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Category: National Championship
The event counts as the National Championship recognised by FMSCI, the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India, the governing body of motorsports in India, and the ASN recognised by FIA and FIM.
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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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Diana Pundole breaks gender barrier, creates history in Indian Motorsports
Bengaluru: Diana Pundole, a 28-year-old from Pune, has made history as the first Indian woman to win a national racing championship in the MRF Saloon category. Her remarkable victory at the 2024 Indian National Car Racing Championship, held at the Madras International Circuit, marks a significant achievement in a male-dominated sport. Pundole’s journey has been anything but conventional—balancing her roles as a mother of two and a teacher while pursuing her passion for motorsport.
Diana’s entry into racing started early when she took up karting as a hobby. Despite having no formal training, she built her skills through sheer determination. However, it wasn’t until she participated in a nationwide talent hunt organized by JK Tyre Motorsport that her career truly took off. Winning the event gave her a fully sponsored racing season, where she debuted in a Formula car. From there, her racing career blossomed, with milestones like setting lap records and eventually progressing to the saloon category.
Her 2024 victory is particularly notable for breaking longstanding stereotypes in motorsports. As she noted in interviews, racing is a physically and mentally demanding sport, and she has faced her share of criticism and taunts. Yet, her perseverance paid off, and today, she is celebrated for her groundbreaking achievements.
This victory is not just a personal triumph but a significant step for women in Indian motorsports, inspiring young girls to follow their dreams despite societal challenges.
Note: This article is part of Indian ‘Women in Motorpsots’ series which profiles the best performances of women riders and drivers of the 2024 season.
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A triumph against the odds: Sarah Khan is 2024 vice champion in TVS ladies class
Bengaluru, 10 October 2024: In a brutal display of resilience and determination, Sarah Khan has secured the title of vice-champion in the prestigious TVS One-Make Championship braving odds head on. She clinched victory in the final round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship, a feat made remarkable as she competed with a fractured wrist.
Sarah Khan with her 2024 Trophy The 2024 season began on a high note for Sarah, with a decisive win in the first round. However, the journey to the championship podium was far from smooth. In Round 2, some technical issues hindered her performance where she finished in third position. Round 3 presented another setback, with Sarah starting from the last on the grid due to a penalty but finished a fighting fourth. Yet, it was in Round 4 that the greatest challenge arose. During the race, Sarah suffered a crash, resulting in a fractured wrist. Despite the injury, she refused to quit.
After the race was red-flagged, Sarah rejoined the competition, starting from the pitlane and defying the odds, he finished in P7. It was a gritty performance, one that showcased her unrelenting spirit. Even with the fractured wrist, she was determined to continue racing.
In the final round, Round 5, Sarah made a remarkable comeback. Despite struggling with her pace due to wrist pain, she qualified in P5. However, Sarah fought through the adversity and delivered a spectacular performance. In a hard-fought battle, she claimed victory in the race, securing enough points to finish the season as the vice-champion.
Sarah Khan with the machines that she raced in 2024 Reflecting on the season, Sarah acknowledges that none of it would have been possible without the unwavering support of her mom and brother. “I wasn’t even sure if I’d be able to race this season.” Sarah said. “But their support gave me the strength to keep going. It’s funny to think that there was a time when they were against me to become a motorcycle racer but now I’m happy they’re very proud.”
The season has been a journey of highs and lows, but through it all, Sarah demonstrated a remarkable ability to persevere in the face of adversity. With a vice-champion tag to her name and an inspiring story to match, Sarah Khan has scripted a remarkable journey in the 2024 TVS One-Make Championship.
Note: This article is part of Indian ‘Women in Motorpsots’ series which profiles the best performances of women riders and drivers of the 2024 season.
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Jagan bids adieu winning 11 Nationals; Maiden National title for Jagathishree
Chennai, 6 October 2024: Veteran Jagan Kumar (TVS Racing), the “King of 165”, bid adieu to his illustrious racing career after clinching his 11th National title to provide an emotional finish to the fifth and final round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 – Powered by STORM at the Madras International Circuit, here on Sunday.
Joining him on the National Championship rostrum were Sarthak Chavan (Pune, TVS Racing) in Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open; Abdul Basim (Chennai, Rockers Racing), Jagathishree Kumaresan (Chennai, One Racing), an archaeologist in the making, in the Girls, Stock 165cc, and Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) in the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) category.
Jagan, the 36-year-old from Chennai, rolled back the years with a stunning last-corner overtake while winning the concluding Pro-Stock 165cc Open race that also saw his old mates, KY Ahamed and Deepak Ravikumar following him home, leaving the two next generation riders and team-mates, Sarthak Chavan and Chiranth Vishwanath to scrap for minor positions. The win, his third of the season, put him five points clear of Ahamed in the final championship standings.
“I am finished with my racing career. I have two young daughters, and they need all my attention now. I started this season with a dream of ending my career with a championship win and I am happy I was able to accomplish that. Now, it is time for the new generation, Sarthak and Chiranth, to step up,” said Jagan, who won the first of his 11 National titles in 2009.
Meanwhile, Sarthak lent credence to Jagan’s words by becoming only the second rider after Rajini Krishnan (2007) to win two titles in the same season – the Pro-Stock 301-400cc and the TVS RTE Electric. “It’s been a great year for me, and I look forward to more success in the coming seasons,” said the 17-year-old from Pune who scored an astonishing nine wins from 10 starts in the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc category.
Among the performances of the day was that of Chennai’s Deepak Ravikumar (TVS Racing) who started last and finished third in the Pro-Stock 301-400cc race, behind team-mates Sarthak Chavan, who thus notched his ninth win in 10 starts, and Chiranth Vishwanath. Ravikumar, who missed Saturday’s race owing to the demise of his grandmother, roared through the high-quality grid today for a well-deserved podium finish.
Jagathishree (One Racing), the 20-year-old from Chennai who has chosen archaeology as a profession, and who scored a fortuitous win yesterday after two title contenders, Ryhana Bee and Rakshitha Dave, crashed. She too suffered a similar fate in Race-2 today but picked herself up to complete the race in sixth place and picked up 10 points that fetched her the championship.
Sarthak Chavan, at MIC on Sunday In front of her, Chennai school girl Rakshitha Dave (Castrol Power1 Ultimate) won the race untroubled with Bengaluru’s Shuria SP (One Racing) and Aisvariya V (One Racing) from Coimbatore finishing second and third, respectively. Ryhana Bee, nursing a wrist injury from yesterday’s crash, did not start the race. Jagathishree copped a Rs 2,000/- fine for crossing the cheqeuered flag twice, but retained her sixth spot that helped her win the title.
Mysuru’s Tasmai Cariappa (Motul Sparks Racing) won his second race of the season in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category after a tough fight. The result put him in second spot on the leaderboard behind Abdul Basim (Rockers Racing) who suffered a crash and finished 17th.
Later, Chennai’s 24-year-old Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan, who has roots in Kodagu, Karnataka, was content to finish third in the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) race which was sufficient for him to clinch the championship in this category. Bengaluru’s 17-year-old Savion Sabu (Mad Rabbit Racing) won a close race from experienced Raj Kumar (RDX Torque Racing).
Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup
Bengaluru teenager Savion Sabu finished the season in the NSF 250R category with his maiden win and occupied second in the championship behind Malappuram’s Mohsin Paramban. The eight-lap race saw Savion, studying online in 11th standard, take an early lead which he nursed to the finish while Mohsin came in second ahead of Hyderabad’s Rajender Beedani.
TVS India One-Make Championship
Senthilkumar C from Coimbatore snatched the title in the Open (Apache RR 310) category with a second-place finish in the concluding race which Chennai’s Manoj Yesuadian won. Another Chennai rider, Jayanth P took the third spot.
Bengaluru’s Harshith V Bogar took the title in the Rookie category though he finished second behind Akarsh Jangam. CS Kedarnath completed the podium.
Sarthak Chavan wrote another piece of history by becoming the first-ever Electric motorcycle racing champion as he finished unbeaten across five races in the TVS RTE Electric category.
The results (Provisional – all 6 laps unless mentioned):
National Championship – Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open (Race-2): 1. Sarthak Chavan (Pune, TVS Racing) (11mins, 06.720secs); 2. Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru, TVS Racing) (11:08.130); 3. Deepak Ravikumar (Chennai, TVS Racing) (11:08.848). Rider Champion: Sarthak Chavan (Pune, TVS Racing). Champion Team: TVS Racing
Pro-Stock 165cc Open (Race-2): 1. Jagan Kumar (Chennai, TVS Racing) (11:40.405); 2. Deepak Ravikumar (Chennai, TVS Racing) (11:40.508); 3. KY Ahamad (Chennai, TVS Racing) (11:40.667). Rider Champion: Jagan Kumar (Chennai, TVS Racing). Champion Team: TVS Racing.
Stock 301-400cc (Novice) Race-2: 1. Savion Sabu (Bengaluru, Mad Rabbit Racing) (12:13.970); 2. Raj Kumar C (Coimbatore, RDX Torque Racing) (12:14.003); 3. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (12:15.905). Rider Champion: Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate). Champion Team: RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate.
Novice (Stock 165cc) Race-2: 1. Tasmai Cariappa (Mysuru, Motul Sparks Racing) (12:59.465); 2. Kamal Navas (Chennai, Rockers Racing) (13:00.752); 3. CS Kedarnath (Tirupati, Alpha Racing) (13:03.426). Rider Champion: Abdul Basim (Chennai, Rockers Racing). Champion Team: Rockers Racing.
Girls (Stock 165cc) Race-2 (5 laps): 1. Rakshitha Dave (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (11:05.170); 2. Shuria SP (Bengaluru, One Racing) (11:17.947); 3. Aisvariya V (Coimbatore, Motul Sparks Racing) (11:20.239). Rider Champion: Jagathishree Kumaresan (Chennai, One Racing). Champion team: One Racing
Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250R) Race-2 (8 laps): 1. Savion Sabu (Bengaluru) (15:03.809); 2. Mohsin Paramban (Malappuram) (15:10.876); 3. Beedani Rajender (Hyderabad) (15:17.258). Rider Champion: Mohsin Paramban (Malappuram).
TVS Racing One-Make Championship – Open (Apache RR 310) Race-2: 1. Manoj Yesuadiyan (Chennai) (11:42.927); 2. Senthilkumar C (Coimbatore) (11:47.034); 3. Jayanth P (Chennai) (11:51.216). Rider Champion: Senthilkumar C (Coimbatore).
Rookie (Apache RTR 200) Race-2: 1. Akarsh Jangam (Vijayawada) (13:17.500); 2. Harshith V Bogar (Bengaluru) (13:17.929); 3. CS Kedarnadh (Tirupati) (13:18.113). Rider Champion: Harshith V Bogar (Bengaluru).
TVS RTE Electric (3 laps): 1. Sarthak Chavan (Pune) (05:22.071); 2. Alwin Sundar A (Chennai) (05:27.526); 3. Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru) (05:34.935). Rider Champion: Sarthak Chavan (Pune).
Media (Apache RTR 200, 5 laps): 1. Praveen Kumar (Chennai) (11:22.005); 2. Charan Karthik G (Pune).
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Sarthak wins maiden National title; Jagathishree in line for title as Ryhana, Rakshitha log DNF
Chennai, October 5: Pune’s Sarthak Chavan (TVS Racing), enjoying the best season of his fledgling career yet, scripted history when he became the youngest ever at 17 years of age to seal the title in the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open class as the fifth and final round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 – Powered by STORM headed towards a grand climax at the Madras International Circuit, here on Saturday.
Sarthak, who will turn 18 at the end of October, clinched the crown by winning Race-1 which put him beyond reach of his rivals in the points tally. Riding with great maturity, Sarthak tucked himself behind race leader and team-mate Chiranth Vishwanath, the 17-year-old from Bengaluru before making a move late in the six-lapper to notch his eighth win in nine races. Veteran Rajini Krishnan (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) was placed third. The result put Sarthak 57 points ahead of Chiranth on the leaderboard.
Minutes after the victory, the team decked up Sarthak in champion livery at MIC on Saturday. Photo By Anand Philar. “It feels great to win my maiden National title. I have had a good season this year with five podium finishes at the Asian level. At the start of the season, I was focused on my riding and wanting to do well,” said Sarthak.
Later, Chiranth Vishwanath, the 17-year-old from Bengaluru, won the other premier class race, Pro-Stock 165cc Open, which went down to the wire after a few heart-stopping moments, as TVS Racing swept the podium spots with KY Ahamed and Sarthak Chavan finishing second and third, respectively. The six-lap race had three different leaders until Chiranth went past Sarthak and Ahamed with a daring move at the last corner as the trio finished within a second of each other.
The victory, though, kept Chiranth anchored in fourth spot on the leaderboard while Ahamed and his mentor and multiple National champion Jagan Kumar, who finished fourth today, and Sarthak are separated by only three points ahead of Sunday’s concluding race.
Meanwhile, the Girls (Stock 165cc) race threw up an unexpected result as the two championship contenders Ryhana Bee (One Racing) and Rakshitha Dave (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) made contact and crashed in the third lap. Their retirement saw Jagathishree Kumaresan (One Racing) notch an easy win ahead of team-mate SP Shuria and Saimah Ajaz Baig (Motul Sparks Racing). With today’s win, Jagathishree moved to the top of the leaderboard with a 22-point advantage over Ryhana, going into Sunday’s concluding race.
Chennai’s Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) picked up crucial points after finishing third in the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) race behind Raj Kumar C (RDX Torque Racing) and Savion Sabu (Mad Rabbit Racing) to keep his top spot on the points table. He leads Raj Kumar by 17 points ahead of Sunday’s final race.
Abdul Basim (Rockers Racing) maintained his form and scored his eighth win in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category, having already sealed the championship in the previous round. He held off his close rival, Tasmai Cariappa (Motul Sparks Racing).
Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup
Scoring his sixth win in nine starts, Malappuram’s Mohsin Paramban only confirmed his title in the NSF 250R category. He had to fight hard for his today’s success as he crossed the finish line in a close formation with second-placed Siddesh Sawant (Kolhapur) and Bengaluru’s Savion Sabu.
TVS India One-Make Championship
Senthilkumar C (Coimbatore) chalked up his sixth win in the Open (RR 310) category to move 13 points clear of second-placed Manoj Yesuadian (Chennai) on the leaderboard to set up an exciting battle for the title on Sunday when Race-2 will be run. Senthil’s elder brother Raj Kumar came in third but is not in contention for the title.
Bengaluru’s 20-year-old Harshith V Bogar provisionally clinched the championship in the Rookie (Apache RTR 200) category despite finishing third behind Akarsh Jangam from Vijayawada and CS Kedarnath (Tirupati) in the six-lap race. Going into the concluding race to be run on Sunday, Harshith enjoys an insurmountable 44-point lead over Kedarnath.
Pune’s Saimah Ajaz Baig took the title in the Girls (Apache RTR 200) category by finishing second behind Sarah Khan (Mumbai) and ahead of Aisvariya V (Coimbatore). The 21 points that Saimah earned put her on top of the leaderboard at the conclusion of the championship in this category.
The results (Provisional – all 6 laps unless mentioned):
National Championship – Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open (Race-1): 1. Sarthak Chavan (Pune, TVS Racing) (11mins, 04.916secs); 2. Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru, TVS Racing) (11:05.126); 3. Rajini Krishnan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (11:05.903).
Pro-Stock 165cc Open (Race-1): 1. Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru, TVS Racing) (11:42.136); 2. KY Ahamed (Chennai, TVS Racing) (11:42.256); 3. Sarthak Chavan (Pune, TVS Racing) (11:42.581).
Stock 301-400cc (Novice) Race-1: 1. Raj Kumar (Coimbatore, RDX Torque Racing) (12:18.326); 2. Savion Sabu (Bengaluru, Mad Rabbit Racing) (12:18.504); 3. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (12:18.668).
Novice (Stock 165cc) Race-1: 1. Abdul Basim RS (Chennai, Team Rockers Racing) (12:55.636); 2. Tasmai Cariappa (Mysuru, Motul Sparks Racing) (12:58.727); 3. Lal Nunsanga (Mizoram, Motul Sparks Racing) (12:59.713).
Girls (Stock 165cc) Race-1 (5 laps): 1. Jagathishree Kumaresan (Chennai, One Racing) (11:03.823); 2. SP Shuria (Bengaluru, One Racing) (11:29.946); 3. Saimah Ajaz Baig (Pune, Motul Sparks Racing) (11:39.598).
Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250R) Race-1: 1. Mohsin Paramban (Malappuram) (11:22.331); 2. Siddesh Sawant (Kolhapur) (11:22.425); 3. Savion Sabu (Bengaluru) (11:22.568).
TVS Racing One-Make Championship – Open (Apache RR 310) Race-1: 1. Senthilkumar C (Coimbatore) (11:44.902); 2. Manoj Yesuadiyan (Chennai) (11:47.405); 3. Raj Kumar C (Coimbatore) (11:48.223).
Rookie (Apache RTR 200) Race-1: 1. Akarsh Jangam (Vijayawada) (13:14.266); 2. CS Kedarnadh (Tirupati) (13:14.285); 3. Harshith V Bogar (Bengaluru) (13:14.662).
Girls (Apache RTR 200): 1. Sarah Khan (Mumbai) (13:24.959); 2. Saimah Ajaz Baig (Pune) (13:25.639); 3. Aisvariya V (Coimbatore) (13:27.976).
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Rivaan Dev Preetham retains Micro Max National title; Arafath wins maiden Jr. National title: Karting
Chennai, 29 Sept. 2024: Reigning National champion Rivaan Dev Preetham of MSport stamped his authority and showed maturity beyond his 11 years to let go the win in the Final to clinch a more important second National Championship title in the Micro Max category a winning the fifth and final round of the MECO-FMSCI National Karting Championship Rotax Max Classes 2024, jointly organized by the Madras Motor Sports Club, at the Madras International Karting Arena (MIKA), here on Sunday.
In the Senior Max class, Ruhaan Alva (MSport) emerged National champion while Pune’s 12-year-old Arafath Sheikh of Crest Motorsports annexed his maiden crown in the Junior Max category gathering just enough points even as Chennai’s Eshanth Vengatesan, also of MSport, won both the Pre-Finals and Finals. The Bishop School Pune student, Sheikh, was consistent through out the year and watched his win fade away in the final laps, but kept his cool, as he enjoyed a huge lead in the championship table.
The three National champions qualified to represent India in the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in Sarno, Italy, from October 19 to 26.
On a day of exciting action, Rivaan, cheered on by his supporters, had to work hard for his victory in the Pre-Finals, but finished second behind Chennai’s Rehan Khan (MSPORT) in the Finals in a battle that went down to the wire. Rehan overtook Rivaan a couple of corners before the finish for a deserving win.
Competition in the Junior Max was razor sharp. Eshanth Vengatesan dominated the heats, Pre-Finals and Finals winning by the proverbial country mile starting from pole position. His efforts, though, were not enough to fetch him the championship. Arfath Sheikh had to contend with traffic and some stiff opposition behind the leader, but ultimately, he garnered enough points to clinch the championship.
Ruhaan Alva, the front-runner in the championship stakes in the Senior Max category, was unlucky not to win the Pre-Finals as he was twice shunted and finished seventh but gained enough points to stay on top of the leaderboard. Chennai’s Varun Hari Praveen led a 1-2 finish for Peregrine Racing with Bengaluru’s Ishaan Madesh.
In the Finals, Ruhan made a few spots to tuck himself behind leader, fellow-Bengalurean Rohaan Madesh (Peregrine Racing) and after a few failed attempts to overtake, he seemed content with a P2 finish with which he sealed the championship, his second after the maiden win in 2021.
The results (Provisional):
Senior Max (Finals – 15 laps): 1. Rohaan Madesh (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (13:03.772); 2. Ruhaan Alva (Bengaluru, MSport) (13:03.909); 3. Ishaan Madesh (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (13:04.295).
Pre-Finals (14 laps): 1. Varun Hari Praveen (Chennai, Peregrine Racing) (12:22.022); 2. Ishaan Madesh (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (12:22.127): 3. Akshat Misra (Bengaluru, Crest Motorsports) (12:22.674).
National champion: Ruhaan Alva (Bengaluru, MSport).
Junior Max (Finals – 14 laps): 1. Eshanth Vengatesan (Chennai, MSport) (11:17.334); 2. Aahil Mecklai (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (11:24.232); 3. Nikhilesh Raju (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (11:25.318).
Pre-Finals (12 laps): 1. Eshanth Vengatesan (Chennai, MSport) (10:22.565); 2. Nikhilesh Raju (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (10:27.010); 3. Aarav Dewan (Gurugram, Leapfrog Racing) (10:27.265).
National champion: Arafath Sheikh (Pune, Crest Motorsports).
Micro Max (Finals – 12 laps): 1. Rehan Khan R (Chennai, MSport) (11:08.858); 2. Rivaan Dev Preetham (Chennai, MSport) (11:09.788); 3. Danish Dalmiya (Pune, Rayo Racing) (11:10.120).
Pre-Finals (10 laps): 1. Rivaan Dev Preetham (Chennai, MSPORT) ((09:17.686); 2. Rehan Khan R (Chennai, MSPORT) (09:17.774); 3. Hamza Balasinorwala (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (09:17.981).
National champion: Rivaan Dev Preetham (Chennai, MSport).
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MIKA to host final round of National Karting Championship
Irungattukottai (Chennai), 28 Sept. 2024: The Madras International Karting Arena (MIKA), inaugurated only last week, will host its maiden competitive event, the fifth and final round of the MECO-fmsci National Karting Championship Rotax Max Classes 2024 on Sunday.
With 54 entrants in the fray and titles up for grabs, the two-day event that started with qualifiers on Saturday, commencing on Saturday, September 28, is expected to dish out high octane action.
The big incentive for the participants is that the championship winners in each of the three categories – Micro Max, Junior Max and Senior Max – will represent India in the 24th Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals 2024 to be held at Sarno, Italy, from October 19 to 26.
Considering that it would be the first competitive outing at the MIKA track, not counting a three-day unofficial practice sessions previous weekend, it will be a fresh start for all the racers as they will have to learn and master the track layout in quick time.
The previous four rounds witnessed intense competition across all categories resulting in bunching up of title contenders on the leaderboard. With a maximum of 110 points (55 each for Pre-Finals and Finals) on offer in the concluding round of the season, the championship is wide open.
Chennai’s 11-year-old Rivaan Dev Preetham (MSPORT) leads the championship in the Micro Max, on the back of two dominating performances with a double by winning the Pre-Finals and Finals in Rounds 3 and 4, that helped him to open a 32-point lead over Hamza Balasinorwala (Rayo Racing) going into this weekend.
The title fight is much closer in the Junior Max with Pune’s Arafath Sheikh (Crest Motorsports) ahead of Aahil Mecklai of Rayo Racing from Mumbai, by just 17 points.
Former National champion Ruhaan Alva (MSPORT) from Bengaluru heads the Senior Max category with some strong results, notably in Round 2 where he topped both Pre-Finals and Finals. Consequently, he enjoys a 22-point advantage over Chennai’s Varun Hari Praveen (Peregrine Racing).
Ranged behind the front-runners in all the categories, are some equally talented racers capable of scripting surprise results.
The two-day card provides for official practice and Qualifying sessions besides Heats 1 and 2 for all categories on Saturday while Pre-Finals and Finals, both of which offer championship points, are scheduled for Sunday, followed by podium ceremonies.
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Abdul Basim clinches National title; Double for Pune teenager Sarthak Chavan
Chennai, 8 Sept. 2024: Abdul Basim (Rockers Racing), the 17-year-old from Chennai, virtually sealed the championship in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category by notching his seventh win in eight races to take an unassailable 57-point lead going into the fifth and final round next month.
Meanwhile, Pune teenager Sarthak Chavan of TVS Racing team capped a brilliant weekend by winning four of the five races he took part in as the fourth and penultimate round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 – Powered by STORM concluded at the Madras International Circuit, here on Sunday.
Sarthak, who will turn 18 next month, completed a grand double in the Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open category besides winning Race-2 of the Pro-Stock 165cc Open and the TVS Electric RTE race. To top it, he received Indian Oil special awards for posting the fastest laps on Saturday and Sunday.
TVS Racing team-mates Sarthak Chavan (centre, winner), second-placed KY Ahamed (left) and third-placed Jagan Kumar after the Pro-Stock 165cc Open race (Sept 8) Photos by Anand Philar In the Girls (Stock 165cc) class, Ryhana Bee (Rockers Racing) extended her domination by recording a double as she comfortably took Race-2 following up on her win yesterday to take a slender lead in the championship standings.
Chennai’s Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) roared to his fourth win to consolidate his leadership position in the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) class.
Three different leaders over six laps best describes the proceedings in the Pro-Stock 301-400cc race before Sarthak made a decisive move in the last lap to achieve a double, having won Race-1 yesterday. Finishing in P2 was arch-rival and TVS Racing team-mate Chiranth Vishwanath from Bengaluru followed by Chennai’s Alwin Sundar (KTM Gusto Racing India).
In the other headline race of the day, the Pro-Stock 165cc Open, witnessed a thrilling contest between TVS Racing mates, Sarthak and KY Ahamed. The two exchanged leads through the race until Sarthak stepped up the pace for a fine win. Another veteran and multiple National champion Jagan Kumar took the third spot.
Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (25) en route to winning the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) race on 8 Sept 2024. Photos by Anand Philar Behind the front-runners, Chiranth Vishwanath, the other top contender, was penalized for an incident in Saturday’s race involving Sarthak and started from the pit lane. He made swift progress to jump to P3 before an engine issue on the last lap saw him hop off the bike and push it across the finish line for ninth spot.
Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup
Winning both the races this weekend, Mohsin Paramban, the 22-year-old from Malappuram, took an unbeatable lead in the NSF 250R category. In Race-2 today, Mohsin was in a league of his own and won comfortably ahead of Prakash Kamat (Bengaluru) and Kolhapur’s Siddesh Sawant. Thus, after four rounds and eight races, Mohsin, with five wins, has effectively sealed the championship in this category.
TVS India One-Make Championship
Chalking up his fifth win in eight starts, Senthilkumar C from Coimbatore maintained his slender championship lead in the Open (Apache RR 310) class after overcoming Manoj Yesuadian (Chennai) by three-tenths of a second in today’s Race-2. Another Coimbatore racer Raj Kumar C finished third.
Bengaluru’s Harshith V Bogar with a win in today’s Race-2 has one hand on the championship title, requiring just a handful of points in the concluding round next month to take the crown in the Rookie (Apache RTR 200) category. The 20-year-old Harshith survived a tight battle with Vijayawada’s Akarsh Jangam while Tejash BA from Tumakuru finished third.
Sarthak Chavan swept to his fourth consecutive win in the TVS Electric RTE race to further underline his domination.
The results (Provisional, all 6 laps unless mentioned):
National Championship:
Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open (Race-2): 1. Sarthak Chavan (Pune, TVS Racing) (11mins, 07.139secs); 2. Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru, TVS Racing) (11:08.980); 3. Alwin Sundar A (Chennai, Gusto Racing India) (11:10.406).
Pro-Stock 165cc Open (Race-2): 1. Sarthak Chavan (11:33.380); 2. KY Ahamed (Chennai, TVS Racing) (11:33.655); 3. Jagan Kumar (Chennai, TVS Racing) (11:42.248).
Novice (Stock 165cc, Race-2): 1. Abdul Basim (Chennai, Rockers Racing) (12:55.319); 2. Tasmai Cariappa (Mysuru, Motul Sparks Racing) (12:55.563); 3. Lal Nunsanga (Mizoram, Motul Sparks Racing) (13:06.387).
Girls (Stock 165cc, Race-2, 5 laps): 1. Ryhana Bee (Chennai, Rockers Racing) (10:55.879); 2. Rakshita Dave (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate (11:05.008); 3. Jagathishree Kumaresan (Chennai, One Racing) (11:05.156).
Stock 301-400cc (Novice, Race-2): 1. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (12:16.248); 2. Pradeep C (Bengaluru, pvt) (12:17.309); 3. Raj Kumar (Coimbatore, RDX Torque Racing) (12:17.469).
Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250R, Race-2, 8 laps): 1. Mohsin Paramban (Malappuram) (15:06.939); 2. Prakash Kamat (Bengaluru) (15:08.635); 3. Siddesh Sawant (Kolhapur) (15:11.172).
TVS India One-Make Championship:
Open (Apache RR 310, Race-2): 1. Senthilkumar C (Coimbatore) (11:43.600); 2. Manoj Yesuadian (Chennai) (11:43.988); 3. Raj Kumar C (Coimbatore) (11:49.742).
Rookie (Apache RTR 200, Race-2): 1. Harshith V Bogar (Bengaluru) (13:20.484); 2. Akarsh Jangam (Vijayawada) (13:20.600); 3. Tejash BA (Tumakuru) (13:30.522)
Electric RTE (4 laps): 1. Sarthak Chavan (Pune) (07:20.468); 2. Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru) (07:24.199); 3. Alwin Sundar (Chennai) (07:26.215).
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Rivaan Dev Preetham clinches a double after a nail-biting fight: Karting Nationals
Bengaluru, 8 Sept. 2024: Chennai’s 11-year-old Class 6 student Rivaan Dev Preetham of MSport won both the races in a nail-biting contest in the Micro Max class while another Chennai lad Eshanth Vengatesan, too, bagged a double in the Junior Max class in the fourth round of the Meco Fmsci National Rotax Max Karting Championship 2024 at Meco Kartopia track here on Sunday.
In a close contest, Rivaan, the Lady Andal House of Children student, pulled off a fine victory in the Pre-Final beating Hamza Balasinorwala of Mumbai overtaking him in the final lap to regain the lead for a hard-fought win. Vadodara’s Yug Jain from Peregrine Racing came in third. In the Final, Rivaan, once again won a close race after he exchanged the lead twice in the final lap with Hamza, who had to be content with a second place. Yug Jain finished third once again.
In the Junior Max class, Eshanth Vengatesan from Peregrine Racing won both the Final and the Pre-Final beating Pune’s Arafath Sheikh of Crest Motorsport. Sheikh gave a tough fight in the Pre-Final but ended up second again in the Final race. Gurugram’s Aarav Dewan of Leapfrog Racing finished third in both the races.
In the Senior Max Pre-Final, former champion Rohaan Madesh (Peregrine Racing) of Bengaluru took a convincing win beating Huuner Singh of Birel Art India, and Varun Hari Praveen, also from Peregrine came third. But, Varun Hari Praveen of Chennai turned the tables in the Final for a comfortable victory ahead of another multiple champion Ruhaan Alva of MSport, and Madesh finished third.
The results (Provisional):
Senior Max – Final (16 laps):
1. Varun Hari Praveen (Chennai, Peregrine Racing) (15:11.207);
2. Ruhaan Alva (Bengaluru, MSport) (15:14.077);
3. Rohaan Madesh (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (15:16.317).
Pre-final (5 laps): 1. Rohaan Madesh (04:53.038); 2. Hunner Singh (Gurugram, Birel Art India) (04:54.067); 3. Varun Hari Praveen (04:54.838).
Junior Max – Final (14 laps):
1. Eshanth Vengatesan (Chennai, MSport) (14:01.468);
2. Arafath Sheikh (Pune, Crest Motorsport) (14:03.229);
3. Aarav Dewan (Gurugram, Leapfrog Racing) (14:05.584).
Pre-final (12 laps): 1. Eshanth Vengatesan (11:13.275); 2. Arafath Sheikh (11:13.371); 3. Aarav Dewan (Gurugram, Leapfrog Racing) (11:14.202).
Micro Max – Final (12 laps):
1. Rivaan Dev Preetham (Chennai, MSport) (12:40.762);
2. Hamza Balasinorwala (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (12:40.836);
3. Yug Jain (Vadodara, Peregrine Racing) (12:41.217).
Pre-final (10 laps): 1. Rivaan Dev Preetham (10:17.041); 2. Hamza Balasinorwala (10:17.246); 3. Yug Jain (10:23.919).
