Season’s first point for Shetty
Indian rookie Anish D. Shetty picked up his first point of the season in the Asia Production 250cc class of the Asia Road Racing Championship in Adelaide on Friday.
Riding for the newly formed ‘ Idemitsu Honda Racing India team’ by T Pro Ten10, Shetty came home in the points in Australia after a barren first round in Thailand. Starting a far 19th on the grid, Anish worked his way and finished for the first time in the top 15. He had a best lap time of 2: 11: 953 and a top speed of 197 kmh.
It was, however, a tough weekend for second- timer Rajiv Sethu who crashed in the third practice session and suffered a wrist injury.
Honda 2Wheeler India team’s third rider, 19- year old Japanese rider Taiga Hada competed in the marquee SuperSport 600cc with 21 other riders. Starting from third, Hada was comfortably leading when the race was abandoned due to two red flags with no points awarded to any rider or team.
Said Shetty later, “The Australia track was completely new but my first race experience was wonderful. Starting from 19th on the grid, I didn’t have a good start. But challenging myself, I coped up with the bike on the track and gained over other Asian riders to close at 15th and score my first point for Honda’s first Indian racing team.
“It is just two rounds into the championship, but there’s a steep learning curve as I am competing with best racers from across Asia.”