Honda India junior rider Sarthak Chavan secured a landmark podium finish at Round 2 of the 2022 Thailand Talent Cup. Becoming the first Indian rider to land a podium finish in the series, the 15-year-old from Pune finished third in Race 2 at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand.

• Chavan collects 35 points after two rounds
• Quintal bags 10 points

Chavan secures Thai Talent Cup podium

The Thailand Talent Cup is part of Honda’s development programme for Asian riders and is run on Moto-3 spec NSF250R bikes. Chavan headed into Round 2 with 13 points on board. A ninth-place finish in Round 2’s opening race saw him add another six points to his tally.

Race 2 saw him manoeuvre his way up the field from 12th on the grid. He kept his cool in the wet conditions to finish third, securing the final spot on the podium, just 0.583 seconds behind the race leader.

“I am very happy with my performance in this round as I was able to give my maximum on the track. With learnings from last round and training with my mentors, I achieved third place on the podium. This win has boosted my confidence and I will continue to fight hard to bring more laurels for the country,” commented Chavan, who now has a total of 35 points.

Points for Quintal

Kavin Quintal, who is also part of Honda India’s rider development programme, was back in action after having to miss the opening round due to falling ill. He collected a total of 10 points after finishing the races in 13th and ninth places, respectively.

Reflecting on the performance of both of Honda India’s young riders, Prabhu Nagaraj, operating officer, brand and communications, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, said, “We are extremely happy with results of our riders in Round 2. Both Sarthak and Kavin showcased stellar performance and fighting spirit on international soil.”

“Sarthak Chavan has made us all proud, as it is the first time in history of Honda India Racing that an Indian rider took a podium position at the Thailand Talent Cup. Also, this victory is a testimony of how our riders are consistently climbing up the ladder and getting ready for the international arena.”