Ten Years of Honda One Make Championship
The year’s first round at Coimbatore sets the pace for the rest of the season
HONDA HAVE DONE A lot to promote the sport of motorcycle racing in India, and 2017 marks the 10th year of the Honda One Make Race Championship. This platform has not only introduced the sport to many budding racers, but has also helped launch the careers of several youngsters who now represent India on the world stage. Honda provide bikes, gear and support to racers in two classes, and since last year they have also organised races for ladies keen to enter the sport. The Novice Class racers ride race-spec versions of the CBR150R, while the more experienced Open Class competitors ride a race version of the CBR250R that has specifically been reworked for the track. On to the races now.
Open Class
RACE ONE
Pro Lap Racing’s Amit Topno managed to qualify on pole just 0.050 of a second ahead of veteran racer Rajiv Sethu of Honda Ten 10 Racing; however, it was Rajiv who triumphed during the first CBR250R race of the
season, finishing over seven seconds ahead of Amit. Rajiv’s team-mate, Aravind B, and Anish Shetty from the Ten 10 Racing Academy both challenged Amit for the second spot, but at the end of the 10-lap race it was Amit who finished second, just ahead of Aravind in third and Anish in fourth place.
RACE TWO
The second CBR250R race of the weekend saw Rajiv Sethu in his element once again, leading for most of the arduous 15-lap race to finally finish over nine seconds ahead of Rock Star Racing’s Abhishek V. Abhishek rode a great race and even set the fastest lap (1:16.004), but was unable to match Rajiv’s consistent pace. Apex Racing’s Kishoar V S, riding on his home circuit, finished the race in third place.
Novice Class
RACE ONE
Newcomer Satya Narayana of Hyderabad made an impact by dominating Saturday’s CBR150R race. He set the fastest lap (1:23.703) and went on to finish the 10-lap race over 10 seconds ahead of the competition. Behind him, Erode’s Bharath B S and Chennai’s Syed Nawas had a close race as they fought for second place, with the coveted spot finally going to Bharath.
RACE TWO
Satya Narayana once again triumphed in Sunday’s Novice Class race, clearly making a statement that he was the rider to look out for over the season. Chennai’s Amala Jerald and Bengaluru’s Aditya Rao Immaneni duelled furiously throughout the race, but in the end it was Amala who crossed the line less than half a second ahead of Aditya as they finished in second and third places respectively.