MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 Round -2 Day-2

Young guns Sarthak Chavan (Pune) and his arch-rival and TVS Racing team-mate Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru) drew the battle lines ahead of tomorrow’s races with each grabbing pole position in the two premier Pro-Stock categories after qualifying sessions, only fraction of a second separating the two, in the second round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 – Powered by STORM, at the Madras International Circuit,

Sarthak repeated his Round-1 performance by taking pole position in the Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open category, with a splendid hot lap of 01 minute, 49.383 seconds, just ahead of Chiranth (01:49.426) as the two 17-year-olds led a front row sweep for TVS Racing with KY Ahamed (01:51.032) filling in the P3 slot.

Later in the day, Chiranth turned tables on Sarthak by snatching the pole position in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open category as the duo went head-to-head during an intense 15-minute qualifying session. Chiranth, who marked his debut season last year with two pole positions, had a best lap of 01:54.388. Sarthak responded with a 01:54.483, well ahead of team-mate and multiple National champion Jagan Kumar (01:55.580).

Minutes after the thrilling session, Chiranth said: “We made some suspension changes from Round-1 last month and it showed in the qualifying session (PS 165cc Open) today. Last year, when I made my debut in this category, I lost the championship (to team-mate KY Ahamed) by five points due to a DNF (Did Not Finish). I feel confident of a good performance in the two races this weekend.”

Meanwhile, Ann Jennifer (Alpha Racing India), seeking to regain the National title she last won in 2020, was on pace to take pole position in the Girls (Stock 165cc) category, clocking a best lap of 02:08.213 with a late burst in the qualifying session. It knocked off Ryhana Bee (Motul Sparks Racing) who looked set for pole position before Ann Jennifer sealed it in the dying seconds of the session. Until then, Ryhana was leading with a 02:09.070 but settled for P2. Nadine Faith Balaji (Alpha Racing India, 02:09.864)) completed an all-Chennai front row.

“I had issues with the bike in Round-1 last month and was way off the pace. We fixed the problem and I have already made two seconds on my Round-1 timing. So, looking forward to a strong finish in the race tomorrow,” said Ann Jennifer. Championship leader Rakshitha Dave, facing some issues with her bike, could manage only P5 behind Jagathishree Kumaresan.

Abdul Basim (Rockers Racing) expectedly took the pole position in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category after putting in the hot lap of 02:06.793 before crashing on the exit of the bridge complex at the fag-end of the 10-minute qualifying session. He walked away with a couple of bruises and will start the race on Saturday. Behind him was Mysuru’s Tasmai Cariappa (Motul Sparks Racing) who clocked 02:09.292 ahead of team-mate, 22-year-old Lal Nunsanga, the 2018 Honda Talent Cup (CBR 150) champion from Aizawl, Mizoram.

Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup: Mallapuram’s Mohsin Paramban qualified for pole position in the NSF 250R category with a run of 01:51.451 with Bengaluru pair of AS James (01:51.941) and Prakash Kamat (01:52.206) completing the front row. Missing in this weekend’s line-up is Chennai schoolboy Rakshith Dave, a front-runner in this category, due to his participation in the Honda Talent Cup in Thailand.

TVS One-Make Championship: Coimbatore’s Senthilkumar C, winner of both races in Round-1 last month, extended his domination in the Open (Apache RR 310) category by grabbing the pole position with a best time of 01:55.616, pushing V Lokesh (Bengaluru, 01:57.299) to P2. Another Coimbatore rider, Raj Kumar C (01:57.762) was third quickest in the qualifying session.

Harshith V Bogar from Bengaluru, who notched a double in Round-1, made it to pole position in the Rookie (RTR 200) class with a best time of 02:10.975. Taking P2 was CS Kedarnath (02:12.133) from Tirupati and Thrissur’s Saranjit Singh (02:15.265) occupied P3.

In the Girls (Apache RTR 200) qualifying session, Mumbai’s Sarah Khan emerged the quickest in 02:14.227 with V Aisvariya (Coimbatore) in P2 with 02:16.120 while Pune rider Saimah Ajaz Baig (02:16.437) was third fastest.

Sarthak Chavan dominated the qualifying run in the TVS Electric RTE category, clocking 01:49.524, sparing one second to second-placed Chiranth Vishwanath (01:50.578) and Chennai’s Alwin Sundar was third in 01:51.748.

Qualifying results (top 3 best lap):

National Championship – Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open:

1. Sarthak Chavan (Pune, TVS Racing) (01min, 49.383secs);
2. Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru, TVS Racing) (01:49.426);
3. Ahamed KY (Chennai, TVS Racing) (01:51.032).

Pro-Stock 165cc Open:

1. Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru, TVS Racing) (01:54.388);
2. Sarthak Chavan (Pune, TVS Racing) (01:54.483);
3. Jagan Kumar (Chennai, TVS Racing) (01:55.580).

Girls (Stock 165cc):

1. Ann Jennifer AS (Chennai, Alpha Racing India) (02:08.213);
2. Ryhana Bee (Chennai, Motul Sparks Racing) (02:09.070);
3. Nadine Faith Balaji (Chennai, Alpha Racing India) (02:09.864).

Novice (Stock165cc):

1. Abdul Basim RA (Chennai, Rockers Racing) (02:06.793);
2. Tasmai Cariappa (Mysuru, Motul Sparks Racing) (02:08.761);
3. Lal Nunsanga (Aizwal, Motul Sparks Racing) (02:10.566).

Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup – Open (NSF 250R):

1. Mohsin Paramban (Malappuram) (01:51.451);
2. AS James (Bengaluru) (01:51.941);
3. Prakash Kamat (Bengaluru) (01:52.206).

TVS One-Make Championship: Open (Apache RR310):

1. Senthilkumar C (Coimbatore) (01:55.616);
2. Lokesh V (Bengaluru) (01:57.299);
3. Raj Kumar C (Coimbatore) (01:57.762).

Girls (Apache RTR 200):

1. Sarah Khan (Mumbai) (02:14.227);
2. Aisvariya V (Coimbatore) (02:16.120);
3. Saimah Ajaz Baig (Pune) (02:16.437).

Rookie (Apache RTR 200):

1. Harshith V Bogar (Bengaluru) (02:10.975);
2. CS Kedarnath (Tirupati) (02:12.133);
3. Saranjit KM (Thrissur) (02:15.265).

TVS Electric RTE:

1. Sarthak Chavan (Pune) (01:49.524);
2. Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru) (01:50.578);
3. Alwin Sundar A (Chennai) (01:51.748).