Round 4 of Yamaha YZF-R15 One Make Race season 2011 rounds off in style

With the Yamaha R15 One Make Race Championship nearing its end with just one round to go, the fourth leg of the league concluded at the Madras Motor Race Track, Chennai with bikers riding through the track with much gusto and thrill. The racing track was set abuzz with roaring excitement as hordes of youngsters turned up to witness this event. This event is a part of the National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2011 being organized by the Madras Motor Sports Club and approved by The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI).

The championship witnessed a great deal of enthusiasm from the contestants as both Yamaha and non- Yamaha customers participated in the race. In the Novice Category, total number of participants was 60 and among them 15 qualified. In both races 1 & 2, S Madhan from Trichy emerged as the winner while J Allwyn Jebaz from Chennai took the second spot and Vivek Mani came third.

In the open category, the total number of participants was 20 and among them 15 qualified. In Race 1, K Vinoth stole the show by assuming the first position whereas Shyam Shankar and D Dinesh Kumar took the second and third spots respectively. Race 2 again witnessed K Vinoth emerging as the winner while D Dinesh Kumar grabbed the first runner up spot and Arjun J Pillai was the second Runner Up.

The contestants struck the track on Yamaha’s Super Sports YZF-R15 and experienced the breathtaking acceleration of the bike on a race circuit. Loaded with true Yamaha racing DNA, YZF-R15 provided complete racing experience to the biking enthusiasts and hands on feel of its power, stability, cornering and braking. Yamaha made their experience more exciting by mounting Daytona Racing Kits in the bikes. These kits are developed using valuable experience gained from MotoGP & World Superbike racing and are designed exclusively for racing purpose in a closed circuit.

Commenting on the occasion, Jun Nakata, Director-Sales and Marketing, India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. said, “As we near the close of the Yamaha R15 One Make Race, we want to thank all our customers for giving such good response throughout all the previous rounds. It was exciting to see all participants putting their best foot forward in this championship. Events like these always help us to enhance our relationship with the customers. The R15 One Make Race is one such event through which we want to refine the motorcycling culture in India by providing Indian bike riders the combined thrill of technological superiority and artistic brilliance.”

All the riders participating in Yamaha R15 One Make Race Championship will be evaluated on the basis of their performance. The 3 best performing riders may be given a chance to participate in the “YAMAHA ASEAN CUP RACE” in Thailand later in 2011. The technology in YZF-R15 has percolated from R1 (Deltabox frame/Fuel Injection/6 speed gearbox/ styling/Liquid Cooled 4V engine). Just like R1, it is light weight, has power on demand, besides having centralized mass, stopping power, aerodynamics, ergonomics and stability/rigidity, among others. It also has the controllability and maneuverability to maximize riding, cornering and braking performance.

Yamaha’s corporate culture has always given special importance to bike racing in India as a way of expressing the ‘Spirit of Challenge’ that it values so highly. Apart from the R15 One Make Race Championship, Yamaha also organized the Yamaha Riding Clinic earlier this year to give racing tips to biking enthusiasts. With these events, Yamaha aims to take the racing culture & spirit in India to the next level and plans to continue this championship as a valuable step for carrying forward the racing legacy in the country

Honda’s Azlan Shah wants to make up for lost ground in ARRC

PETALING JAYA: Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman wants to make up for lost ground in the SuperSports 600cc category of the Petronas Asia Road Racing Championships when Round 4 begins at the Autopolis International Racing Course in Japan this weekend.

The Boon Siew Honda Racing Malaysia rider came close to snatching his first victory of the season in the previous leg in Chennai, India.

With two laps to go, Azlan was in the lead when he lost control of his bike.

He went on to finish in a disappointing 14th spot.

Now, he can’t wait to end his winless streak when Round 4 revs off in Japan.

“I wasted a good opportunity in India. I really wanted to win. I was not 100% fit and made a costly mistake,” said Azlan, who last tasted victory back in 2009 – at the Autopolis.

The 27-year-old Azlan is ready to put his India nightmare behind him and focus on the task at hand in Japan.

“I won’t be thrown off my game just because the Japanese riders – Katsuaki Fujiwara and Toshiyuki Hamaguchi – have home ground advantage and I will be riding in their territory.

“We have a strong technical team and I am confident they can prepare a competitive bike.

“Besides, with four-time All-Japan SuperSports 600cc champion Yoshiteru Konishi as my mentor and trainer, I believe I will be able to rise to the challenge.”

Azlan is currently second in the overall standings with 84 points after five podium finishes in six races.

Japanese ace Fujiwara (Manual-Tech BEET Kawasaki Racing) leads the way with 114.5 points while Petronas Yamaha Malaysia’s Mohd Zamri Baba is third with 65 points.

National motorbike races hotting up

Chennai, Sep 2 (IANS) Going into the fourth and penultimate round of the MRF FMSCI National Motorcycle Championship here this weekend, the titles in various classes are up for grabs and the competition is expected to peak at the two-day event.

Krishnan Rajini, arguably the best two-wheeler rider in the country at the moment, has been a dominant force in the premier Superbikes (600cc) class, but a non-finish in the first race of the second round denied him of crucial points and can ill-afford to relax.

While Rajini is on 50 points from five outright wins, the talented 23-year old Deepak Ravikumar is just two adrift and would be only too keen to wipe off the deficit and get ahead, something that is easier said than done. A close battle between the two is very much in the offing.

Deepak, who set a record for the fastest lap on this track at Sriperumbudur with a time of one minute, 56.6 seconds, though is very much in the running for the title in the Group B (165cc, Open) class with three wins.

However, Deepak still has a lot of work ahead of him to catch up with leader Jagen Kumar of TVS Racing (51), also with three wins.

Likewise, the championship leaders in the other classes too will have to keep an eye on other contenders. Shyam Shankar (Moto-Rev India) enjoys a comfortable lead in the Group D (165cc, Open) with a tally of 58 points, inclusive of five wins, ahead of team-mate D Dinesh Kumar (27).

The 165cc Novice class has been a four-cornered contest involving Abhishek N of Moto-Rev India (46), Arjun EB of Apex Racing (34), Madhan (32) and S Parthiv (30). All will be pushing hard for valuable points.

In the 130cc Novice category, Parthiv with 46 points is narrowly ahead of two TVS Racing bikers Rajesh Ratna Kumar (40) and Anand P (34).

The competition in the two single-make series, Honda and Yamaha, has been no less keen. Shyam Shankar is on top in the Yamaha R15 class with 58 points and also in the Honda CBR 250 Open with 26, with M Gautham just four behind.

Probably the closest contest has been in the Honda CBR 150cc Open class where Dinesh Kumar and Arvind Ganesh are tied on 22, followed by Sudhakar Kesavan and Thammarai Kannan, both 18 while M Sudhakar leads the Honda CBF Stunner title race with 48 points.

Similarly, Madhan and J Allwyn Jebaz are tangled in a bitter struggle with each on 50 points in the Yamaha R15 Novice class.

– Indo-Asian News Service
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Rajini wins in National Motorcycle Championship

Chennai, Sep 3 (IANS) Krishnan Rajini of Moto-Rev India expectedly won the premium Group A (600cc) race very comfortably in the FMSCI National Motorcycle Racing Championship here Saturday.
The results:
Group A (600cc) 8 laps: Krishnan Rajini 1(Moto-Rev India) 1 (14:30.449); Deepak Ravikumar (Peethi Racing) 2 (14:35.334); M Gautham (Preethi Racing) 3 (14:44.375).
Group B (165cc Open) 6 laps: Deepak Ravikumar 1 (11:48.388); Sharat Kumar 2 (11:49.137); Jagan Kumar 3 (12:05.021).
Group D (165cc, Novice) 6 laps: Abhishek V (Apex Racing) 1 (13:32.693); S Madan 2 (13:38.133); Ramesh Kumar 3 (13:43.843).
Group D (130cc, Novice) 6 laps: Rajesh Rathina Kumar (TVS Racing) 1 (13:56.738); P Anand Raj (TVS Racing) 2 (13:59.244); Abdul Wahab 3 (14:02.651).

Brandwagon: Cos lay the pitch for F1 race

CHENNAI/MUMBAI: The Indian F1 is still almost two months away but the marketing and brand building activities around the property is getting bigger every day. With marketers betting big on the three-day event what kind of marketing pomp is lined up before the race kicks off on October 30?

Already companies like JK have kicked off carting events and pre-race parties. Rock band Metallica is scheduled to perform on October 28 on the eve of the race weekend. Title sponsor Airtel has announced two initiatives-reality show to choose India's very own grid girls and a competition hawking the coveted A-ticket for two for those playing Airtel's online racing game. Rival brand Vodafone, which has been partnering with the McLaren Mercedes team since 2007, has been "leveraging this association in India by bringing Lewis Hamilton each year in different parts of the country," says Anuradha Aggarwal, VP- marketing, brand communication and consumer insights, Vodafone. "We hope that the Indian Grand Prix is another step in building stickiness with the fan base."

Like Airtel, Vodafone too is focusing on activity-based marketing. They are running a contest to choose two consumers and two global enterprise consumers who will spend the race weekend with the McLaren Mercedes team. In another initiative, it is offering small and medium enterprises the chance to put their logo on a McLaren Mercedes car.

All through September, McLaren drivers will go to different metros in India to create a buzz about the event and do laps and roads shows.

Vodafone's team mate Mercedes Benz too is planning similar 'race related' activities both on the track as well as in its dealerships. Along with JPSI, Mercedes Benz is setting up a Performance Driving Academy in 2012 (sources say it won the contract after a fierce neck and neck race with Audi). Apart from being nominated, official automobile partners for the Buddh International Circuit, the company is also planning some dealership engagements. All Merc dealerships across India will have a 'Pit Stop- F1 Corner' to bring the motorsports experience closer to customers. These Pit Stops will sell tickets for the Indian GP and other races apart from F1 merchandise. It will also kick off a college activation programme to create interest among students about motorsport and organize a 'Speed Fest' road show in Mumbai on the eve of the Indian GP where more than 100 Mercedes-Benz & AMG cars will participate.

Marketing experts say the momentum would build up over the next few weeks as brands begin local tie ups unveiling their activities. With two Indians drivers racing-Narain Karthikeyan for Hispania Racing Team and Karun Chandok for Team Lotus-brands will look at rub-off opportunities.

Of the 2 lakh tickets, 1 lakh is said to be complimentary which companies would be using for promoting their brands. Companies also see a huge opportunity to push merchandise, in itself a branding exercise.

Double win for Kraisart in Supersport races of ARRC

CHENNAI: Decha Kraisart was unstoppable. Neither the sapping Chennai heat, nor the bumpy ride at the MMSC Race Track or the wheel-to-wheel, start-to-finish affairs with rivals could deter the defending champion from scoring a memorable double victory in the 600cc Supersport category at the third round races of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) on Sunday.

Thai Kraisart had missed out on the second round races in Indonesia due to a wrist injury. The Yamaha Thailand Racing rider, however, had made his intentions of storming back into the title race clear by taking pole after breaking the lap during qualifying on Saturday. And on race day, he just carried forward the form, breaking the lap record once again during Race 2, as he revved his way to the finish line.

With the win, Kraisart has jumped to fifth place in the championship table with 57.5 points. Japanese rider Katsuaki Fujiwara of Manual-Tech BEET Kawasaki, who finished seventh and sixth in Race 1 and 2, still leads the table with 114.5 points while Malaysians Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of Boon Siew Honda Racing is second with 84 points followed by Mohd Zamri Baba (65 points) of Petronas Yamaha.

Moto-Rev India also had something to cheer when their lead rider Toshiyuki Hamaguchi of Japan finished fourth in Race 2 after starting from tenth position. The five-time Asian champion used all his experience to claw up the order, making up for an average outing in Race 1.

The Indian team's second rider, national champ K Rajini, had a poor outing at his home event though. The 29-year-old, fighting pain from a wrist sprain after a crash on Friday, finished 16th in Race 1 and failed to finish in Race 2.

But at the business end of the grid, Kraisart stamped his credentials as a champ. As he had predicted, he faced stiff challenge from Malaysians Baba and Kamaruzaman in both the races.

In Race 1, Baba made a flying start and overtook Kraisart in the first corner and maintained half a second advantage till the fifth lap when Kraisart made his move. At the start of the sixth lap, the Thai closed in on Baba in the first corner and made his pass after slip-streaming the Malaysian in the second.

There after Kraisart rode a flawless race, warding off the Malaysian challenge with some on-the-edge riding. The race was red-flagged prematurely in the 11th lap after Aussie Michael Edward Jones, who was running fifth, had a serious crash. Kraisart was declared the winner with Kamaruzaman and Baba finishing second and third.

Race 2 followed on similar lines with Baba, and Kamaruzaman taking over the lead from Kraisart during the race only to see the Thai champ regain his position. Kraisart crossed the chequered flag ahead of Baba and Aussie Aaron Morris of Yamaha Indonesia.

In the Underbone 115cc category, Rafid Topan Sucipto continued his literally unchallenged run in the season by scoring double victories. The Indonesian, riding for Yamaha CKJ TJM Racing, currently leads the standings with 125 points, followed by Hadi Wijaya of Kawasaki NHK Rextor (86 points). Hadi finished both the races in second place but way behind Sucipto.  

From Link

Mirando's governance took motorcycle racing to great heights

The first Motorcycle Club was formed in March 1947 by enthusiastic motorcycle riders, past and present, who were well educated on the rules and regulations laid out by the international governing body for motorcycle racing, the Federation International Motorcycling (FIM).

It was first named as the Ceylon Motor Cycle Club (CMCC) and the inaugural meeting was held at the Hameedia Hotel, Bambalapitiya, not in existence now.

Wally De Zylwa was elected the first president and the committee comprised of Carlo Garth, Peter Fernando, Andrew P. Mirando (known as the father of CMCC), and a host of other well read gentlemen who were passionate towards the sport. They were men with integrity who always adhered to the rules and regulations laid out by FIM whenever they conducted motorcycle races.

At the beginning races were conducted at the Ratmalana airport until Mirando persuaded the Kalutara GA to allow the CMCC to run motorcycle races at the abandoned Katukurunda airstrip.

Andrew Mirando was considered a genius in organising motorcycle races and would go out his way to take riders to participate overseas. The first such trip was in 1950 when Mirando organised a team to participate in a race held in the Isle of Man in England.

The first motorcycle race team to go to India was in 1956 managed by Mirando. Zacky Dean, W.P. Indraratne, Chandra de Costa and Trim Seneviratne formed the team. They travelled by train to Talaimanner and the ferry to Danuishkodi where their bikes were off loaded on the sandy beach. This place was only half a kilometre away from the onward train station.

Zacky Dean's Norton Manx was bogged down in the sand and would not reach the station in time. But the determined Mirando went ahead and convinced the Railway Station Master and the engine drive to delay the departure by 15 minutes to allow Zacky Dean to arrive on time.

That was the beginning of a six week racing tour of India from where the Ceylonese riders brought back numerous trophies while gathering fame and reputation for the country.

Mirando efficiently managed three such six week tours to five Indian racing venues from Madras (Chennai) up to Bombay (Mumbai). Acting as the god father to the riders, Mirando managed to arrange with the five organising clubs to fully sponsor the expenses of the Ceylon racing team from one circuit to another.

"Mirando's passion for the sport made him ambitious to keep the country's flag flying high and his efficient organising ability was most appreciated by riders and the Indian racing clubs alike," said Chandra de Costa the champion rider in Sri Lanka and India.De Costa questions the efficiency, passion and knowledge on the rules of FIM by the present set of officials governing the Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club.

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