the front, the three machines glued together: Martin, Bagnaia and Marquez. Bagnaia wasted no time as he attacked at Turn 3 and made it through, but Martin hit back at Turn 4. That opened the door enough for Marquez to head through too, resetting it to Martin – Marquez – Bagnaia in that order at the front.
With 13 to go, the #1 and the #93 set identical laps, and less than a tenth off race leader Martin. With all on the soft tyre and plenty of kilometers to go, the chess game seemed out in full force but the Jaws music was starting to fade in from Marquez. Next time round, he was right on the back of the Pramac ahead. 10 laps to go, two tenths between two riders, and one second back to the reigning Champion. Then 1.9. It was becoming a duel Down Under, and the tension simmered away lap by lap before a final four to remember.
Four to go, Martin left the door just enough ajar at Turn 4 and there was no second invitation needed as Marquez sliced past. Into Turn 1 with three to go, Martin returned the favour. At Turn 4, Marquez did the same once more, and sent both just wide enough for the gloves to now clearly be off. No contact, and they just about stayed on track away from the green, but it was a lunge. If it was designed to create some metres of clear air in the lead it didn’t quite work as they stayed stuck together split by 0.111 over the line, but the #93 was now hammer down.
This time at Turn 1, there was no gap. Martin tried to make one at Turn 2 but no dice, and around three Marquez started to make some metres. By the start of the final lap, the #93 was half a second clear, and gaining himself just enough breathing space to call that a third win of the year.
Bagnaia couldn’t quite find enough to go with the duo in the lead once they’d broken away, but kept it tidy in third for a very valuable 16-point haul, keeping the deficit at 20 points with a maximum of 111 still to race for.
In the fight behind the podium, Bastianini dropped back before picking his way forward again, with Binder, Morbidelli, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) for company in a tight fight. By the flag though it was two duels. Diggia took fourth from Bastianini by three tenths, and behind them it was a near photo-finish for sixth as Morbidelli and Binder crossed the line split by just 0.016. Viñales was forced to settle for eighth.
Another group fought it out behind that one, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) rising to the fore there. The Frenchman stormed up from P18 on the grid to take ninth and another top ten, denying Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing), home hero Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) and Alex Rins (Monster Energy Energy MotoGP). Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) had another solid day to take more points in P14, with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) taking the final point after the #73 had headed well wide at Turn 1 and served his Long Lap for his collision with Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) in Japan.
Mir slid out on Sunday, and Bezzecchi crashed early after completing his Long Lap for his incident with Viñales in the Tissot Sprint. He remounted but at the back of the pack. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) didn’t start after being declared unfit on Sunday morning due to shoulder trauma incurred on Saturday.
After the drama, the weather, the well-calculated lunges and high-speed chess, that’s a wrap on Phillip Island. The Championship top two are now split by 20 points, with Marquez still just about hanging on as a contender for the crown and Bastianini now at a real last chance saloon in Buriram. Join us for the PT Grand Prix of Thailand next weekend for another two showdowns in front of a wall of noise from that main grandstand… and a final corner designed to make them roar!
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Raoul Hyman’s all round show confirms convincing win for Goa Aces: IRL
Coimbatore, 20 October 2024: Raoul Hyman, the 28-year-old from UK, delivered a second podium for Goa Aces JA Racing with a comfortable lights-to-flag victory as the fourth round of the Indian Racing League, promoted by the Racing Promotions, concluded at the Kari Motor Speedway, here on Sunday.
Hyman picked up the full quota of points from pole position, race win and best lap of the race, and his success followed his teammate Sohil Shah’s P3 finish on Saturday in the first race of the Indian Racing League.
Finishing second behind Hyman was Ruhaan Alva of Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers and Portugal’s Alvaro Parante for Speed Demons Delhi. Incidentally, Parante profited when Hyman’s teammate Gabriela Jilkova’s car encountered a problem when running P3 in the closing stages. Further, Jilkova was handed a 20-second penalty for false-start and it pushed her down to seventh at the finish.
Pole-sitter Hyman capitalised on a good start throughout the race. Down the grid, Alva, starting from P2 dropped a couple of places at the very start before recovering to regain his second spot, but way behind Hyman. Jilkova looked certain for a podium spot until her car suffered an issue and Parante moved up a spot to P3 where he finished.
The two-day Indian Racing Festival, sponsored by Kingfisher Soda, JK Tyres, Mobil 1 and Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Limited is broadcasted on Star Sports HD and fan Code. The fifth and final round of the festival will be held in Coimbatore from November 16-17, 2024.
Formula 4 Indian Open
Three teenagers, South African Aqil Alibhai of Black Birds Hyderabad, and Indians Ruhaan Alva from Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers and Jaden Pariat of Bangalore Speedsters extended their domination of the Formula 4 Indian Open Championship by finishing on the podium in all three races this weekend.
Alibhai won all three races, including two today. The trio had too much pace and race craft for the rest of the pack which was left chasing the shadows of the front-runners.
“It was a perfect weekend for me, winning all three races. I hope to continue this form in the final round and seal the championship,” said Alibhai after posting his fourth win in a row, including one in the previous round and three this weekend.
The day’s final race typified the weekend’s proceedings. Alibhai capitalised his pole position start while Alva recovered from a poor start to get back to P2, ahead of Pariat. The trio did not face any challenge once they settled into their respective track positions to secure the top three spots on the podium.
Earlier, Alibhai won his second race of the weekend comfortably despite starting P6 on the reverse grid, while Pariat and Alva, who both made places immediately after the start, came in second and third respectively. As before, Alibhai’s pace proved decisive. With about eight minutes and a lap left in the race, Alibhai led by about eight seconds, but the lead was wiped out when the Safety Car was deployed. On resumption though, the South African jetted away from the pack, yet again underlining the impressive pace.
27th JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship – Bengaluru trio sweep podium
Racers from Bengaluru, Abhay Mohan (MSPORT), championship leader Tiljil Rao (Dark Don Racing) and Chetan Surineni (Ahura Racing), who started from P23, swept the podium spots in that order in the fiercely contested LGB Formula 4 race.
Starting from pole position on the reverse grid, teenager Abhay Mohan pulled away from the pack while behind him, a four-way tussle involving veteran Raghul Rangasamy (MSPORT), and the Dark Don trio of Bala Prasath, Tijil Rao and Diljith TS. As the 20-lap progressed, Abhay Mohan continued to extend his lead while track positions were trading behind him.
Eventually, Tijil moved to P2 after getting past Bala Prasath, whose car lost the front cone following contact with another vehicle, and Rangasamy. Meanwhile, Viswas Vijayaraj (Dark Don Racing) and Surineni, who both started from the back row of the 23-car grid, joined the lead back behind Abhay Mohan. Surineni benefitted when Vijayaraj and Rangasamy knocked each other out at Turn-1 with three laps remaining before the race ended behind the Safety Car.
Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup
Rohan R (Coimbatore) and Navaneeth Kumar S (Puducherry) won a race apiece in the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup after surviving close battles. In fact, Rohan, after winning today’s first race, looked set for a double, but Navaneeth Kumar, with a late burst, denied him with a late burst in the second outing.
The results (Provisional):
Indian Racing League (Race-2, Driver-B) 22 mins+1 lap: 1. Raoul Hyman (UK, Goa Aces JA Racing) (23mins, 40.164secs); 2. Ruhaan Alva (India, Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers) (23:52.434); 3. Alvaro Parante (Portugal, Speed Demons Delhi) (23:54.337). Best Lap: Raoul Hyman (01:03.917).
Formula 4 Indian Open (Race-2, 25mins+1 lap): 1. Aqil Alibhai (South Africa, Hyderabad Blackbirds) (26:16.904); 2. Jaden Pariat (India, Bangalore Speedsters) (26:18.991); 3. Ruhaan Alva (India, Srachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers) (26:19.996). Best Lap: Alibhai (01:06.693). Race-3: 1. Aqil Alibhai (South Africa, Black Birds Hyderabad) (26:54.554); 2. Ruhaan Alva (India, Srachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers) (27:03.942); 3. Jaden Pariat (India, Bangalore Speedsters) (27:09.106); 3. Ruhaan Alva (India, Srachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers) (26:19.996). Best Lap: Alibhai (01:06.615).
27th JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship:
LGB Formula 4 (Race-2, 20 laps): 1. Abhay Mohan (Bengaluru, MSPORT) (27:37.914); 2. Tijil Rao (Bengaluru, Dark Don Racing) (27:38.085); 3. Chetan Surineni (Bengaluru, Ahura Racing) (27:38.162). Rookie: 1. Abhay Mohan (Bengaluru, MSPORT) (27:37.914); 2. Dhruvh Goswami (Bengaluru, MSPORT) (27:39.889); 3. Monith Kumaran Srinivasan (Chennai, Ahura Racing) (27:43.006).
Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup (Race-2, 5 laps): 1. Rohan R (Coimbatore) (06:39.768); 2. Kayan Patel (Mumbai) (06:40.124); 3. Navaneeth Kumar S (Puducherry) (06:40.214). Race-3 (10 laps) – Professionals: 1. Navaneeth Kumar S (Puducherry) (13:04.139); 2. Rohan R (Coimbatore) (13:04.620); 3. Jagadeesh Nagaraj (Bengaluru) (13:07.724). Amateurs: 1. Yogesh P (Bengaluru) (13:31.365); 2. Johring Warisa (Umrangso) (13:54.196); 3. Prashant C (Chennai) (14:03.400).
