INDIA in F1

Tag: Lani Zena Fernandez

  • Young guns to challenge established stars: MMSC 2w Nationals Round 2

    Young guns to challenge established stars: MMSC 2w Nationals Round 2

    Chennai, July 6, 2023: The possibility of a new generation of riders continuing to push the seniors, like they did in the season-opener at Coimbatore last month, heightens the expectations of stirring duels in the second round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2023 which gets underway at the Madras International Circuit here on Friday with over 150 entries in the fray. 

    The three-day event with 15 races besides practice and qualifying sessions, brings together country’s top riders and bike manufacturers – Honda, TVS, Yamaha and KTM – to contest in four National championship categories – Pro-Stock 301-400cc, Pro-Stock 165cc, Novice (Stock 165cc) and Girls (Stock 165cc), apart from a support race in the 301-400cc (Novice) class. 

    The card also includes the Petronas TVS One-Make Championship comprising three categories, the Open (Apache RR 310), Rookie (RTR 200) and Girls (RTR 200), while Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup will have a double-header in the NSF 250 class. 

    At the tight and twisty Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore last month, established stars had to constantly look over their shoulders as a new generation of racers announced its arrival with podium and top-10 finishes. However, the very technical MIC would be a different challenge for the young guns when they go up against their experienced peers. In this context, there is much to look forward to in the races this weekend. 

    Rajiv Sethu (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) and Mathana Kumar (Pacer Yamaha) started the season with a double apiece in the two premium Pro-Stock categories, 310-400cc and 165cc, respectively, in Coimbatore, but both were tested by a pair of Petronas TVS Racing’s new recruits, Sarthak Chavan from Pune and Bengaluru’s Chiranth Vishwanath. Another teenager, Shreyas Hareesh (Rockers Racing) from Bengaluru impressed with two top-10 finishes in the Pro-Stock 165cc category. 

    In contrast, Hyderabad teenager Vignesh Goud (Race’ists Motorcycle Club) also notched a double in the Novice class quite comfortably while the ever-improving Lani Fernandez (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) from Puducherry won the highly competitive Girls’ race. 

    Both the One-Make Championships also witnessed young riders excel. Chennai’s Kavin Quintal (NSF 250), Alwin Sundar (Petronas TVS Open) and Shreyas Hareesh (Petronas TVS Rookie) dominated their respective categories with a double each while Bengaluru’s Nithila Das impressed while winning the Petronas TVS Girls’ race. It will be no surprise if the quartet extend their winning run at the MIC this weekend. 

    MMSC president Ajit Thomas said: “The Coimbatore round presented a happy scenario with many young riders making a mark in various categories, and it certainly augurs well for the future. We look forward to the trend continuing in the remaining rounds at the MIC. Once again, we are grateful to our sponsors MRF Tyres, the manufacturers, the growing number of competitors and the Media who all have contributed to the success of the championship.”

    There will be live streaming of the races on various social media platforms. 

  • Hemanth Muddappa bags 10th National crown; Alimon clinches top class: Drag Nationals

    Hemanth Muddappa bags 10th National crown; Alimon clinches top class: Drag Nationals

    Chennai, 30 Dec 2022: Reigning champion Hemanth Muddappa added one more title to his glittering shelf to join the rare elite club 10-time National champions, as he clinched the National Championship titles in the superbike category in the fourth and final round of the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship 2022 at the Madras International Circuit here on Friday.

    As declared yesterday, Bengaluru’s Alimon Saidalavi won the premier Unrestricted class National Championship with an all-win record, winning the final round with ease astride the Kawasaki Ninja H2.

    Champions All: (from left) Prashanth, Hemanth Muddappa, Alimon Saidalavi, Saurabh Parab, Bharath Raj and Abdul Shaikh. Photos by Karan Ravi.

    Muddappa, with three wins in four outings in the Super Sport 4-stroke 1051-1650cc class retained his title astride a Suzuki Hayabusa. Muddappa’s team Mantra Racing bagged the team honours in both these superbike classes. Muddappa and Mantra Racing combination, thus achieved a record 10 National titles.

    Chennai-born engineer from Rockers Racing, Bharath Raj hogged the limelight bagging a hat-trick in the 361-550cc class and made it a grand double adding another National title in the Upto 165cc category. He also helped his team Rockers Racing win the team championship in both the classes.

    Puducherry’s Lani Zena Fernandez (RACR Castrol Power Ultimate1) won the Round-4 race which helped her to finish on top in the championship standings in the Girls category (Stock 165cc), just three points ahead of favourite Soundari Ananthraj (AS Motorsports) who finished a distant sixth today.

    Lani Zena Fernandez of Puducherry made a brilliant comeback to win the Girls title.

    Mumbai’s Saurabh Parab, with two wins and four podiums, picked up the National crown in the 551-850cc category. Bengaluru’s Abdul Shaikh of G1 Motors Racing finished second behind Chennai’s Madhan Kumar in the 2-stroke upto 130cc class, but that was enough for the 29-year rider to clinch the National title.

    Bharath Raj of Team Rockers Racing bags his fifth National title from two different classes.

    Round-4 – Provisional results:

    Unrestricted: 1. Alimon Saidalavi (Bengaluru) (07.732secs); 2. Attaulla Baig (Bengaluru) (07.956); 3. Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) (07.968). National champion: Alimon Saidalavi (Bengaluru). Team champions: Mantra Racing, Bengaluru.

    4-Stroke Super Sport 1051-1650cc: 1. Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) (07.866); 2. Mujahid Pasha (Bengaluru) (07.877); 3. Attaulla Baig (Bengaluru) (08.038). National champion: Hemanth Muddappa. Team champions: Mantra Racing, Bengaluru.

    851-1050cc (Support race): 1. Saurabh Parabh (Mumbai) (07.827); 2. Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) (07.861); 3. Mohammed Riyaz (Hyderabad) (08.029).

    551-850cc 4-Stroke Super Sport: 1. Saurabh Parab (Mumbai) (08.476); 2. Mohammed Riyaz (Hyderabad) (08.510); Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Matra Racing) (08.664). National champion: Saurabh Parabh. Team champions: Mantra Racing, Bengaluru.

    361-550cc (Super Sport Indian): 1. Nadeem Pasha (Bengaluru) (12.003); 2. Anish Shetty (Bengaluru, PRN Motorsports) (12.020); 3. Bharath Raj (Chennai, Rockers Racing) (12.029). National champion: Bharath Raj. Team champions: Rockers Racing, Chennai.

    166-225cc (Support race); 1. Badhusha M (Chennai) (13.438); 2. Srikantha P (Bengaluru) (13.647); 3. Aiyaz Rem (Bengaluru) (14.297).

    Upto 165cc (Super Sport Indian): 1. Mohammed Fazil (Bengaluru) (14.095); 2. Mohammed Arfath (Bengaluru) (14.214); 3. Yogeshwaran (Chennai) (14.654). National champion: Bharath Raj. Team champions: Rockers Racing, Chennai.

    2-Stroke 131-165cc: 1. Prashanth (Bengaluru) (12.822); 2. Ashok S (Bengaluru) (12.995); 3. Abdul Shaikh (Bengaluru) (13.115). National champion: Prashanth. Team champions: Rockers Racing, Chennai.

    2-Stroke Upto 130cc: 1. Madhan Kumar R (Chennai) (13.517); 2. Abdul Shaikh (Bengaluru) (13.551); 3. Arvind Ganesh (Chennai, AP Motorsports) (13.611). National champion: Abdul Shaikh. Team champions: AP Motorsports, Chennai.

    GIRLS (165cc, Novice): 1. Lani Zena Fernandez (Puducherry, RACR Castrol Power Ultimate 1) (16.461); 2. Nivetha Jessica (Chennai) (16.601); 3. Aditi Krishnan (Bengaluru) (16.619). National champion: Lani Zena Fernandez. Team champions: Axor Sparks Racing, Chennai.

    Abdul Shaikh, National champion 2022 Upto 130cc class.
    MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcylce Drag Racing Nationals – Champions for 2022
    1.      Unrestricted: 
    Alimon Saidalavi (Bengaluru). Team champions: Mantra Racing, Bengaluru.
    2.      4-Stroke Super Sport 1051-1650cc: 
    Hemanth Muddappa. Team champions: Mantra Racing, Bengaluru.
    3.      551-850cc 4-Stroke Super Sport: 
    Saurabh Parabh. Team Mantra Racing, Bengaluru.
    4.      361-550cc (Super Sport Indian): 
    Bharath Raj. Team champions: Rockers Racing, Chennai.
    5.      Upto 165cc (Super Sport Indian): 
    Bharath Raj. Team champions: Rockers Racing, Chennai.
    6.      2-Stroke 131-165cc:
    Prashanth. Team champions: Rockers Racing, Chennai.
    7.      2-Stroke Upto 130cc:
    National champion: Abdul Shaikh. Team champions: AP Motorsports, Chennai.
    8.      GIRLS (165cc, Novice):
    National champion: Lani Zena Fernandez. Team champions: Axor Sparks Racing, Chennai.