INDIA in F1

Tag: Sarath Kumar

  • Sarath Kumar earns points at Suzuka: ARRC

    Sarath Kumar earns points at Suzuka: ARRC

    S Sarath Kumar at Suzuka on Sunday. A Rama Honda Racing team image

    Suzuka (Japan), 5 June 2017: India’s Shankar Sarath Kumar of Rama Honda Racing team by NTS T.Pro Ten10 secured a few more precious points in the first race of the SuperSport 600cc double-header following an improved performance in the third round of FIM Asia Road Racing Championship here over the weekend.

    Riding the Honda CBR 600WR, Chennai-based Sarath Kumar picked up two points in the first race on Saturday, but drew blank in the second outing on Sunday, but showed improvement through the weekend. He has nine points from three rounds.

    Sarath’s team-mate Rajiv Sethu, riding the Honda CBR 250RR in the Asia Production class for the first time at this iconic circuit, finished outside of points in both the races.

    Both Sarath and Sethu are backed by John Sudheer of the Rama Group of companies besides Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India and Honda Motorsports Japan.

    Sarath said: “Although I improved my timing with each session this time as well, I still do not have enough speed compared to my competitors. As such, I want to review the riding style and be able to run faster in the rounds to follow.”

    Sethu said: “Although racing at the Suzuka circuit was not the first time because of my participation in the Asian Dream Cup in the previous season, it was still a difficult race I was riding the CBR 250 RR for the first time here. Yet, it was still a good experience as I was able to put in some good lap times.”

    However, the Rama Honda team also enjoyed better results as their 600cc spearhead Taiga Hada finished sixth and fourth to be placed fourth in the championship while in the Asia Production class, Tomoyash Koyoma was third in both the races. The fifth RAMA Honda team rider Sena Yamada also picked up useful points in both the SuperSport 600cc races.

    The Rame Honda team is currently placed third in the 600cc championship and fifth in the AP 250 class after three rounds.

    John Sudheer, Chairman, Rama Group of Companies, said: “I am quite satisfied with our team’s overall performance here at Suzuka. It was heartening that both Sarath and Rajiv showed some improvement and I look forward to the next round in Indonesia in August.”

    Rama Honda team director Yusuke Teshima said: “We were aiming to win both AP 250 and SS 600 races, and though we couldn’t, it was one more step forward. We will continue to work on the bikes and be better prepared for the next round.”

    eom/AP Media Comm press release

  • Sarath, Sethu gear up for Suzuka challenge: ARRC

    Sarath, Sethu gear up for Suzuka challenge: ARRC

    Suzuka, 1 June 2017: Having scored points in the previous two rounds, India’s Shankar Sarath Kumar along with his RAMA Honda Racing team by NTS T.Pro Ten10 team-mate Rajiv Sethu hope to put in improved performance in the third round of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the historic circuit here this weekend.

    Chennai-based Sarath and young Sethu are part of the five-member team spearheaded by Japanese ace Tiga Hada, and backed by John Sudheer of the RAMA Group of companies. The Indian duo is also supported by Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India and Honda Motorsports Japan,

    Sarath, in his second season in the SuperSport 600cc class, said: “Last year, I did not have a good outing in Suzuka as I was able to participate in only Race 1 and had to sit out of Race 2 due to injury. This circuit is very demanding on bikes and I feel I am much fitter this year and I want to improve my timing and position for sure.

    “On this circuit, it is important to get into a rhythm and from the very first session, our goal is going to get the flow and have the right setup rfor the race, My target it to stay within 1.5 seconds of the top lap time so that I can finish in top 15.”

    Sethu, in his debut season in the highly competitive Asia Production 250cc class astride a Honda CBR 250, had a forgettable second round in Buriram , Thailand, in April, following a crash in the pre-race practice session and is eager to make up for it.

    “Yes, Buriram was a big disappointment for me, but I hope I will do far better at Suzuka. The track here is one of the most technical in the calendar. Since I have already raced the 2-hour endurance in 2016 , I know about the track . So for me, the goal for this round is going to be a top-8 result in both races though there is much more to learn the competition and fight,” said Sethu.

    John Sudheer, Chairman, RAMA Group of Companies, said: “The first two rounds this season have been pretty exciting with some good results for our team. We are in good position in the championship. I am very satisfied with the performance and I hope we continue similar performance with some podium finishes in Japan also.

    “We are close to middle of the season and I think we have good chance this year to once again fight on the top spot. Tiga Hada is doing very well. However, I want to see our Indian riders finish on top soon. They have to put in a lot of hard work and I am sure they will come up soon.

    Ramji Govindarajan, Team Manager, said: “In such a competitive and short championship, we have to understand the machine and the competition quickly to adapt and perform which I feel both the riders are doing as compared the previous years.

    “They are able to understand the bikes and the competition well and now and based on that, we have set realistic goals for them for Suzuka and I hope we see a good improvement in their lap times and position.”

    eom/AP Media Comm Release

    File photo of Sarath Kumar by Anand Philar.

  • First point for Sarath Kumar in ARRC

    Sentul (Indonesia), 8 August 2016: India’s Sarath Kumar, recovering fast from a knee injury, scored his first point in the Asia Road Racing Championship when he finished 15th in the first of the two SuperSport 600cc races here over the weekend.

    Having qualified 20th for the first race on Saturday, Chennai-based Sarath Kumar, supported by Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India, Ten10 Racing and WOW Digit HK, gained places in the wake of retirements of riders ahead of him and finished 15th which won him his first point in the ARRC this season.

    In the second race, Sarath, riding for T-Pro Yuzy NTS Honda Racing team, finished 17th to complete a satisfying weekend after missing the first round in Malaysia, skipping both races in Thailand and taking just one start in Japan, as he improved his lap times with each outing here.

    Summing up the weekend, Sarath said: “I am very happy with the progress and this is the first time I was able to the ride the bike to its fullest potential. I am still having problems with my knee which bothers me towards the end of the races, after about 10 laps. However, it is a good sign that the recovery is happening.

    “I have managed to get closer to the experienced guys with about five seconds off pace in my first full race weekend. I think I will be in good shape for the India round in October. We have already planned a few training methods to improve my confidence and performance on the bike as from this point, it is about learning the nuances and tricks of riding a bigger bike which not the same as riding a 250cc.

    “The team T-Pro Yuzy NTS Honda Racing with WOW helped me a lot especially my team owner Yusuke Teshima who just returned from the Suzuka 8-Hour race and also my teammate Tomoyoshi Toyama who gave a lot of inputs.

    “Now I am lot more excited and preparing for my home race in Buddh International Circuit on the 1-2 October. Once again, a long break and I will be working hard on my recovery and more practice to get to good pace at the BIC.”

    eom/AP Media comm. release

  • Sarath Kumar set for Sentul races

    Sarath Kumar set for Sentul races

    SENTUL (Indonesia), 4 August 2016Sarath Kumar AP media comm file pic 4aug2016: After a near month-long season break, India’s Sarath Kumar, supported by Ten10 Racing and WOW Digit HK, will get back into action in the fourth round of the Asia Road Racing Championship here this weekend, astride a Honda CBR600WR for Team T. Pro Yuzy Honda NTS Racing.

    Having missed the season-opener in Malaysia due to a knee injury that he suffered during pre-season training, Sarath Kumar entered for the second round in Buriram, Thailand, but could not take a start as the knee acted up. The third round in Suzuka, Japan, saw Sarath finally make his debut run in the championship, but skipped the second race of the double-header on medical advice due to severe pain in the injured knee.

    The break between the rounds has helped Sarath to work on his fitness and also undergo physiotherapy sessions to prepare for the Sentul round where he will be facing strong competition.

    Looking ahead to this weekend’s double header, Sarath said: “It’s been a long break away from racing, although we have been busy with Indian National Championship.

    “I have been working hard to get back into shape for the ARRC Super Sport 600 races in Sentul. The recovery process of my knee is even more painful than expected. However, with the help of my team and physiotherapy sessions with Quantum Leap’s Ramji Srinivasan, the knee has shown great improvement.

    “Although I was not able to ride frequently as advised, I feel much better compared to Thailand and Japan rounds and I am going into this weekend with great confidence. I hope to improve my performance this round.

    “The main target for me is to participate and complete both the races which I couldn’t do in Suzuka because of the wet conditions and my knee problem.”

    “The SS600 is a tough grid in ARRC. The learning process come from every race and I am doing it with an open mind and with the help of my team.

    “Finally, I cannot thank enough my sponsors WOW Digit, Honda Racing and Ten10 Racing for their unconditional support through my tough times of recovery.”

    eom/AP Media Comm release

     

  • Sarath Kumar’s Suzuka campaign curtailed: Asian Road Racing

    Suzuka, 5 June 2016: Despite the injured knee playing up, India’s Sarath Kumar managed to make his race debut in the SuperSport 600 category of the Asia Road Racing Championship at the iconic Suzuka circuit here over the weekend.

    Sarath, the 24-year old from Chennai, supported by Ten10 Racing and WOW Digit HK, took part in the Free Practice sessions on Friday and did well to qualify for the first race on Saturday, but finished last. With the knee that he had injured during pre-season testing hurting, the team decided to rest him for the second race on Sunday rather than risk aggravating the injury.

    “I have a seven-week break before the fourth round in Indonesia (August 6-7) and I am confident that I will be fully fit again. I thank Team Honda, Ten10 Racing and WOW Digit HK for all the support and encouragement. I am happy that at least I qualified for the first race and made my debut,” said Sarath who had missed the first round in

    Malaysia and could not race in the second in Thailand.

    Ten10 Racing’s Managing Director Ramji Govindarajan said: “Sarath qualified for Race 1 despite a lot of pain. The race was red flagged halfway through and turned out to be a five-lap shootout which worked to his advantage as he managed to complete his first race in ARRC SS600.

    “The team T Pro Yuzy Honda NTS with WOW helped him to get on the grid and encouraged him a lot. Sarath had to fight lot of pain and had to be helped to get off the bike at the end of Race 1. Given the situation, our target was for him to qualify and take part in the races. To this end, we are quite happy, and hopefully, he will recover fully for the next round in Indonesia in August.”

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    eom/AP Media Comm release