Rajini makes amends at National Racing Championship

CHENNAI: On yet another day of crashes, Krishnan Rajini of Moto-Rev India stamped his authority on the glamourous Super Bikes class with a comprehensive win in the second round of the MRF-FMSCI National Motorcycle Racing Championship on Sunday.

Rajini, who had crashed out in the first race on Saturday, bounced back in style as he destroyed the field to open up a huge lead before easing off towards the end of the 10-lapper sparing nearly three seconds to Deepak Ravikumar (Preethi Racing) who had won the first outing.

"I did not really push today as I was keen on finishing the race. My mechanics did a good job of setting right the clutch that was not functioning properly on Saturday.

"I am quite happy that everything well today and I had enough lead to back off at the finish. It was a good outing ahead of next month's FIM-Asia races in Chennai," said the veteran Rajini.

Earlier, A Prabhu of Moto-Rev India was rushed to the hospital with a collarbone injury after a massive crash at the top of the start-finish straight in the Group D (165cc) Open class.

Exiting the final corner into the straight, Prabhu was thrown off the bike which slid nearly 50 metres before coming to a stop. Prabhu was then rushed to the hospital while the doctors on the spot said he was "ok" barring some injuries.

Prabhu thus missed several other races he was entered in, including the Group B (modified) 10-lapper that Deepak Ravikumar won to complete a fine double.

Some of the other races too witnessed spills that kept the medical staff on its toes.

India's first Moto GP rider Sarath to get financial help

Chennai, July 4 (IANS) The International Federation for Motocycles (FIM) has approved a grant of over $100,000 for training Sarath Kumar, the first Indian rider in the MotoGP in the 125cc category, and also for inviting foreign coaches to assist Indian Supercross and Motocross riders.

The money will be routed through the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of India (FMSCI), which has put in place an action plan to best utilise the money.

Sarath expressed his sincere thanks to the FMSCI, saying: "I would really like to thank the FMSCI and in particular (FMSCI president) Mr. Vicky Chandhok and Mr. Rajan Syal without whom this grant and funding would not have been possible."

"With no other Indian rider currently at this level, I am extremely grateful for this funding which is very hard to attain and I will do my best to make the FMSCI proud and use this funding in the best manner possible."

Chandhok welcomed the FIM move and said it shows that India is gaining prominence in the world of motorsports.

"I would firstly like to thank the FIM for recognising the work that the FMSCI has put in over the last few years and for acknowledging the importance of India in global motorsport today," said Chandhok referring to the staging of the inaugural Indian Formula One Grand Prix in October.

Amit Arora, Chairman, Two-Wheeler Racing Commission said the grant has come at an important time.

"This comes at an important time where India now has our first ever rider in the MotoGp 125cc class and this will help Sarath Kumar immensely to complete his first season in this elite class of motorcycle racing," said Arora.

Read More: mangalorean.com

Rajini looks for ARRC warm-up at National racing

COIMBATORE: Champion K Rajini is keen to keep his winning momentum going at the National Motorcycle Racing Championship, the second round of which will be held at the Kari Motor Speedway this weekend.

But more than a win, which by the way is likely to be his considering the form the Chennai biker is enjoying, Rajini will be looking to get some miles under his belt, preparing for the next round of the Asian Road Racing Championship (ARRC) that will be held in Chennai in August.

Two years ago, Rajini had a podium finish at the ARRC round in Chennai and the 29-year-old, who rides for Moto-Rev India is keen to repeat that feat in a very competitive field.

This weekend, however, Rajini will be facing much tamer opposition in the premier 600cc Superbikes category of the National series. He had won both the races in the opening round in Chennai last month by quite a margin and it will be interesting to see whether the chasing pack will be able to close in on the champion.

It is a much closer battle in the Group D (un-modified) 165cc open category where Shyam Shankar of MotorRev India, after his race win in the first round, leads K Jagan of TVS Racing by five points.

Both the riders have come up through the ranks of the national series the hard way and are almost on par as far as pace is concerned. Good news for fans as some wheel-to-wheel racing can be expected from the duo on Saturday and Sunday.

Jagan is also competing in the Group B (modified) 165cc four-stroke segment and is on top of the standings at the moment after decisive wins in Round 1.

Privateers rule the roost in novice categories with Madhan leading in the Group D (un-modified) 165cc segment with two wins out of two races. In the Group D (un-modified) 130cc Novice segment, S Prathiv will be looking to increase his lead in the championship. Parthiv had recorded a win and a second place finish in the first round.

The weekend will also witness action in the Honda (CBR 250cc, CBR 150cc & CB Stunner) and Yamaha (R15) one-make championship.

With 18 races scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, featuring the cream of Indian riders, it is a given that excitement is going to reach fever pitch at the Speedway. 

Read more: Times of India

Mahindra upbeat ahead of home race

CHENNAI: Mahindra Racing are on a roll. After the high of a first-ever double points finish by German Marcel Schrotter and Brit Danny Webb for the Indian team in the MotoGP 125cc race last week at the Dutch TT in Assen, they have all the reasons for being confident of improving further in Italy, their base.

Schrotter recorded Mahindra's first top-10 finish with a ninth place at Assen while Webb crossed the chequered flag 13th. Both the riders have now tasted points in the series and the team management is looking to build on that momentum going into the Italian GP at the picturesque Mugello Circuit this weekend.

Apart from the chance to prove their worth at the home base in Mugello, Mahindra think-thank has another reason to feel excited about the Italian GP, the eighth of the 17-round world championship.

The 5.245-km track has been relaid and the Mahindra pair is hoping the circuit's sustained speed will suit their machine: the only one on the grid with both engine and chassis built by the team.

Mahindra team manager Nicola Casadei was his cautious best while explaining the team's chances in Italy. "Last weekend, the Mahindra bikes ran perfectly, the riders also. Mugello is a challenging track, but we are getting stronger all the time, so we can expect a better performance," he said.

Schrotter, who was the hero for Mahindra at the Dutch TT, felt he has become very comfortable with the bike and believes that familiarity has given him confidence to push further.

"My feeling with the bike has really come better over the last two races, and my pace is good enough for more top-ten finishes. I want to keep going the same way in Italy, and be stronger in the early laps," said the 19-year-old.

His teammate Webb loves Mugello. "Yet another race where I like the track and I like the place. If our engine goes well at the top end, and there are those fast bends where you can really keep the speed up. It should be another good race," said the 20-year-old Brit, indicating that a top-10 finish for both the riders is a realistic goal for the team.

Schrotter is currently 19th in the standings with 10 points while Webb (8 points) is three rungs below. Aprilia rider Nicolas Terol, who was injured in Assen after a crash during practice, lost a bit of his advantage in the standings to German Jonas Folger. But the Spaniard (128 points) still has a healthy lead over Folger (101), who also rides an Aprilia.

Meanwhile, it will be yet another testing weekend for WTR-Ten10 Racing, the other Indian team in the fray.

Ten10 will again field young Dutch rider Sturla Fagerhaug in place of the injured Indian rider Sarath Kumar while the team's senior rider - Italian Francesco Mauriello - will be looking to have a decent race at home. 

 Read More: Mahindra upbeat ahead of home race