Top names in fray at Coimbatore
Around 200 entries with a good mix of established and rookie riders will be in action at the MRF national motorcycle racing championship, commencing in Coimbatore at the Kari Motor Speedway on Friday.
The competition heralds a new season that promises plenty of action amidst a few innovations designed to unearth fresh talent.
The five- round programme also includes a one- make championship for two of the country’s leading two- wheeler manufacturers, TVS and Honda, who have tweaked their respective events to make them more competitive and representative of pan- India talent.
The championship comprises four categories — the top- end Super Sport Indian Open ( 165cc) for the country’s top riders and dominated by the TVS Racing and Honda Ten10 Racing teams, pro- stock 301- 400cc, pro- stock 165cc and stock 165cc ( novice and girls).
Title sponsors of the event MRF will provide slick tyres for bikes in the Super Sport ( 165cc) and pro- stock ( 301- 400cc) classes from Round 2 to be held at the MMRT circuit in Chennai next month. The slicks, which afford better grip than conventional tyres, will see higher cornering speeds and consequently, improved timings.
Last season, the novice category, created to attract fresh talent, proved immensely competitive and attracted riders in huge numbers, necessitating qualifying heats to identify the grid for the point- scoring race.
The novice ( CBR 150) class for those under 21 years, will join the championship from the next round in Chennai in July.
The TVS one- make championship has competitions in three categories — open ( Apache RR 310), novice ( Apache RTR 200) and girls ( Apache RTR 180) — besides races for media ( Apache RTR 200).
The Open class has a string of riders of proven ability like Deepak Ravikumar, Vivek Pillai, Arun Muthukrishnan, Abhishek Vasudev and Amarnath Menon, last year’s champion in the 300400cc category.
Rehana Bee, Haridharani and Haritha R. headline the 15- strong grids for girls.
The weekend card has a total of 14 races apart from practice and qualifying sessions, and heats in the novice class.