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MRF Tyres secures fourth consecutive Italian Gravel Championship
Cingoli, 19 November 2024: MRF Tyres team of Alberto Battistolli and Simone Scattolin clinched their first Italian crown capping off the weekend in style coming out triumphant in the Marche-based rally, 17th Rally delle Marche, the final event of the 2024 season.
The Italian crew of Alberto Battistolli and Simone Scattolin won the 17th Rally delle Marche, claiming their first Italian Gravel Rally Championship of their career.
A fantastic season also saw Marchioro-Marchetti secure the 2WD title and Grossi-Cardinali triumph in the Pucci Grossi Trophy – ACI Sport Under 25 Cup.
The Indian team celebrated its fourth Italian Gravel Championship title in a row. Following three consecutive wins with Paolo Andreucci in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
An exceptional driving display, well supported by the team and the performance of MRF Tyres helped Battistolli and Scattolin lead from the opening stage to the finish, achieving their second victory of the season. This triumph sealed the championship with a final score of 71.5 points.
Driving the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, the crew showcased determination, performance, and resilience. Their late-season surge, including victories at Rally Vermentino and Rally delle Marche, overturned the standings and delivered their first national title. Despite intense competition, Battistolli managed to maintain focus during the final stages, balancing the need to push hard while avoiding mistakes.
MRF Tyres’s other official crew, Emanuele Dati and Daiana Darderi, also delivered a strong performance. Competing in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 for the first time, Dati adapted quickly and secured an impressive seventh place in the overall standings.
MRF Tyres’s season-long dominance extended beyond the top class. At Rally Vermentino, Nicolò Marchioro and Marco Marchetti, driving a Peugeot 208 Rally4, secured the Italian 2WD Championship with a round to spare as part of the MRF Rally Trophy Italia program. The success continued at the 17th Rally delle Marche, where Angelo Pucci Grossi and Francesco Cardinali claimed a remarkable victory in the Pucci Grossi Trophy – ACI Sport Under 25 Cup. Grossi, competing in his debut season with MRF Tyres, achieved this milestone in honour of his father, culminating an emotional season with a win in the Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo.
Alberto Battistolli:
“This season has been a rollercoaster, but ending it like this is incredible. I want to share this success with Simone, the team, MRF Tyres, and everyone who supported us. Here at Rally delle Marche we gave everything, stayed focused, and pushed hard. The final stages were the toughest of my career, knowing we had to keep the pace and avoid mistakes to secure the title. It’s an amazing feeling and a fantastic way to close the year.”
Classification Campionato Italiano Rally Terra 2024 – Final Standings
1. Alberto Battistolli pt. 71.5,
2. Tommaso Ciuffi pt. 51;
3. Umberto Scandola pt. 50;
4. Enrico Oldrati pt. 46;
5. Jaakko Lavio pt. 38
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Krish Gupta: Profile of a budding racing driver
Chennai, 14 November 2024: The atmosphere was electric at the Madras International Circuit as the curtain fell on the National Karting Championship finale. While the spotlight was on the podium finishers, the newly-inaugurated Madras International Karting Arena (MIKA) also captured attention. Named after Mika Hakkinen, the two-time Formula 1 World Champion, who inaugurated the facility just a week prior, MIKA set the stage for the emergence of fresh talent in Indian motorsport.
Among the standout performances that evening was an inspiring display by 18-year-old Krish Gupta, a rising star in the Senior Karting category. Starting from P19 in the final race, Krish battled his way through the field to finish an impressive fifth—a feat that earned him recognition despite not making it to the podium. This determination and resilience have marked him as one to watch and the commentator did not miss his marauding march that day. “amidst all these winners there is a fine performance today,’’ he announced. “It was Krish Gupta who started last and finished fifth.”
Rising Through the Ranks
Hailing from Mumbai, Krish began his karting journey in 2021 at Ajmera Indikarting. He quickly joined the Rayo Racing Academy, where his natural talent and commitment to the sport flourished. Over the past three years, Krish has secured 22 podium finishes, including 8 wins, and clinched four karting titles across junior and senior categories.
In 2024, he competed in the Senior Max category of the Meco FMSCI National Rotax Max Championship. Despite challenges, including mechanical failures and racing incidents, Krish’s skills were on full display. Notably, he qualified on pole in the fifth round with a lap time of 51.315 seconds and won the first heat before a series of incidents placed him at the back of the grid for the final. Undeterred, he delivered a remarkable comeback, finishing in the top 10 overall standings in the championship.
“It’s been a fantastic season,” Krish shared. “While the results didn’t always go my way, I’m proud of my performances and excited for what’s ahead.”
“Krish is a very promising talent for India. In a very short while he has grown tremendously. His talent combined with his hard work and dedication will take him far.
“He is now recognised as one of India’s best. He has proved himself at the Asian level with his nomination from the Asian Rotax Championship to represent India and Asia at the World Rotax Championship,” said Rayomond Banajee, a multiple national champion and mentor of many National champions. He is a respected figure in the Indian motorsports administration and in nurturing of fresh talent. This reporter has covered many of Rayo’s magnificent victories over the years.
A Global Stage: The Rotax Max Grand Finals
Krish’s talent earned him a good opportunity to take part in the prestigious Rotax Max Grand Finals in Sarno, Italy, where he competed in the challenging DD2 category representing fmsci and India. Sharing the track with global karting legends, including four-time British champion Macauley Bishop, was a defining moment for Krish.
“The Grand Finals were unforgettable,” he said. “Every lap was a challenge, and racing against the best in the world was a dream come true. Meeting Macauley Bishop was inspiring and a reminder of the heights I aspire to reach.”
Reflecting on his journey, Krish emphasized the lessons learned and the memories made. “This experience has deepened my passion for the sport. I’m determined to train harder and aim for the front.”
Professional Karting Journey
Season 2022
Krish debuted in the Indian Rotax Max Challenge senior category in 2022, a season marked by competitive grids and valuable learning experiences. He displayed promising pace, with six top-five finishes, including a standout performance in the wet during Round 4, where he climbed from 14th to 2nd.
His international debut came in the IAME Asia Series in Malaysia, where he finished a respectable 8th under mixed conditions.
Season 2023
Building on his rookie season, Krish’s 2023 campaign showcased significant progress. Competing in both domestic and international championships, he earned his first international podium with a strong 3rd place in the IAME Asia Series. On home soil, he achieved his first national pole position in wet conditions at the Rotax Max Challenge Asia Trophy in Pattaya, Thailand.
Season 2024
Krish’s 2024 season began with a podium finish in the Rotax Max Challenge Asia Trophy in Thailand, marking his first international podium. Back in India, despite technical setbacks, he displayed resilience, finishing 2nd in Round 3 of the National Championship.
Looking Ahead
Krish Gupta’s talent and dedication are evident, and his journey showcases the potential of this young Indian racer. As he continues to hone his skills and push his limits, Krish is poised to make a mark on the global stage, if he does not lose focus and nurtured properly. With the right support and guidance, this budding star is on track to go places.
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Historic hattrick of wins for Johann; brother Geoffrey adds spice with 3 podiums: Qatar Superbike championship
Lusail, Qatar – 18 November 2024: Indian racing brothers Johann and Geoffrey Emmanuel marked a historic moment for Indian motorsport at the final races of the Qatar Superbike Championship, held at the Losail International Circuit (LIC). With Johann clinching three wins and Geoffrey earning 3 podium finishes, their performances exemplified India’s rising prominence on the international racing stage. The final races concluded here on Saturday. “It is a big kick to get victory on such a big stage and a bigger moment holding the Indian flag on the podium… it is a moment of pride and honour that I will cherish forever,” said Johann.
Organised by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and Lusail International Circuit (LIC), the championship provided a platform for the Indian drivers to showcase their superb skills and immense talent on the internationally-renowned Circuit. A total of 48 competitors participated in the fourth round. On Friday, riders and drivers completed their free practice and qualifying sessions and the postponed Race 2 of Round 1 in March 2024 due to rains was also held on Saturday.
Johann Emmanuel on the podium. All photos by Christopher Rio Odukwe The postponed Round 1 of QSSP 300 Race witnessed intense competition for the top position on the podium as Johann Emmanuel emerged victorious with a time of 19 minutes 18.511 seconds, with Marton Bellelli claiming second place at 19 minutes 18.549 seconds, and Mahmoud Elbanna rounding out the podium at 19 minutes 18.847 seconds.
Racing Legacy of the Emmanuel Family
The Emmanuel brothers are the sons of legendary Indian rider Emmanuel Jebaraj, a 10-time National Champion (7 in circuit racing and three in Drag Nationals), winner of Malaysian races (7 years in Malaysia), and 18 years (1995 to 2012), currently mentor to numerous Indian racing stars. Jebaraj, with over 50 high-profile wins, is not only a celebrated rider but also a driving force in nurturing Indian talent through his roles with Gusto India Racing, Alpha Racing, and Red Hills KTM Racing. His contributions to Indian motorsport, including his role as race director for the first MotoGP World Championship in India, set the stage for his sons’ success. The Rossi and Schumy fan was also the mentor and selector for the first Indian Mini GP.
Jebaraj: More than a dad, he is a friend and mentor, behind the screens (Courtesy Instagram) Stellar Performances at Lusail – the Report
Collegian Johann Emmanuel from Chennai scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win all three races in the 300 SSP category of the Qatar Superbike and Superstock Championship over the Nov 16-17 weekend at the iconic Lusail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar.
His elder brother 20-year-old Geoffrey Emmanuel, supported by Ceat Tyres, Sidvin, and the Sports Development Authorities of Tamil Nadu (SDAT), brought more cheer to the family by finishing on the podium in all three races in the 600cc category.
It is the first instance of Indian brothers finishing on podium in all the races they participated in the same championship, though in different categories.
Astride a Kawasaki Ninja 300, 18-year-old Johann Emmanuel, a 1st year Visual Communication student at the Madras Christian College, made a significant impact by winning all the three races on debut in his category.
Though short on seat time, Johann qualified P2 which he converted into victory after a fierce battle. Later, in Race-2, the youngster kept his nerve despite losing a gear which dropped him to fifth but recovered brilliantly to post a win by a 14-second margin.
In Race-3, it was a lights-to-flag win for Johann as he completed a historic hat-trick, sparing some 18 seconds to his nearest challenger.
A delighted Johann said: “I really enjoyed the races. But the three wins – it’s a surreal feeling. My performance here has boosted my confidence for my future races.”
Meanwhile, Geoffrey Emmanuel, a 3rd year BCA student at the Madras Christian College, exhibited remarkable resilience and skill riding a Kawasaki ZX6r, to earn three podium finishes in as many races.
#17 Geoffrey Emmanuel in action at Lusail QatarStk600 races He finished third in Race-1 after starting from P11 on the grid as he fought his way through the pack for a podium. Later, he repeated the performance by finishing third in Race-2 which he started from P6.
Geoffrey, who is confirmed to participate in the FIM Moto 2 Junior World Championship next year, fared better in Race-3 by finishing second despite being forced off the track into the gravel when in the lead on the last lap to complete a commendable performance over the weekend.
Reflecting on the weekend, Geoffrey said: “Overall, I am pleased with my performance, though it was disappointing that I couldn’t win Race-3 when in the lead as I was forced on to the gravel but managed to get back for a P2 finish. These experiences will help me to prepare better for my future races.”
Johann Emmanuel – Dominating Qatar 300SSP
A debutant in the Qatar 300SSP Championship and a 1st-year Visual Communication student at Madras Christian College, Johann showcased his mettle by securing a hat trick of victories:
- Qualifying: Despite limited practice, Johann claimed a strong second place on the grid.
- Race 1: A fierce battle saw Johann clinch a narrow 0.38-second victory.
- Race 2: Overcoming a gear mishap, Johann made a stunning comeback to win by a 14-second margin.
- Race 3: Johann’s dominance was evident as he stormed to an 18-second victory.
Geoffrey Emmanuel – Grit in the 600cc Category
Geoffrey Geoffrey, a 3rd-year BCA student at Madras Christian College, demonstrated resilience in the 600cc category, supported by Ceat Tyres, Sidvin, and SDAT. Competing on an international stage, Geoffrey secured three podium finishes despite challenges:
- Race 1: After starting 11th, Geoffrey fought back to secure 3rd place.
- Race 2: A stronger start from 6th position saw him finish in 3rd place after an intense fight for the lead.
- Race 3: Leading for most of the race, Geoffrey recovered from a gravel mishap on the final lap to finish 2nd.
Growing talent pool of Indian motorsport
The Emmanuel brothers’ success at the QSSP300 Championship adds to the growing talent pool of Indian motorsport riders. Their remarkable performances at Lusail, in one of the world’s most competitive racing arenas, promise an exciting journey ahead for Indian racing enthusiasts.
As Johann and Geoffrey prepare for future challenges, it is hoped that their combination of skill, determination, and legacy will continue to bring laurels for India.
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#MART1NATOR: Martin crowned 2024 MotoGP World Champion
Barcelona, 17 November 2024:
The Prima Pramac star clinches his first premier class title at #TheRematch decider.
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) is the 2024 MotoGP™ World Champion! Having taken a 24-point lead into the title-deciding weekend at the Motul Solidarity GP of Barcelona, the Spaniard held his nerve to perfection to win his first premier class title by 10 points and become the first Independent Team rider to win the title in the MotoGP™ era.
Martin made his debut on the world stage in 2015 with Mapfre Mahindra, moving up after taking the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. He scored his first point in the season opener in Qatar and became a regular top 15 contender, ending his rookie year in 17th overall. The following season, the rider from Madrid took another step forward – including his first podium in the wet at Brno – but he also missed a couple of races through injury, therefore ending the season just one place further forward in 16th overall.
2017 saw Martin cement his place at the front as he moved to Del Conca Gresini Moto3, beginning the year on the podium in third at Qatar. He took nine pole positions and eight further podiums that season – but it was a long wait for one to be a maiden win. The Spaniard wrapped that up in the season finale at Valencia; his first trip to the top step setting him up perfectly for an assault on the crown the following year and seeing him take fourth overall in the standings.
2018 began perfectly as Martin won in Qatar, and it was a year that saw the Spanish star really make a name for himself on the Grand Prix scene. Seven wins were secured while he also set a new Moto3™ pole position record (11), but it was the Moto3™ World Championship crown that counted most. For the first time, Martin was a World Champion, as a move to Moto2™ with Red Bull KTM Ajo beckoned for 2019.
A difficult year for rider and machine followed in his rookie intermediate class season, and it wasn’t until the Japanese GP that we saw Martin return to the podium. That P3 was backed up by a P2 in Australia, as a good end-of-season run set up 2020 nicely for one of Grand Prix racing’s brightest prospects.
Three podiums in the first six races in 2020 included a debut Moto2™ win in Austria. But when sitting just eight points back from title leader Luca Marini, Martin then had to miss the San Marino and Emilia-Romagna GPs after testing positive for Covid-19, and two more 0s cost him dearly in his quest to become Moto2™ World Champion.
2021 was when the Prima Pramac Racing and Jorge Martin story began as the combination teamed up in the premier class. And the first chapter was one to remember! Martin stuck it on pole in just his second outing and went on to claim P3 in the Doha GP to immediately raise eyebrows in MotoGP™. However, a big crash at the next race in Portimao left Martin with eight fractures and forced him to miss four races. Nevertheless, Martin banished those demons to win the Styrian GP from pole position, and backed that maiden victory up in style the following weekend with a P3 from pole.
Capping off a rollercoaster rookie MotoGP™ season with a second place finish in Valencia, 2022 promised a lot – but delivered a little less at times. It was a tougher start with Martin unable to unleash his full potential, but his sophomore season ended with four podiums – none of them wins.
After that more difficult-than-expected 2022, Martin came into 2023 hunting a much more consistent campaign. The year didn’t get off to the cleanest of starts though as two Sunday DNFs came in the first three races, before a P4 on home soil in Jerez got the ball rolling. A debut Tissot Sprint win arrived in France, and that was backed up with a double podium in Italy at Mugello. And from there, Martin’s title challenge against Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was born. Martin went on to become the Sprint King in 2023 as the #89 won seven of the last nine Saturday outings, and having won three Sunday races in the second half of the season, Martin landed in Valencia 21 points adrift of Pecco.
After winning the Sprint, Martin cut the gap – but Sunday saw the home hero suffer a DNF. Martin agonisingly missed out on the MotoGP™ title last season, but that only added fuel to the fire in his pursuit of going one better in 2024.
A Sprint win and Sunday P3 in Qatar was a solid start to the year, and that was followed up by a first 25-point haul in Portugal. Leaving Round 2, Martin led the Championship and from there, he’s only lost it to Bagnaia once. The key to Martin’s success in 2024? Consistency. Between Round 5 and 18, Martin only missed out on a Sunday podium twice – once was in Germany when he crashed out of the lead with two laps to go, and once at the San Marino GP when a tyre switch gamble didn’t pay off.
After six P2 finishes in that stretch, a return to winning ways on Sunday in Indonesia – following a Sprint crash – saw Martin start to become the favourite for the title. A P2 in Japan, a Sprint win and P2 in Australia and a pair of P2s in Thailand saw Martin land in Malaysia with a 17-point lead over Pecco.
In the Sprint, Martin was superb to claim a crucial 12 points as Pecco, dramatically, crashed out of P2. That meant Martin had a 29-point lead coming into Sunday’s 20-lap race in Sepang and with a P2 finish, Martin made sure he held a healthy 24-point advantage over Pecco ahead of #TheRematch decider.
In Barcelona, Martin qualified fourth and finished P3 in the Tissot Sprint to head into Sunday’s race with a simple objective – finish P9 or better. And that’s exactly what he did. Despite Bagnaia’s perfect weekend, Martin claimed a safe P3 in front of his home fans to become the 2024 World Champion – a year on from missing out on the crown in Valencia. A phenomenal job from the #89 as he became a MotoGP™ World Champion, and two-time World Champion too, before he leaves Ducati for Aprilia in 2025.
Congratulations to Jorge and Prima Pramac Racing on a stunning campaign!
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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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Stage set: Bagnaia grabs pole, Martin starts #TheRematch decider from Row 2
Barcelone, 16 Nov. 2024:
The #1 holds on by 0.055 ahead of Espargaro and Marquez, with Martin forced to settle for fourth as the grids set the stage for a stunning finale Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) will start the Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix at the Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona from pole as the #1 stayed cool under pressure to hold on at the top. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) made a late lunge for glory but came up short by just 0.055 in his final Q2, with Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) completing a fascinating front row – and one that doesn’t feature Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing). He will instead start P4… directly behind his title rival Bagnaia.
Q1
FP2 delivered a final opportunity for the MotoGP™ stars to perfect their setups, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) taking top honours as Bagnaia finished ahead of Martin in a busy start to Saturday. Once Q1 itself was underway, Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) set a blistering pace in his opening laps – briefly topping the timesheets. With the clock ticking down, Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) then suffered a late crash at Turn 5. Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) were the riders who moved through, earning their spot in Q2 ahead of the final battle for pole.
Q2
The stage was set for Q2, with tactics at play during the first flying laps as Bagnaia went fastest, with Martin sitting in third. It seemed like Espargaro may have been on his own mission for Martin too, but it didn’t ultimately pay off.
Everything came down to the final five minutes, with Bagnaia finding further time and Morbidelli then pushing Martin off the provisional front row. The Championship leader was under pressure and did deliver a faster lap on his final push, but it wasn’t quite enough for that front row. He leapfrogged his teammate but remained behind Marc Marquez. Meanwhile, Espargaro’s last dash saw him challenge for pole, missing out by almost nothing.
THE GRID
Bagnaia, Espargaro and Marquez stare down Turn 1 from the front row, and Martin stares down Bagnaia from directly behind him, at the head of Row 2. Martin will have to work hard to wrap up the title in the Tissot Sprint after qualifying just ahead of teammate Morbidelli. The Italian rounded out the top five spots in Q2 as Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) ended the session as the top KTM/GASGAS rider in sixth.
Viñales spearheads the third row of the grid, ending Q2 a mere 0.351s adrift from Bagnaia’s benchmark. Alongside the #12 will be Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), with ‘The Beast’ now left with some work to do as he is joined by compatriot Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) on the third after the Italian took ninth ahead of Quartararo.
Further back, Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) narrowly missed a spot in Q2 by 0.028s and will line up from 13th. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder also missed a chance to fight in Q2, with the South African starting from P18 on the grid and surely a candidate to move forward…
The stage is set, with the grids poised to deliver some incredible action in Catalunya. Will the title be decided or is there one more twist in the tale? Join us later to find out.
SATURDAY
TISSOT SPRINT: 15:00 (UTC +1)
SUNDAY
GRAND PRIX: 14:00 (UTC +1) 6.30pm IST -
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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Bagnaia lands first blow as Martin heads into match point Saturday in P5
Barcelone, 15 November 2024:
#TheRematch decider has been turned up a notch with the reigning Champion finding Friday form and the title leader enduring some Practice troubles
Day 1 of #TheRematch decider at the Motul Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona belonged to the hunter – Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). The reigning #1 set the pace on Friday to land an important early jab on World Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), as the latter managed to hold onto a fifth place finish after encountering some Turn 5 troubles deep into Practice. It’s job done in terms of getting into Q2 without too many issues for the #89, but there’s plenty of room for improvement for the rider who sits 24 points clear of the current #1 with the biggest Saturday of the season firmly on the horizon.
Operating inside the top three on Day 1 was second fastest – and one of Bagnaia’s chief allies – Marco Bezzecchi. The Italian was on song in Practice as he aims to bid farewell to the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team with a podium finish at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. And if Day 1 is anything to go by, then the Italian is looking good to challenge for just that. P3 went the way of Catalan GP Tissot Sprint winner Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) after the retiring home hero set a strong lap in the closing stages to sit 0.107s off Bagnaia’s lap.
Following a relatively quiet opening three-quarters of the session as the riders flicked through their respective programmes, the session really kicked into sixth gear with just under 15 minutes remaining. Traditions. And speaking of traditions, Martin climbed to a familiar P1 with a 1:39.652 and on his next flyer, a 1:39.214 was landed to see the World Championship leader sit 0.330s clear of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing). At this stage (10 minutes to go) Bagnaia was fifth, just under half a second down on his title rival’s effort.
That three-tenth advantage was slashed to just 0.010s as Viñales improved. Then, one of the standout riders of the season demoted Martin to P2. Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) set a 1:39.197 to grab top spot, with the top five now split by less than a tenth. Those were Zarco, Martin, Viñales, Bagnaia and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™).
Heading into the final four minutes, Martin couldn’t get a lap going and at Turn 5, the Spaniard produced a more than decent front-end save. The #89 cut a frustrated figure as Bezzecchi propelled his GP23 to P1 before Bagnaia went 0.080s quicker than his compatriot to pinch P1 off his VR46 Academy stablemate.
With a minute to go, Martin was P5 and not going any quicker, but he looked out of danger in terms of not getting into Q2. No one else was improving enough to trouble the sharp end of the timesheets, so it was job done for #TheRematch contenders. Bagnaia was top of the class on Friday, and Martin was fifth without too many dramas. Roll on qualifying.
Zarco’s incredibly impressive Friday afternoon stint saw the Frenchman keep hold of P4 ahead of Martin, with Viñales, Alex Marquez, his teammate Marc Marquez, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) acting as the other riders who clinched automatic Q2 spots, as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) missed out in P11 by just 0.020s.
So that’s the final Friday of the year done. Bagnaia heads into a title-defining Saturday at the summit, exactly where he wanted to be. Martin faces match point Saturday in P5, but that could all change when qualifying comes around. And what a session it promises to be. What a day it’s set to be. Will Martin end the Tissot Sprint as the new World Champion, or will Bagnaia do what he needs to do to take the title fight to Sunday? In less than 24 hours, we’ll know the answer. Bring it on.
SHOWTIME
FP2: 10:00 (UTC+1) 2.30pm IST
Q1: 10:50
Q2: 11:15
Tissot Sprint: 15:00 (7.25 pm IST) -
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.
