INMRC Round 2: TVS' Kumar pips Chavan in photo finish

TVS’ Sarthak Chavan put on a dominant display at Round 2 of the MRF MMSC Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (INMRC), which was held at the Madras International Circuit on July 5–7.

The 17-year-old won races in the premier Pro-Stock 301–400cc and 165cc classes, as well as TVS’ Electric RTE series. However, he was denied a clean sweep after teammate Jagan Kumar pipped him to victory in the second Pro-Stock 165cc race, which ended with a photo finish.

Pro-Stock 301–400cc

Chavan was in a league of his own in Race 1, taking victory with a margin of 6.8 seconds as his closest rival, Chiranth Vishwanath, dropped down the order due to mechanical issues. KY Ahamed and Deepak Ravikumar handed TVS a complete podium sweep.

The next day, Chavan defeated Vishwanath to maintain his unbeaten run in the class.

Results

Race 1

1. Sarthak Chavan (TVS Racing) - 11 minutes 10.394 seconds

2. KY Ahamed (TVS Racing) - 11 minutes 17.203 seconds

3. Deepak Ravikumar (TVS Racing) - 11 minutes 17.271 seconds

Race 2

1. Sarthak Chavan (TVS Racing) - 11 minutes 06.298 seconds

2. Chiranth Vishwanath (TVS Racing) - 11 minutes 06.388 seconds

3. Deepak Ravikumar (TVS Racing) - 11 minutes 10.557 seconds

Pro-Stock 165cc

The first Pro-Stock 165cc race saw the lead change hands several times. Here, too, Chavan clinched victory after overtaking both of his teammates, Kumar and Vishwanath, on the very last lap.

However, Kumar denied him a clean sweep in Race 2. In what was a photo finish, both riders crossed the finish line together and even set the same lap time. Kumar scored the win since he had set the fastest lap of the race. This is the first time in the championship’s history that the fastest lap provision has been implemented to decide the winner.

Results

Race 1

1. Sarthak Chavan (TVS Racing) - 11 minutes 48.647 seconds

2. Jagan Kumar (TVS Racing) - 11 minutes 49.075 seconds

3. Chiranth Vishwanath (TVS Racing) - 11 minutes 49.131 seconds

Race 2

1. Jagan Kumar (TVS Racing) - 11mins 37.786 seconds

2. Sarthak Chavan (TVS Racing) - 11mins 37.786 seconds

3. Deepak Ravikumar (TVS Racing) - 11mins 44.162 seconds

Novice Stock 165cc

Picking up from where he left off in Round 1, Abdul Basim RS remains undefeated in the Novice Stock 165cc class after scoring two back-to-back wins. Tasmai Cariappa and Lal Nunsanga made it to the podium in both races.

Results

Race 1

1. Abdul Basim RS (Rockers Racing) - 13 minutes 16. 987 seconds

2. Tasmai Cariappa (Motul Sparks Racing) - 13 minutes 17. 286 seconds

3. Lal Nunsanga (Motul Sparks Racing) - 13 minutes 20.595 seconds

Race 2

1. Abdul Basim RS (Rockers Racing) - 12 minutes 56.217 seconds

2. Tasmai Cariappa (Motul Sparks Racing) - 13 minutes 07.206 seconds

3. Lal Nunsanga (Motul Sparks Racing) - 13 minutes 07.502 seconds

Girls Stock 165cc

Jagathishree Kumaresan clinched her maiden INMRC win after defeating Nadine Faith Balaji in Race 1. She followed that up with another win the next day.

Results

Race 1

1. Jagathishree Kumaresan (One Racing) - 11 minutes 01.998 seconds

2. Nadine Faith Balaji (Alpha Racing) - 11 minutes 02.529 seconds

3. Rakshitha Dave (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) - 11 minutes 02.750 seconds

Race 2

1. Jagathishree Kumaresan (One Racing) - 11 minutes 04.106 seconds

2. Ryhana Bee (Motul Sparks Racing)  - 11 minutes 04.182 seconds

3. Ann Jennifer AS (Alpha Racing India) - 11 minutes 04.327 seconds

Novice Stock 301–400cc

Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan won Race 1 to make it a hat trick of victories in the Novice Stock 301–400cc class. But his run of wins was broken by Pradeep C, who picked up his first-ever INMRC win in Race 2.

Results

Race 1

1. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (RACR Castrol Power 1 Ultimate) - 12 minutes 20.570 seconds

2. Varun Patil - 12 minutes 23.923 seconds

3. Raj Kumar (RDX Torque Racing) - 12 minutes 23. 936 seconds

Race 2

1. Pradeep C - 12 minutes 20.775 seconds

2. Raj Kumar (RDX Torque Racing) - 12 minutes 27.930 seconds

3. Varun Nanjundegowda (Gusto Racing India) - 13 minutes 03.803 seconds

TVS One-Make Championship

Sarthak Chavan extended his domination with a second consecutive win in the TVS Electric RTE race, which was reduced to three laps following an on-track incident.

Senthilkumar C and Manoj Yesuadiyan claimed a win each in the Open (Apache RR 310) category, while Harshith V Bogar won both races in the Rookie (Apache RTR 200) category. Saimah Ajaz Baig won the Girls (Apache RTR 200) race.

Results

Open (Apache RR 310) Race 1

1. Senthilkumar C - 11 minutes 46.899 seconds

2. Manoj Yesuadiyan - 11 minutes 47.176 seconds

3. Jayanth P - 11 minutes 53.759 seconds

Open (Apache RR 310) Race 2

1. Manoj Yesuadiyan - 11 minutes 47.555 seconds

2. Jayanth P - 11 minutes 53.712 seconds

3. Lokesh V - 11 minutes 55.233 seconds

Rookie (Apache RTR 200) Race 1

1. Harshith V Bogar - 13 minutes 20.137 seconds

2. CS Kedarnath - 13 minutes 40.737 seconds

3. Akarsh Jangam - 13 minutes 45.396 seconds

Rookie (Apache RTR 200) Race 2

1. Harshith V Bogar - 13 minutes 20.972 seconds

2. CS Kedarnath - 13 minutes 26.089 seconds

3. Rajivsham AS - 13 minutes 44.946 seconds

Girls (Apache RTR 200)

1. Saimah Ajaz Baig - 11 minutes 35.770 seconds

2. SP Shuria - 11 minutes 36.742 seconds

3. Sarah Khan - 11 minutes 37.709 seconds

TVS Electric RTE

1. Sarthak Chavan - 5 minutes 34.704 seconds

2. Chiranth Vishwanath - 5 minutes 35 877 seconds

3. Alwyn Sundar A - 5 minutes 42.046 seconds

Honda India Talent Cup

Over in the Honda India Talent Cup, Mohsin Paramban scored double wins astride the Moto 3-sped NSF 250R bike. After just two rounds, he already holds a 37-point lead in the standings.

Results

Race 1

1. Mohsin Paramban - 11 minutes 24.301 seconds

2. Prakash Kamat - 11 minutes 26.095 seconds

3. AS James - 11 minutes 26.708 seconds

Race 2

1. Mohsin Paramban - 15 minutes 07.015 seconds

2. Savion Sabu - 15 minutes 10.965 seconds

3. AS James - 15 minutes 15.953 seconds

Also see:

TVS, Sarthak Chavan dominant at INMRC Round 1