INDIA in F1

Tag: Hemanth Mudappa

  • Hero signs drag champ Hemanth Muddappa as brand ambassador

    Hero signs drag champ Hemanth Muddappa as brand ambassador

    Bengaluru, 8 March 2022: Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, has signed nine-time national drag racing champion Hemanth Muddappa as a Brand Ambassador for the Hero Xtreme 160R.

    Hemanth will promote the drag racing culture in India with Hero MotoCorp’s on-going XDrags, a pan India drag racing experiential event organised on the Hero Xtreme 160R. Hero MotoCorp and Hemanth have already hosted 16 XDrags events so far, said a press release received here on Tuesday.

    Bengaluru-based Hemanth has been breaking records, including his own, in the drag racing circuit. Earlier this month, he bagged his fifth consecutive title at the MMSC FMSCI Indian National Drag Racing Championship 2021.

    Hemanth won two golds in the above 1050cc (Super Sport) and 851-1050cc (Super Sport) categories and races across three classes – 851-1050cc, 1050cc and above, and foreign open unrestricted. He is the only Indian Drag Racer to win in two classes and holds the record for the fastest time across drag strips in India.

    From being told by doctors that he will hardly be able to walk after meeting with a life-threatening accident to clinching the title of India’s Fastest Racer, Muddappa’s race with his life has been inspirational and thrilling as well.

    Ranjivjit Singh, Chief Growth Officer, Hero MotoCorp said, “We are delighted to welcome Hemanth as a new addition to our team. We heartily congratulate him for his recent wins. Muddappa’s presence bolsters our commitment to the advancement of drag racing culture in India, which hasn’t been fully explored so far. Drag racing is the shortest and quickest form of motorsports and the Hero Xtreme 160R, the fastest to 0-60 km/h in its segment, is a perfect fit for this racing format.”

    Hemanth Muddappa, Rider, Hero MotoCorp said, “This is the beginning of a thrilling ride and I am elated to join the Hero family as it aims to grow the drag racing culture in India. The sport has the power to take the young Indian sportspersons to the world podium. Hero MotoCorp is continuously doing great work towards the enhancement of all motorsport. I have always admired the company from afar and now it is a privilege to represent it. I will continue to do my best to win and break records and keep the Hero flag flying high always. Go Boom!” 

  • ‘Lightning’ strikes MMRT as Hemanth Muddappa breaks National Drag record

    ‘Lightning’ strikes MMRT as Hemanth Muddappa breaks National Drag record

    Chennai, October 3: Seven-time National Drag Champion Hemanth Muddappa of Mantra Racing stormed to a National record, breaking his own mark with a triumphant double gold in the ribbon events in the second round of the MMSC FMSCI Indian National Drag Racing Championship here on Sunday. Touching a top speed of 230kmph, he extended his Championship lead in the premier 4-stroke Above-1051cc Class at the 303-metre Madras Motor Race Track.

    The 31-year Coorgi, based in Bengaluru, nicknamed LightningR1, did his magic once again to prove his critics wrong as he dashed to a gold beating his own National record in the 4-stroke 850 to 1050cc SuperSport Class set in 2019. Hemanth also holds the National drag record in the top above-1051cc Class.

    “I am so happy to set the National record in this category. Seven National titles won’t come by luck. We have put in hardwork and practised hard, testing and improving after every run. I dedicate this gold to my friend Riyaz’s mom, who is on a ventilator. Despite that he came here and clocked an eight. Hats off to him,’’ said a delighted Hemanth, who runs 1Up Nutrition, a top brand Nutrition supplements for sportspersons.

    “Winning is in the DNA of Mantra Racing from 1954. We have been tuning Mudappa’s bikes for all his National titles and I am glad he got the much-awaited record today. We brought some upgrades but it was the hard work and practice he put in at the air strip near Bengaluru that brought him success,” said Sharan Pratap of Mantra Racing, who tunes the champion’s bikes.

    Hemanth astride a green #93 BMW s1000rr was lightening quick to post a stunning 7.914 to beat the National Drag record in this class despite being a fraction of a second slower in reaction at the start to Hyderabad’s Mohd. Riyaz, who did 8.058 seconds. Sugan Prasad, also from Bengaluru, clocked 8.421 to take the bronze.

    In the top class of 4-stroke Above-1051cc Super Sport, riding a black Suzuki Hayabusa, Hemanth clocked 8.061sec. “With others posting only in 8s, I took it easy and won at a relaxed pace,’’ the passionate bodybuilder added.

    In other classes,  Bharath Raj (226-360cc), Madhan Kumar (upto 165cc) and Aiyaz Rem (361-550cc) won the gold.

    Results (provisional): 4S Above-1051cc Class: 1. #97 Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru) 8.061sec; 2. #98 Hafizullah Khan (Bengaluru) 8.396; 3. Vignesh Purushottham (Bengaluru) 8.409;

    4S 851 to 1050cc Super Sport: 1. #93 Hemanth Muddappa (7.914); 2. #96 Mohd. Riyaz (Hyderabad) (8.058); 3. Sugan Prasad (Bengaluru) (8.421);

    4S 226 to 360cc SS Indian: 1. #74Bharath Raj (12.427); 2. #75 Mohamed Shakir (12.655); 3. #77 Yogeshwaran (13.014);

    4S upto 165cc SS Indian: 1. #71 S Madhan Kumar (13.826); 2. #73 K Kannan (13.990); 3. #91 S Kannan (14.472);

    4S 361 to 550cc SS Indian: 1. #85 Aiyaz Rem (12.368); 2. #83 Yogeshwaran (12.620); 3. #84 D Anish Samson (12.658).

  • Hemanth Mudappa raring to go: MMSC fmsci Drag Nationals

    Hemanth Mudappa raring to go: MMSC fmsci Drag Nationals

    Chennai, 1 October 2021: Seven-time National champion Hemanth Mudappa of Mantra Racing will spearhead a strong field of over 100 die-hard petrolheads who will congregate at the MMRT here this weekend for the second round of MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship 2021 here on Saturday and Sunday.

    Mantra Racing, who is tuning Hemanth’s bikes had put in extra efforts for the second round and is looking forward for a double. “We are bringing some updates and I am confident going into the Sunday’s races,” said the Bengaluru-based Coorgi, who popularises Sports Nutrition and endorses 1up Nutrition for Elite high-performance athletes. A bodybuilder by passion , he is committed to the sport and his hard work saw that he won the Ribbon 1050cc and above continuously for four years. With Sharan Pratap as tuner, the duo have mastered the art of winning drag racing Nationals in India dominating the scene from 2016.

    The Super Sport 851-1050cc and Above 1051cc categories will headline the races. Bengaluru’s reigning National champion Hemant Muddappa, astride BMW S1000 RR, has been dominating the Above 1051cc category, but Hyderabad’s Md Riyaz (Yamaha R1) topped the 851-1050cc class in the first round in August and the battle for points is expected to continue with the championship extended to three rounds.

    Besides the above two premier categories, the card also contains races in six other classes: 2-stroke (Super Sport) Up to 130cc and 131-165cc; Girls (4-Stroke) Up to 165cc; and Super Sport Indian Up to 165cc, 226-360cc and 361-550cc.

    As in the previous round, the organisers have put in place state-of-the-art timing equipment and a fully-equipped Medical team to deal with any emergency.

  • Hemanth Muddappa claims feature race: Drag Nationals

    Hemanth Muddappa claims feature race: Drag Nationals

    Chennai, 8 August 2021: Riders from Bengaluru, spearheaded by reigning champion Hemanth Muddappa of Mantra Racing swept the honours in the first round of the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship which concluded at the MMRT, here on Sunday amidst strict Covid safety protocols.

    Muddappa, 31, astride his Suzuki Hayabusa, was the quickest of all riders, clocking 07.882 seconds over 302-metres strip while winning the featured Super Sport Above 1051cc category ahead of fellow-Bengalureans Hafizullah Khan (08.116) and Harish Naik (08.538). Muddappa currently holds the National Drag record at 7.783 which he set here on 10th October in the 2020 first round last year. 

    Hemanth Muddappa (centre), winner of the Above 1051cc class, flanked by second-placed Havizullah Khan (left) and third placed Harish Naik in the 2021 Drag Nationals Round 1 at MMRT, Chennai on 8 Aug 2021.

    Despite the comfortable win, Muddappa said due to the high track temperature, the timing was a tad slower than he wanted. “The track temperature affected all the riders and we all posted slower timings. We were much quicker in January during the final round of the 2020 championship,” said Muddappa.

    Another Bengalurean, Mohd Riyaz (08.026) topped the time sheets in the Super Sport 851-1050cc class, followed by Muddappa (08.116), who was a bit slow off the mark, and debutant NV Satyanarayana Raju (08.191) from Hyderabad.

    On Saturday, Chennai riders swept the podium spots in the Girls (4-stroke, up to 165cc) category with Lani Zena Fernandez, Nivetha Jessica and Soundari Sindy finishing in that order.

    The results:

    Lani Zena Fernandez (centre), winner of the Girls race, flanked by second-placed Nivetha Jessica (left) and third-placed Soundari (Sindy) on Saturday. Photos by AB Photography

    Super Sport (Above 1051cc): 1. Hemanth Muddappa (Mantra Racing, Bengaluru) (07.882secs); 2. Hafizullah Khan (Bengaluru) (08.116); 3. Harish Naik (Bengaluru) (08.538). 851-1050cc: 1. Mohd Riyaz (Bengaluru) (08.026); 2. Hemanth Muddappa (Mantra Racing, Bengaluru) (08.116); 3. NV Satyanarayana Raju (Hyderabad) (08.191).

    Super Sport Indian – 361-550cc: 1. Aiyaz Rem (Bengaluru) (12.568); 2. Zuheeb Ahmed (Bengaluru) (12.860); 3. D Annish Samson (Speed Up Racing, Bengaluru) (12.942). 226-360cc: 1. Bharath Raj (Rockers Racing, Chennai) (12.602); 2. Yogeshwaran (Speed Up Racing, Chennai) (12.798); 3. D Annish Samson (Speed Up Racing, Bengaluru) (13.050).  Up to 165cc: 1. Kevin Kannan (RACR Castro Power, Chennai) (14.573); 2. Anand R (Chennai) (14.824); 3. Chandrashekar (Bengaluru) (14.910).

    GIRLS (4-Stroke, up to 165cc): 1. Lani Zena Fernandez (Chennai) (16.591); 2. Nivetha Jessica (Chennai) (16.640); 3. Soundari Sindy (Chennai) (16.794).

    2-Stroke Up to 130cc: 1. Mujahid Pasha (Bengaluru) (13:547); 2. Prashanth (Chennai) (13.682); 3. Mohd Rafiq (Bengaluru) (13.733). 131-165cc: 1. Mohd Rafiq (Bengaluru) (12.818); 2. Husain Khan (Mumbai) (13.002); 3. Aiyaz Rem (Bengaluru) (13.047).

    Note: All photos published are taken by Shameem Fahath for `Aditya Bedre photography’

  • Hemanth Muddappa smashes National Drag record

    Hemanth Muddappa smashes National Drag record

    Chennai, 10 October 2020: Defending champion Hemanth Muddappa of Mantra Racing, astride a Suzuki Hayabusa broke the National Drag Record, setting a new mark of 7.783 seconds beating his own record over the 302- metre MMRT Drag Strip. The Madras Motor Sports Club kick-started the domestic 2020 motorsport season by successfully conducting the first round of the MMSC Fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship in a secure bio-bubble environment at the MMRT circuit here on Sunday.

    The 30-year Bengaluru-based Coorgi, a three time National champion, touched a top speed of 222.49 kmph despite the third fastest reaction time of 1.658 sec at the start, to began the season on a winning note. He broke his own National record of 7.976 which he set in the round two last year on 6 October and equalled in the Championship winning last round in December. The bike was tuned by Sharan Pratap of Mantra Racing, Bengaluru. Muddappa won the National championship consecutively in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

    While Mudappa expectedly topped the time charts, clocking a blistering time for the sprint in the Super Sport 4-stroke Above 1051cc class, he could only come second in the 851 to 1050cc class as Mohammed Riyaz of Hyderabad won the dash. Rulex Rockers Racing team’s Bharatraj and Mohammed Rafiq notched a double apiece in their respective categories. Defending champion Nivetha Jessica won the girls category on Saturday.

    “I have been eagerly waiting to get back on track and am keeping myself fit. I was confident of clocking the best time, but beating the track record again is a bonus. I look forward to a consistent season to retain my National title,” said the Coorgi, who is primarily into civil contracts and also a partner in a leading sports nutrition brand, `1up Nutrition India’. He is based in Bengaluru. 

    Sporting activity came to a grinding halt in March and since then it was seven months that the Indian motorsports saw no activity. But with the revised calendar announced by the Federation, MMSC Indian National Drag Championship hosted the first Nationals to kick-start the motorsports calendar with a `new normal’, what with all the guidelines to tackle Corona Virus.

    Managing some 116 entries besides a host of officials, volunteers and employees, the MMSC went to great lengths to strictly implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and protocols as mandated by Government guidelines designed to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. In view of the restrictions, no spectator or guest was permitted entry to the venue, while each competitor was allowed only one helper or mechanic, and the races were spread over two days (Saturday and Sunday) so as to limit the size of the congregation to under 100.

    MMSC Vice-President Vicky Chandhok said: “Following weeks of preparations and working on the SOPs as dictated by the government guidelines, it was great to go racing again after a break of seven months. Though we had to make do without a sponsor, we spared no expense to create a secure bio-bubble at the track. Of course, as per sporting regulations, we had a fully-equipped Medical team to deal with any emergency.

    “As much as the sport mattered to us, we gave top priority to health of all involved in the event. The strict protocols, followed by all at the venue, involved temperature checks, frequent hand sanitization and physical distancing. We also restricted entry to only essential persons, besides competitors.”

    The results: 4-Stroke Super Sport:

    Champion in the Above 1051cc class Hemant Muddappa (centre) flanked by second-placed Hafizulla Khan (left) and third-placed Harish Naik. An MMSC image

    Above 1051cc: 1. Hemant Mudappa (Mantra Racing, Bengaluru) (07.783secs); 2. Hafizulla Khan (Bengaluru) (08.374); 3. Harish Naik (Bengaluru) (08.721).

    851-1050cc: 1. Mohammed Riyaz (Hyderabad) (07.922); 2. Hemant Mudappa (08.162); 3. Sugan Prasad (Bengaluru) (08.382).

    361-550cc: 1. Aiyaz (Bengaluru) (12.256); 2. Anand R (Speed Up Racing, Chennai) (12.350); 3. Karthik Mateti (Telangana) (12.518).

    226-360cc: 1. J Bharatraj (Rulex Rockers Racing, Chennai) (12.805); 2. Vivek Pillai (Team Alisha Abdullah, Chennai) (13.104); 3. P Yogeswaran (Rulex Rockers Racing, Chennai) (13.137).

    Up to 165cc: 1. Bharatraj J (Rulex Rockers Racing, Chennai) (14.580); 2. PM Soorya (Rulex Rockers Racing, Chennai) (14.656); 3. Anand R (Speed Up Racing, Chennai) (15.039).

    Saturday: Novice (Girls, Stock up to 165cc): 1. Nivetha Jessica (Chennai) (16.512); 2. Ann Jennifer (Chennai) (16.642); 3. Alisha Abdullah (Chennai) (16.781).

    2-Stroke Super Sport 131-165cc: 1. Mohammed Rafiq (12.843); 2. Manoj Kumar S (13.228); 3. Mohammed Touheed (13.253).

    Up to 130cc: 1. Mohammed Rafiq (13.381); 2. R Madhan Kumar (13.584); 3. Mohammed Touheed (13.954).