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Aishwarya raring to go: MRF Mogrip Bike rally Nationals
Bengaluru, 21 October 2021: World Cup winner Aishwarya Pissay along with TVS Racing teammates R Nataraj, Rajendra RE and Abdul Waheed, all in the feature event, will lead an array of riders in Rally de Bengaluru, the second round of the MRF Mogrip FMSCI National Rally Championship 2w – 2021 here on Sunday.
The National Rally Championship for bikes organised by Ace Events, Puttur returns to Bengaluru amidst much excitement as it attracted about 80 riders from all over the country. The 2019 Overall champion Rajendra RE, who began the season with a bang in the first round at Hampi will have to ward off challenge from defending champion Nataraj and Waheed. Former champions Imran Pasha, Sachin D, Samuel Jacob will be fighting out in Super Sport 260cc Class. Local star Yuvakumar and Satyaraj Arumugam of Combatore, both from Hero Motosports, along while Sarath Mohan from Mallapuram and experienced Venu Ramesh Kumar from Coimbatore, Jatin Jain and Badal Doshi from Vashi, all privateers, will start favourites in their respective classes.
Aishwarya Pisssay, the 2019 FIM World Cup Baja winner, leads the championship table ahead of youngster Tanika Shanbagh of Satara and Ryhana Bee of Chennai. “I have important upgrades to my bike and with such a well-tuned RTR Apache, I feel confident going into the rally,’’ said Aishwarya, who came back after an injury layoff, winning her class and a creditable 5th in the Rally of Himalayas and continued to dominate the Rally Nationals in Round 1 at Hampi. Tanika, showed glimpses of her talent finishing ahead of Sprint champion Ryhana, who will be looking to bounce back here.
Of the total distance of around 100km, the Special Stage rally distance would be around 51km with two physical stages of Jupiter (11.53km) and Mars (8.1km) run thrice each at MotoFarm, near Kanakapura, in the same direction, alternately on dirt roads closed to traffic. The Ceremonial Start will be held on Saturday at 4.30pm at MotoFarm, Kanakapura. The competitive stages kick-off at 8am on Sunday. Riders garner points in each round and there will 11 classes which will count for National titles apart from the Overall rider and Team champions after all six rounds. There will also be a Star of Karnataka, the support race and close to Rs.2 lakh prize money and Trophies are awarded.
“All safety precautions were taken care of and we are strictly following the Government’s COVID19 protocol. The route will be closed for general public and trained Marshals and HAM operators will be at key points to oversee the rally. We have also made RTPCR test mandatory for all outstation riders,” said Aakash Aithal, Clerk of the Course.
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“I have to go all in”: Quartararo and Bagnaia ready for #MatchPoint at Misano
Misano, 21 October 2021: Do not adjust your sets! We are, indeed, back at the technicolour dreamboat that is Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli and this time for the Gran Premio Nolan del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia-Romagna, with Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) facing down his first #MatchPoint no less. He headlined the Pre-Event Press Conference, joined by challenger – and winner last time at Misano – Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), as well as COTA victor Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), San Marino GP rookie podium finisher Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama), compatriot and fellow rookie Luca Marini (Sky Avintia VR46), and, of course, the legendary Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) as he prepares to race on home turf for the final time. In addition, Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing) joined the line-up, the South African freshly-announced as racing in the premier class next season with the new RNF Racing structure.
Here are some key quotes!
Fabio Quartararo: “I’m feeling really good but to be honest my head is not really on that part. I think we need to take it like a normal race but we know on Sunday something special can happen. But first of all on Friday and Saturday ,we need to plan it like the rest of the year, and then on Sunday we will see the amount of risk we will take. But Friday and Saturday will be a normal situation for the moment and then we will see what will happen.”
Will he take as much risk as the San Marino GP?
“We will see. It’s how I like to race but I have never been in that situation. Last year I learned a lot, not how to fight for a championship but to be leader of the championship for many races was an important step for my experience, and this year I think it’s much ‘easy’ let’s say to have it. At the moment it is a normal race and we will see how much risk we will take on Sunday.”Francesco Bagnaia: “For me the only thing I can do is win, to try and stay in the Championship fight. We know 52 points are a lot, but we will try. We still have the possibility so we will try. It will be different this weekend because the conditions are different and looks like it could rain on Friday and Saturday. For sure this weekend I have to go all in and try to make something.
“For sure our ambition is always to improve. Looking at my last two seasons in MotoGP, it was not the year to try and win the Championship, this one, because I struggled a lot in the past years, I crashed a lot, I broke my tibia last year so I had problems. This year the objective was to continue growing. After the summer break we made a step forwards, and in the last races another one. I am happy with the work we have done in the last races but for sure the work we have done this year can be better for next year.”
Marc Marquez: “I arrive here at Misano with the feeling of the test more than Austin’s race, we know Austin is a special circuit and still I feel a big difference between left and right corners. But anyway let’s see. In Misano 1 was better than what we expected before the race and it was a result I didn’t expect. This weekend we will try to do a small step, top five will be a good result, but it’s true that here and in Portimao I would like to be a bit faster on the right corner circuits.
“I keep improving but too slow for my… I mean it’s really slow. The comeback is difficult, even like this I’m able to ride in an acceptable way and I’m able to finish on the podium three times this year but still it’s not the way and the performance I would like. So we need to keep pushing, keep going, three races to go. But what I predicted for the second half of the season is what’s going on, I’m constantly in the top five and closer to the top guys, so this was the target and at the moment I can achieve it every weekend..”
Enea Bastianini: “I’m very happy about my last races, and here three weeks ago I was on the podium and it was incredible for me. Also, in Austin we did a really good race. It was difficult with the conditions; it was really hot and to finish the race wasn’t easy. I’m happy with the guys and the work inside the box, we made a good step and now it’s important we continue like this because it’s important. I’m confident ahead of Misano 2, it’s a nice track which I like a lot. It’s colder than last time, but we still have to be faster this time.
“I have to work a lot on this part of the weekend, always the qualifying is a disaster for me. Here in Misano it was one of my best, and I have to try and repeat that to be more competitive in this race.”
Luca Marini: “For sure I would like to be a bit more forward especially about the results in the races, but anyway I’m quite happy about the overall season. Like you said I finished all the races but it’s something I’m not proud of, I would prefer to stay more in front and sometimes do mistakes. But with this I’m able to understand how the tyres drop during the race, how the bike works and how the track changes in 40 minutes, and it’s great to understand what areas of my body I need to work more because on the Ducati I’m struggling a bit in the physical area. We worked a lot on the ergonomics and tried to use less strength – create a less physical bike. I’m quite happy now with the level I am compared to the start of the season, I have much more confidence and I’m feeling better, but we need to make some improvements in the last three races because I would like to stay in the top 10 positions.”
A very methodical rider in adapting, is that his approach to MotoGP™?
“Sincerely, yeah maybe it looks like it but in five years I can achieve and arrive to MotoGP, so I’m not so slow to adapt to the situation. I think when I arrived to the World Championship in Moto2 it was a completely different world compared to the European championship, and also with the Forward team we missed something on the technical side, so it was difficult to arrive to the top guys. But when everything was at 100% I was there and I was really fast and strong, and when I am comfortable on the bike I feel that I can do everything on the bike, I can be very strong. I want to have this feeling in the races to improve my position in the race.”Valentino Rossi: “It’s a bit of a strange situation because it is already the second time here in Misano and the second race is particular, because usually we race just once, but with the Covid situation we’ve learned to stay at one track for more than one race. It’s a great chance to say Ciao! to all the Italian fans so it is great to race here in Misano at my home circuit. I hope the weather will be good for the weekend, because this period in Italy is a bit more difficult so I hope for a dry weekend, especially on Sunday. Try the maximum during the weekend to be competitive during the race.
“It’s a long story, more than 400 races in my career. I just have to say thank you to everybody. I have had incredible support all over the world, especially in Italy. I always give the maximium, we enjoy a lot together as it’s a long career with a lot of great races. We will see on Sunday, anyways after Misano we will have 2 more races, it’s always a sad moment when you arrive at the end but anyways it was good. We’ll enjoy it!”
Darryn Binder: “First off I would just like to say a big thanks to WithU RNF Yamaha Racing for giving me this opportunity. It feels unreal, it feels like I am in a different world right now. It’s a childhood dream to ride in MotoGP and not everybody gets this opportunity, and I definitely never expected it to come from Moto3. I’m super excited and it’s a huge step forward so it’s going to be a big learning curve for me, but yeah I’m super excited, I’m ready to work as hard as I can and it all starts at the end of the year when I get the first ride on the M1.
“You know it’s definitely an opportunity you can’t turn down, it’s a no brainer for me. It’s definitely a big step and I think I’ll be asking my brother a lot of questions and I’m going to be trying to follow his footsteps very closely over the holiday to train and try and get ready for the bigger bike. From my side I definitely feel like I’ve been in Moto3 for way too long, I’m quite big so I think my size should suit the big bike a bit better. It’s going to be a huge learning curve but I’m up for the hard work and I will do my best to get stronger and stronger.”
Now it’s time to get back out on track and let the racing do the talking. Tune in as Free Practice begins on Friday morning, before Sunday sees the lights go out for MotoGP™ at 14:00 (GMT +2)! Will we have a new Champion? We’re about to find out!
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2021 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship season called off
The 2021 season of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship has had to be called off. With the many administrative conditions being imposed due to the pandemic in each respective countries, many of the racing teams are facing difficulties with their travel applications.
Differing quarantine procedures, lack of flights, and many other roadblocks have made it impossible for the Asian grid to re-assemble for 2021. Therefore, with much regret, we have decided to confirm that the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship will not be held in 2021.
Ron Hogg, Director, Two Wheels Motor Racing
“I would like to start off by expressing our gratitude to the Thai government and especially to the Chang International Circuit. Working together, we have left no stones unturned in our bid to bring the grid together in 2021. We especially want to thank the Chang International Circuit , the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Federation Motor Sports Club of Thailand. With the help of these agencies, we can confirm that we were trying as hard as possible up to the last moment. We worked hard to make it happen. However, not everything is within our control.
Restrictions among the Asian countries are more stringent as compared to the other regions like Europe. Bringing the grid together will be a very costly affair, especially with the required quarantine procedures when teams return home to their respective countries. Therefore, we believe that it would be better to consolidate all our resources to kick start the 2022 season. Rest assured, plans for 2022 will be announced in due time. In the meantime we would also like to say thank you to all our partners, teams, riders and our fans. Stay strong, stay safe, let’s get ready to roar next year!”
Stephan Carapiet, President, FIM Asia
“The FIM Asia supports the decision of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship to call off the 2021 season. Asia is a more populous region as compared to the other parts of the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Asian governments are imposing stricter restrictions with regards to international sporting events. Matters were made worse with regulations that seem to be constantly in flux.
I am just as disappointed as everyone else about this inevitable decision. However, let’s look forward to a great year in 2022.”
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New Hyundai i20 N Rally2 for Team MRF Tyres in Rally Hungary
Close collaboration between Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing and MRF Tyres continues
Nyíregyháza (Hungary), 20 October 2021: Rally Hungary ran as the Nyíregyháza Rally in 2018 when András Hadik took victory on what served as the country’s FIA European Rally Championship candidate event.
Now firmly established as a round of the ERC, the rally doubles as the deciding round of the Hungarian championship with Hadik holding a nine-point advantage over Miklós Csomós in his bid to defend his crown alongside co-driver Krisztián Kertész.
MRF Tyres & Spanish aces, Nil Solans/Marc Marti
MRF Tyres and Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing have reaffirmed their close relationship as Team MRF Tyres will rally the new Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car in Rally Hungary next weekend.
The Hyundai i20 N Rally2 has enjoyed success in its initial rallies, taking victories in the World Rally Championship WRC2 category and Team MRF Tyres is looking forward to rallying it in the FIA European Rally Championship.
By taking delivery of the new car, Team MRF Tyres continues its aggressive tyre development strategy that has seen the Indian tyre company take two podiums this year in the FIA ERC with Hyundai.
It represents another firm step in the close relationship between MRF Tyres and Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing. It is a relationship that has seen MRF Tyres utilise the top-line driving expertise from Hyundai.
To date, Craig Breen, Dani Sordo and Jari Huttunen have driven in the Team MRF Tyres Hyundai in an effort to develop the next generation of MRF Tyres.
Spanish aces, Nil Solans/Marc Marti will join the team for Rally Hungary.
Solans’ ambitions are clear and Team MRF Tyres represents a great opportunity the up-and-coming driver.
In addition, MRF Tyres has taken the Driver’s Championship Finnish Rally Championship, proving the value of the development campaign in what is MRF Tyres’ second year in top-line European competition.
Rally Hungary is the seventh round of the 2021 FIA European Rally Championship and takes place on the gravel roads in the east of the country near Nyíregyháza.
You can follow Team MRF Tyres throughout the rally on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Five facts:
1:Several Hungarian drivers contest the FIA European Rally Championship each season with Tibor Érdi Jr winning the ERC2 title for a second year running in 2018 and four-time national champion Norbert Herczig going on to established himself as a frontrunner. Dávid Botka has been a stage winner in the past, while Kristóf Klausz scored points in ERC3 Junior.
2: Best known as a rallycross venue, the Rabócsiring circuit south of Nyíregyháza traditionally hosts the opening stage of Rally Hungary with drivers going head-to-head on a short course.
3: As well as hosting a round of the FIA European Rally Championship, Nyíregyháza is famous for its zoo, which is home to 500 species and 5000 animals on a 30-hectare site.
4: ERC promoter Eurosport Events has a long association with Hungary through the FIA World Touring Car Championship and now the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup.
5:When Rally Hungary joined the European championship schedule for the first time in 2019 it became the first sealed-surface event to host the ERC finale since Rallye International du Valais in 2015. -
Yacht Rara Avis to sponsor Advait Deodhar’s final round
Vallelunga (Italy), 20 Oct 2021: The exploits of Ace Indian racer Advait Deodhar finally attracts a new associate sponsor for the final round of the Championship to be held here on October 30 and 31. The Mumbai-born London-based Yacthsman won a round and is currently in 5th position with an outside chance to win due to the double points in the final round.
“I’m delighted to confirm Yacht Rara Avis as associate sponsor for the final round of my 2021 EuroNascar championship. Through my work as a Yacht broker at TJB Superyachts, I have done a lot of charters with luxury-gulet RARA AVIS in Croatia,” Deodhar said.
The owner is an American muscle-car and Motorsport enthusiast and wanted to use Deodhar’s race car and the series as a platform to promote RARA AVIS further. “RARA AVIS is a 33-metre custom made luxury-gulet that’s based in Croatia and available for charter,” Deodhar added.
The yacht can accommodate 12 people in 6 cabins and has a very professional team onboard, to deliver a high standard of service. All charters onboard have been hugely successful and clients have nothing but praise for the yacht and crew. -
Pajari, youngest Junior WRC champ in 20-year history
Sami Pajari is the youngest ever champion in Junior WRC’s 20-year history at the age of 19 years old and the first-ever Finnish driver to win the championship.
Pajari and co-driver Marko Salminen won the Junior WRC Championship by winning Rally Spain, the final and double points paying round of the championship. The rally saw the Finnish crew go head-to-head with their championship rivals and excelling where their competitors faltered.
It marks the Finn’s second career victory in Junior WRC, with his first coming on Rally Estonia this year, which also saw him secure the championship lead. Pajari’s rally started on the backfoot and it appeared that he would need to mount a serious challenge on Jon Armstrong who was the favourite heading to the Spanish Tarmac.
By the end of Friday Pajari began to charge and was able to stay trouble-free through Saturday to emerge with a clear lead. The Finn was able to maintain his lead with some impressive drives, fending off the competition on Sunday to take home the biggest prize package in rallying: A brand new M-Sport Fiesta Rally2, 200 Pirelli tyres, free registration for WRC2 2022 and five free entries for 2022.
Jon Armstrong was Pajari’s closest championship challenger in Spain and the initial favourite, he appeared on course to live up to expectations, following his performance on Friday. His rally unravelled on Saturday after going off the road and losing over five minutes to Pajari. The Northern Irishman regrouped and delivered a series of blisteringly quick times to earn valuable Wolf Stage Win Points but his day would draw to a sudden stop as he hit a drain on stage 11. The retirement put his championship hopes in tatters and meant the pressure was off Pajari to maintain his lead. Armstrong would restart on Sunday in fourth, taking two stage wins before finishing and taking the Wolf Stage Win Points award for the most stage wins of the season.
Martins Sesks was in contention for the title heading to Spain but it soon became apparent that the Latvian was struggling for pace on Friday. Saturday saw Sesks pushing hard but his day came to a premature end when a puncture saw him go off the road, damaging his wheel in the process and retiring for the day. Sesks restarted the rally on Sunday to finish sixth and claim third in the 2021 FIA Junior WRC Championship.
Lauri Joona claimed his second Junior WRC podium of the season on Spain and for a few stages looked like he was in contention for the rally win too, trailing Pajari by just two seconds after stage 11. In his first full Junior WRC season, Joona claimed fourth in the championship.
Robert Virves delivered some competitive times during Rally Spain and finished third, a puncture saw him fall away from the leading pack where he was once closing on Pajari’s lead. Virves’ third place meant he claimed fifth overall in the championship with some impressive stage times on Rally Spain, taking a total of five Wolf Stage Win Points.
William Creighton appeared to be a potential contender for victory on Rally Spain but an accident on stage one soon put those plans to bed. Creighton took a stage win on Saturday to prove he has the pace on the way to securing sixth in his rookie Junior WRC season.
Maciej Woda, FIA Junior WRC Championship Manger, said: “What a fantastic result and achievement for Sami and Marko! The first Finns to win the Junior WRC Championship and Sami becoming the youngest ever Junior WRC champion, I think we will be seeing his name a lot more in years to come. His performance this weekend has been incredible and he is a truly deserving champion, I really cannot wait to see what he can do in the future. Jon Armstrong and Phil fought admirably throughout this rally, once it became clear Jon was on the back foot we really saw what speed he his capable of and that is underlined by the fact he won the Wolf Stage Win Points Award. I want to highlight just how competitive Junior WRC has been this year, every driver entered took Wolf Stage Win Points at some point this year which is truly remarkable. We have had an incredibly talented field and I see futures for everybody entered here in Spain. Lastly, I want to thank the M-Sport Poland team, WRC Promoter, Pirelli, Wolf and FIA for all of their hard work and effort to deliver such a special and exciting championship. The story from this year will not be forgotten for a long time.”
Sami Pajari, 2021 FIA Junior WRC Champion, said: “This is a really big achievement, I don’t know what to say. I feel so thankful for so many people who made this possible. I think it’s not only me who deserves it, it’s many people also. Wow, just wow. There were so many ups and downs just in one rally so it was not so easy to really see this coming, I was the lucky one this time. You can dream, dream about lots of things, but to this really happening is something that doesn’t even feel real at the moment.” -
JK Tyre presents Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup 2021: 18 make the grid
The first round of the 24th JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship is scheduled from October 22 to 24 at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore.
Coimbatore, 18 October 2021: JK Tyre, India”s leading tyre manufacturer, partnered with Royal Enfield for the first edition of Continental GT Cup, a Manufacturer’s Single Make Cup to be organised by Performance Cars Racing Trust, New Delhi at Kari Motor Speedway, which will be part of the JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship (JKNRC) 2021. The fourth and last round of the event will be held at Buddh International Circuit (BIC), near New Delhi.
Of the 120 riders who take part in the trials, 18 riders were selected for the main event while five riders were kept as stand-byes. The drivers briefing, selection trails were conducted on Monday while training to the selected group was imparted on Tuesday. Two media riders from the trials on Thursday will join the 18 to form a 20-bike grid for the first round.
Riders’ briefing before action began on Monday for the selection trials. From an overwhelming response of over 300 bikes, 120 took part in the trials and 23 made the final cut. two media riders will join the 18 to make a 20-bike grid. Photos: Dhinesh Kannan. The first round of the 24th JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship is scheduled to be held here on Saturday and Sunday.
JKNRC continues to run the flagship racing championship for the 24th year and companies like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor India, General Motors and Suzuki Motorcycles have participated over the years. As Royal Enfield joins the bandwagon, the maiden round of Continental GT Cup attracted over 300 entries and selection trials were held on Monday. The track-spec Continental GT-R650 has minimalistic, yet purpose-built performance modifications which offer an un-intimidating, agile and spirited performance on track, the release said.
According to Srinivasu Allaphan, Director, Sales & Marketing, JK Tyre & Industries: “Being the pioneers of promoting motorsport in India, JK Tyre has been at the forefront in formalising the Indian racing programmes and nurturing young talent in the country…our partnership with Royal Enfield for Continental GT Cup adds another feather to our hat. We are confident that it will definitely give an added fillip to the ever-growing popularity of motorsport in India.”
Action at the maiden Continental GT selection trials in Coimbatore on Monday. Photo by INDIAinF1/Dhinesh Kannan Speaking about Royal Enfield’s motivation to foray into motorsports, Adrian Sellers, Custom Programme Lead & Manager, Product Strategy & Industrial Design said: “Nurturing and encouraging the spirit of pure motorcycling has been the core philosophy of Royal Enfield for over a century. With a long history of rides and events that have spawned riding communities across the world, we have also actively engaged in racing, with success in top level racing events such as 1914 Isle of Man TT, the 1960 Big Bear Run, the 2020 Daytona at the American Flat Track, and the 2021 DTRA Flat Track ‘Twins Class’ Championship, among several others. In 2019, we developed two race ready Continental GT 650 motorcycles with Harris Performance, leveraging their 40 years of racing experience to make the most track worthy GTs we could, all without fundamentally changing the base motorcycles. The result exceeded our expectations, and so we are excited to continue that story and launch the Continental GT Cup in India.”
Selection Trials Provisional Unaudited Results: Top-18 from 121 riders: 1.Navaneeth Kumar 01:22.6; 2. Karthik Mateti 1:23.01; 3. Anfal 1:23.1; 4. Anish Damodara Shetty 1:23.6; 5. Lani Zena Fernandez (01:24.9); 6. Allwin Xavier (01:25.1); 7. Dhiraj Vijay Baikar (01:25.2); 8. Syed Muzzammil Ali (01:25.3); 9. Amy (01:25.3); 10. Vijay Singh (01:25.4); 11. Jayanth Prathipati (01:25.5); 12. Bharath Balan (01:25.6); 13. Raivat (01:25.7); 14. Sam Paul Osbourne (01:25.7); 15. Rohit Lad (01:25.8); 16. Harshad Sumra (01:25.9), 17. Sudheer Sudhakar (01:126); 18. Meka Vidhuraj (01:26.0);
Stand-byes: 19. Naresh Kaname (01:26.4); 20. Rajkumar (01: 26.6); 21. Pradeep C (01:26.6); 23. Sreenidhi S (01:26.8); 24. Lokesh V (01:26.8).
Editor’s note on 20 October 2021: These unaudited results as per the notice board were later audited and many including the top two were disqualified and the reserves got a chance into the main draw. The top rider was disqualified as he is part of another one-make event, and the second fastest rider, for an unwritten rule, that said that riders should not crash when the track is green. Or else they would forefeit their best lap times. Strange but true indeed. David Bodapati.
For the benefit of doubting Thomases we are publishing the photo of the result displayed at Kari Motor Speedway notice board on 18th.
Photo of unaudited results sourced by David Bodapati, Editor and Special Correspondent (F1) on 18 October 2021 and uploaded on 20th. -
Redding takes Race 2 victory after thrilling three-way battle
#ARGWorldSBK
The top three in the Championship battled it out for Race 2 honours in the final race of the Argentinean Round
San Juan, 17 October 2021: Race 2 for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Circuito San Juan Villicum as the Championship top three engaged in a hard-fought 21-lap battle during the Motul Argentinean Round as Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed his first victory since the Catalunya Round after withstanding a challenge from Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK), with Rea taking four points out of Razgatlioglu’s Championship lead.
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) got a good start from third on the grid while Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) led from pole position before the pair battled it out throughout the first three laps, with Rea taking the lead of the race briefly before being pushed down to third on the fourth lap of 21.
Redding moved up to second with a pass on Rea before passing Razgatlioglu into Turn 8 on Lap 5, while Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) continued his strong form as he battled the Championship’s top three for a podium position. Rea was able to respond to move into second and looked to move back into the lead, but the Turkish start was able to resist that challenge on Lap 6. At the start of Lap 9, Redding made a move on Rea into Turn 1, with Razgatlioglu still out in front, although Redding did make a move into Turn 8 with Razgatlioglu responding instantly.
On Lap 10 at Turn 7, Redding was able to overtake Razgatlioglu to move into the lead of the race, with Rea almost able to pass the Turkish star into Turn 8 but Razgatlioglu responded to keep second place. The move allowed Redding to escape away at the front of the race after the thrilling battles, with the battle between Razgatlioglu, Rea and Bassani continuing. Rea cut back under Razgatlioglu into Turn 7 to briefly move into second place on Lap 14 but Razgatlioglu regained the position under braking into Turn 8. On Lap 16, Rea made the crucial overtake to move into Turn 1 but Razgatlioglu fought back until Turn 5 with the pair side-by-side throughout the sequence. After this, Rea was able to break away to claim second place ahead of Razgatlioglu, with Redding claiming his first victory since Catalunya Race 1.P1 Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“The thing is I didn’t feel that great and, in the beginning, there was a lot of fighting and then Bassani came past. I didn’t want to go back more, I tried to come back. I got quite aggressive, I said I would show my aggressive side if that’s what it needs to be. I got to the front and gave it all back. I started to get the rhythm again, I saw they were fighting again and then I didn’t make a mistake. I knew once I got through the first two sectors, I was safe with my pace. I just got a really good rhythm, corner after corner, and that was it and the rest was history.”
P2 Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
“The position doesn’t really matter so much today. For me, it was all about the feeling on the bike and I want to thank my team so much, especially Pere because he never gave up investigating my problems. This weekend, and this race, we found something good. I could feel from the out lap I had a bike I could fight with today. Thanks to all the team. We won’t give up, we’ll keep working really, really hard. I enjoyed the race, I enjoyed it a lot. I enjoyed being here in Argentina, thank you to all the fans that came out.”
P3 Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK)
“I am, again, very close to a triple win but I tried my best in the race. In the last three laps, I tried every lap, feeling the limit. Also, I tried for second position but after I settled for third position. I said this morning it wouldn’t be an easy Race 2 because everybody was very strong. I am happy. I am again on the podium.”WorldSBK Results Race 2 – Top-6
1. Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +2.428s
3. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) +3.834s
4. Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) +5.390s
5. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +5.845s
6. Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +8.147sChampionship Standings (after Race 2, Round 12)
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) Yamaha (531 points)
2. Jonathan Rea (GBR) Kawasaki (501 points)
3. Scott Redding (GBR) Ducati (465 points)
Full Championship Standings -
Rain master Ruhaan Alva graduates to Formula cars in style; F4 beckons
Bengaluru, 18 October 2021: For many of us in motorsports, K1000 is an annual pilgrimage. And everyone has 100 tales to tell, and I am no different after watching over two dozen K1000s, 22 years to be precise, from 1996, many of them doing media or just having fun. In one of the trips back from a K1000 run in Tumkur, I travelled with two young boys one was 9 and his younger sibling 6. I fell sick and had to return on a Saturday itself, but that provided me with a chance to indulge in K1000 stories with one of the drivers of yesteryears, Umakanth Alva, whom I had the pleasure of watching in late nineties. He introduced his elder son into karting, the gateway to racing bigger things. That day, looking at a shy and playful child, I did not realise his potential. But soon his exploits abroad convinced me about the talent of the precocious 11-year old. He is Ruhaan Alva, 15 now, the reigning X30 Karting Senior champion 2021 who came through the ranks by grit and determination. The younger one, Shlok, was naughty then, but now he is unto himself, immersed in things that make him a computer geek.
Ruhaan’s experience in Europe helped him hone his skills in being much smoother as a driver since the grip levels there, are very high. “One small mistake and you will lose time. The top 10 drivers are fighting for one tenth of a second. The changing weather conditions also helped him adapt much faster to the track since it would be cold and slippery early in the morning and then when the sun comes out the grip levels would increase,” said senior Alva, a rally driver, who retired with a bang winning the Mountain Challenge in picturesque Kohima, organised by Nagaland Adventure Motor Sports Association as its inaugural event after its birth in 2001. Alva, was ably navigated by Musa Sherif, who went on to become a legend of a navigator, and their exploits together, and Alva’s with other navigators, were for another story another day. In fact, the famed speedmaster Lohit Urs’, a National rally champion, first car and team was done by Alva as Team Kadur.
Ruhaan Alva, crosses the flag first, but finishes fifth, on his debut at the MMSC MRF Indian National Racing Championship for Cars 2021, Round 1 in Sept. at MMRT. Photos: Shajahan Coming back to Ruhaan, the experience and learning in Europe, he returned to India and proved himself and earned his Second National title as Junior by dint of hard work in 2020. The fickle English weather added another tool in his armoury. So driving in the wet and figuring out different lines, came naturally to him. The Indian conditions offered him different kinds of challenges, though… racing and some, not as much a part of sport. But the youngster, withstood all the pressures of being alone at the top, and despite no congenial atmosphere for racing, he sharpened his skills with a much higher-level of understanding. The machine, the speed, the tyres, the traction, the set-up, all taught him how to excel in sub-optimal conditions. Finding out his pace and the limit, on the only track in Bengaluru at MecoKartopia, and belting out lap after fast lap, needs some discipline which he did exhibit, but at times was frustrated with the kart set-up. “These are part and parcel of the sport. Despite all these, I aim to be calm and try to perform my best,” he said after one of those bad races last year. “But I will be spending a lot of time in the gym to get my fitness levels up as well as some testing and time on the sim,” he concluded.
One for the Album: At the turn of the century a new motorsposrts baby is born in the North East and it was the Southers Stars who won the inaugural NAMSA event. Musa Sherif, left, navigated for Umakanth Alva, who bid goodbye to his rally career on a winning note conquering the mountains in the North East in Feb 2001. Ruhaan moved into Formula cars this year and immediately was at front fighting for a win. He won multiple races in the Formula Junior Racing (FJRS) event held in Coimbatore in May 2021. Recently, in October, he won the second race of the MRF MMSC Formula 1300 category showing pace, after starting from 8th place and understanding of the racing lines despite being a debutant at the 3.712 km Madras Motor Sport Track in Irungattukottai. Logging a penalty for overtaking during yellow flag period and costing him the win is a different matter but he made pundits sit up and take notice. Learning to watch yellow flags, with Madras Motor Sports Club introducing Digital Flags for the first time in the country in National Racing Championship will make his experience of taking flashing yellows to a different level when he visits MMRT, for the next round. Ruhaan won the Best Rookie Award on debut at the track and in the National championship. “It’s not much of a consolation because I know I had the pace and I deserved that win but there is nothing more I can do about it rather than learn and come back stronger,” said a disappointed Bengalurean to INDIAinF1 after the race.
The number of competitors this year has suddenly gone up and the grid for Formula 1300 was full for the MMSC MRF National Racing Championship with drivers being put on the wait list. The same is expected for the JK Novice Championship in Formula LGB 1300 as well as LGB F4 with drivers on the wait list.
This bodes well for the sport and with the Mumbai Falcons announcement of the F4 Indian Championship,run along with the F3 Regional Championship this year the sport is looking to grow. The Rotax Indian National Championship also has a record number of entries expected in the Junior and Senior categories.
Ruhaan said: “It’s a big difference moving into Formula LGB, especially getting used to the gearbox, the brakes and the longer wheel-base making the handling very differentcompared to a kart.”
This website wishes Ruhaan Alva, the very best, and would like to see him graduate into F4 and up the ladder for better racing.
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Neuville seals 2nd win as title-fight goes to wire: WRC
(Spain), 17 October 2021: Thierry Neuville, navigated by Martijn Wydaeghe, stormed to his second FIA World Rally Championship victory of the season with a commanding success at RallyRACC – Rally de España on Sunday afternoon.
The Belgian took control of the penultimate round with eight straight fastest times in his Hyundai i20 across the middle of the three-day asphalt rally to secure back-to-back Spain victories by 24.1 sec.
Second place for Elfyn Evans in a Toyota Yaris means the fight for the drivers’ title goes to a final round decider in Italy next month. He headed Dani Sordo’s i20 by 11.2sec and trails team-mate Sébastien Ogier by 17 points. A maximum 30 remain available.
After demoting Evans from the lead on Saturday morning, Neuville’s progress at the front was serene until a big scare ahead of the closing Wolf Power Stage.
A starter motor problem meant co-driver Wydaeghe pushed their i20 into the regroup before the stage. The crew managed to restart the car and tackled the test without further problems, but the incident clearly rattled Neuville.
Evans felt uncomfortable on dirty roads when the smooth asphalt speed tests in the Costa Daurada hills were tackled for a second time, but the Welshman has slashed the deficit to Ogier from 44 points with victory in Finland earlier this month and second here.
He tried a variety of set-up changes to no avail but had enough pace to stay ahead of a charging Sordo, who won all four of Sunday’s special stages to demote Ogier and claim the final podium place.
Ogier, pursuing his eighth title in nine seasons, struggled for pace in the first half of the rally. While set-up changes gave the Frenchman fresh heart, he could not hold off the Spaniard.
Neuville and Sordo’s 1-2 in the bonus points-paying Power Stage means the fight between leader Toyota Gazoo Racing and Hyundai Motorsport for the manufacturers’ crown will also go to the last round.
Kalle Rovanperä finished fifth in another Yaris, almost 50sec adrift of Ogier, with Gus Greensmith overcoming several problems to complete the top six in a Ford Fiesta at the final rally for co-driver Chris Patterson.
Oliver Solberg celebrated his first WRC asphalt drive in an i20 World Rally Car with seventh, equalling his career-best result, and top-tier debutant Nil Solans was eighth in another i20.
In FIA WRC2, Frenchman Eric Camilli claimed the class glory, whilst Andreas Mikkelsen wrapped up the drivers’ title without even starting the event.
Camilli moved into the lead on SS2 after an early battle with title-chaser Mads Østberg’s similar Citroën C3 Rally2 entered by TRT. A puncture for Østberg on Friday gifted Camilli the chance to stretch his legs and he steadily increased his advantage over the remaining two days.
Whilst Camilli won the rally, results elsewhere meant the absent Mikkelsen was crowned the drivers’ champion. The Norwegian had planned to end his season at FORUM8 ACI Rally Monza next month, but as neither Østberg nor Teemu Suninen scored enough points to catch him, the title was decided earlier than anticipated.
Finland’s Emil Lindholm rounded out the perfect weekend by taking the win in FIA WRC3.
The 14.9sec advantage he opened up on Friday had more than doubled by close of play on Saturday and a clean run over the final four speed tests confirmed his win by 28.5sec from Kajetan Kajetanowicz.
Kajetanowicz moved into the championship lead with one rally to go, however, his main rival Yohan Rossel is still awaiting news regarding an appeal over his EKO Acropolis exclusion. The hearing is scheduled to take place before the season-closing FORUM8 ACI Rally Monza next month.
The title-deciding final round at FORUM8 ACI Rally Monza will take place on 18 – 21 November.
The final unofficial results can be consulted here.
