Category: Non-F1

Bengaluru, 15 Feb 2021: He is a man with a mission. The Coorgi from Bengaluru, had a point to prove. Despite the step-motherly treatment to the National Drag Championship for many years, the passionate motorsports lover, became a self-advocated ambassador to drive the sport to recognition and popularity with his efforts and achievements. Beginning with a modest record, he won the Nationals at the Madras Motor Sports Club’s track near Chennai in 2017 and went on to win the title for the fourth successive year in the Covid-affected 2020 season. Despite the absence of the coveted Foreign Open class, he went on to win the top two classes and became the fastest Indian drag racer bagging two gold and two National titles in the MMSC fmsci Indian National Drag Championship 2020 that extended to 2021 due to the pandemic. That was his seventh National title. He broke his own record twice and owns the National Drag record for this strip, the host to recognised Nationals.

He is Hemanth Muddappa, who hogged the limelight winning two gold and a bronze at the 8th edition of The Valley Run, a mega FMSCI-sanctioned Drag event for two-wheelers that attracted over 300 participants at the Ambi Valley’s privately-owned airstrip in Lonavala on Saturday and Sunday. The 402-metre quarter-mile strip is home to 7 annual editions, the the competitors thrive in fighting and look forward to in the Mumbai region, but 2020 edition disappeared and bang came the 2021 event, with equal vigour and stiff competition. The results of the four-wheel section are awaited from the organisers.

In the two-wheeler section which received an overwhelming response of over 300 participants in over 14 different classes, the top three classes saw some stunning machines thrill the crowds. The event was run by Elite Octane Inc, a Mumbai-based Motorsports Club affiliated to FMSCI, became a stunning success with teams and riders hogging the limelight. Thirtyone riders in one class, that is `Upto 1050cc category‘ puts the National to shame. It is not just the quantity or the numbers, the bikes, the tuners and the talented riders, made the quality superb and every thousandth of a second is fought tooth and nail.

Thus, Bengaluru rider Hemanth Muddappa of Mantra Racing winning the Ribbon Event, the Foreign Open Unrestricted class for bikes above 600cc, zooming to the gold in 9.677seconds astride his race-built black Suzuki Hayabusa is a hard-earned victory. “This win is a perfect race for me after the thrill of the fourth year of success at Nationals. The sheer competition and the number of bikes pushes me to that bit faster and I enjoyed it every moment. I only hope all these talented riders come to the Nationals,” quipped Muddappa. He beat compatriot Alimon to second in a tough race. Alimon, clocking 9.683, on a Kawasaki was a bit faster to react but lost by a whisker as Muddappa clinched the issue in a thriller towards the close, dragging that last inch to a quarter mile. Visakhapatnam’s (Andhra Pradesh State) star Satyanarayana Raju, despite having the best reaction time among the three, had to settle for third place astride his BMW S1K. Raju timed 9.703.

Hemanth Muddappa is usually not worried about the reaction time (RT). It only counts when there is a tie. And he is so confident that no one dares to come near him, and says, `tie means I lost. And it never happens when I am on my job. I also thank my tuner and my guide Pratap Sharan, who sets it up for me to prove it,” says Muddappa.

Muddappa, who became the 2020 National Drag Champion for the fourth successive year in the top two classes last month, displayed his skill and ran away with a second gold in the `1050cc and above class’, the M10. Making a great combination with his tuner Pratap Sharan, the unsung hero, he pushed his Green Hayabusa to the top clocking a stunning 9.683seconds to beat his fighting opponent Zubair Ali Jung, also from Bengaluru, and also astride a Hayabusa, to second place. Jung clocked 10.113seconds. Another Bengaluru rider Hafizulla Khan came third in 10.146sec in a field of 14 riders. The three usually share a good time, but once on the black-top no inch is given and the fight is on till the last breath.

On the day, however, it was Satyanarayana Raju of Visakhapatnam, who had the last laugh. The talented racing champ, salvaged a gold in the upto 1050cc class, the M9, clocking 9.522sec astride his BMW, as he tries his hand at the drag. He loves speed and cannot resist the drag meets. And Alimon came second in 9.619. Hemanth Muddappa, who had suffered a wheelie had to be content with the third place in 9.760seconds. But he is not blaming the bumpy ride, “You have to mind all these obstacles and prepare for the worst. Only then you can give your best. This is not my race and I give all credit to Raju for winning the race,” said the fitness freak, who hard work and discipline are the hidden mantra behind his success.

The class saw a good response with 31 bikes from all over the country taking part. Eleven other classes were also held for bikes and prizes were given away after every four classes. Results of the best tuner and best female rider were not received at the time of publishing this article.