Rajiv Sethu continued his dominant streak as the MRF MMSC Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship headed to the Madras International Circuit for Round 2. It was also a big weekend for Sarthak Chavan, with the 16-year-old claiming his first-ever win in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open category.

1. Sethu takes clean sweep in Pro-Stock 301-400cc
2. Kavin Quintal, Shyam Sundar K win in Honda India Talent Cup
3. Shreyas Hareesh dominates in TVS  Rookie Apache RTR 200

Pro-Stock 301-400cc

This year’s championship sees Sethu make the step up to the Pro-Stock 301-400cc category after years of racing in 165cc categories. He set the pace immediately, winning both races in Round 1, and he continued that same form in Chennai.

There were some close calls – including a high-side scare in Race 1 and an error-filled opening lap in Race 2. But he shrugged off both to complete another clean sweep.

Results

Race 1

1. Rajiv Sethu (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) - 11mins, 13.782secs

2. Deepak Ravikumar (Petronas TVS Racing) – 11mins 18.209secs

3. KY Ahamed (Petronas TVS Racing) – 11mins 23.380secs

Race 2

1. Rajiv Sethu (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) - 15mins, 17.576secs

2. Sarthak Chavan (Petronas TVS Racing) – 15mins 21.418secs

3. Jagan Kumar (Petronas TVS Racing) – 15mins 24.845secs

Pro-Stock 165cc Open

Sethu bagged a win in the Pro-Stock 165cc category as well. Pacer Yamaha riders Mathana Kumar and Prabhu Arunagiri finished second and third in Race 1, but both were disqualified due to technical infringements. This promoted Petronas TVS Racing riders Sarthak Chavan and Jagan Kumar to the podium.

Chavan, who won the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup last year, scored his maiden Pro-Stock 165cc win the next day. The teenager battled wheel-to-wheel with several experienced racers, including Sethu. A last-lap crash for his teammate Jagan Kumar saw Sethu seal victory ahead of KY Ahamed and Sethu.

“Of course, I am thrilled to win the race, my first at this level in the Pro-Stock category. It was a tough outing with so many of us exchanging lead. But after Jagan’s crash, I stepped up the pace a bit and started to brake late, which helped me to keep the lead to the finish,” said Chavan

Results

Race 1

1. Rajiv Sethu (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) – 11mins 49.749secs

2. Sarthak Chavan (Petronas TVS Racing) – 11mins 50.287secs

3. Jagan Kumar (Petronas TVS Racing) – 11mins 54.150secs

Race 2  

1. Sarthak Chavan (Petronas TVS Racing) – 15mins 48.536secs

2. KY Ahamed (Petronas TVS Racing) – 15mins 49.371secs

3. Rajiv Sethu (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) – 15mins 49.620secs

Novice Stock 165cc

Vignesh Goud also completed a clean sweep in the Novice Stock category, winning all four races so far. Abdul Basim RS, Sangeeth Sundar, Manvith Reddy K and Savion Sabu made podium appearances in Round 2

Results

Race 1

1. Vignesh Goud (Race’ists Motorcycle Club)  - 13mins 04.013secs

2. Abdul Basim RS (Rockers Racing) – 13mins 04.542secs

3. Sangeeth Sundar (Rookies Racing) – 13mins 06.615secs

Race 2

1. Vignesh Goud (Race’ists Motorcycle Club) – 13mins 03.852secs

2. Manvith Reddy K (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) – 13mins 13.061secs

3. Savion Sabu (Axor Sparks Racing) – 13mins 13.085secs

Girls Stock 165cc

2020 Girls Stock 165cc champion Ann Jennifer bagged pole position for Round 2. She defeated Ryhana Bee and Lani Fernandez to score her first win this season.

Results

1. Ann Jennifer (Alpha Racing) – 11mins 02.333secs

2. Ryhana Bee (Axor Sparks Racing)  - 11mins 02.564secs

3. Lani Fernandez (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) – 11mins 03.172secs

TVS One-Make Championship

Chiranath Vishwanath fended off Romario John and G Bala to win Race 1 in the Open (Apache RR 310) category. Race 2 was an all-Chennai affair with Manoj Yesuadiyan winning ahead of Alwin Sundar A and Romario John. TVS recently announced the new Apache Racing Experience GP Championship, with the winner earning the chance to race in the 2024 TVS One-Make Championship, with the race-spec Apache RR 310.

Shreyas Hareesh dominated the Rookie (Apache RTR 200) category, winning both races in Round 2. He remains undefeated so far this season, having won both races in the 2023 season-opener as well. Nithila Das also continued her winning form with another race victory.

Results

Open (Apache RR 310) Race 1

 1. Chiranth Vishwanath – 11mins 45.731secs

2. Romario John – 11mins 45.812secs

3. G Balaji – 11mins 45.981secs

Open (Apache RR 310) Race 2

1. Manoj Yesuadiyan – 11mins 45.273secs

2. Alwin Sundar A – 11mins 45.329secs

3. Romario John – 11mins 45.563secs

 Rookie (Apache RTR 200) Race 1

1. Shreyas Hareesh – 8mins 27.416secs

2. Savion Sabu – 8mins 27.628secs

3. Nandanan – 8mins 32.240secs

Rookie (Apache RTR 200) Race 2

1. Shreyas Hareesh – 12mins 38.043secs

2. Savion Sabu – 12mins 38.222secs

3. Nandanan – 12mins 45.605secs

Girls (Apache RTR 200) Race 1

1. Nithila Das – 11mins 17.235secs

2. Nadine Faith Balaji – 11mins 17.855secs

3. Sarah Khan – 11mins 27.218secs

Honda India Talent Cup

Fresh off his points finish in Round 3 of the Asia Road Racing Championship, Kavin Samaar Quintal returned to India and scored a third consecutive win in the NSF 250 class.

However, he couldn’t continue that victory streak, crashing out on the very first lap of Race 2. Shyam Sundar K fought off AS James to win that race – his first victory this season.

Results

NSF 250 Race 1

 1. Kavin Samaar Quintal – 11mins 11.508)secs

2. AS James – 11mins 22.881secs

3. Prakash Kumar Kamat – 11mins 28.859secs

NSF 250 Race 2

1. Shyam Sundar K – 15mins 21.396secs

2. AS James – 15mins 21.779secs

3. Raheesh Khatri – 15mins 22.353secs

Also see:

2023 INMRC: Clean sweep for Sethu in 301-400cc debut outing