Maiden double triumph for Ahamed
Anish Shetty claimed top spot in the ProStock 165cc class race
Chennai’s K. Y. Ahamed of TVS Racing and Anish Damodar Shetty of Honda Ten10 Racing from Hubballi, Karnataka, scored a double apiece in their respective classes on Sunday as the Rolon Round of the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship concluded at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore.
The 20- year- old Ahamed, who made his debut in this class in 2015, rode another fine race to notch his maiden double even as reigning national champion and team mate Jagan Kumar, who had finished second in the first race of the double- header on Saturday, crashed following a front tyre deflation on the 10th lap and limped home sixth despite clocking the fastest lap of the race.
Finishing second behind Ahamed was team mate Deepak Ravikumar as TVS Racing completed their second 1- 2 finish of the weekend.
Honda Ten10 Racing’s Mathana Kumar was third after leading in the opening two laps before dropping down to third as Ahamed and Jagan overtook him. After Jagan crashed, Mathana had a moment with a backmarker and saw Ravikumar move past him in the closing stages of the 15- lap race.
On Saturday, Ahamed led TVS Racing’s 1- 2 finish in the premier Super Sport Indian 165cc class.
Finishing behind Ahamed was team mate and reigning national champion Jagan Kumar. Polesitter Mathana Kumar of Honda Ten10 Racing came in third in a race that was delayed by rain.
“I am very happy with the double. It was a tough race, but I managed to hang on to my first place, especially after Jagan crashed,” said Ahamed.
Emulating Ahamed was 23year old Bengaluru- based techie Anish Shetty in the Pro- Stock 165cc class who had to work hard for his victory as through the 15 laps, he was closely chased by Kevin Kannan ( Rockers Racing) and Mithun Kumar ( Honda Ten10 Racing). The trio finished in that order after an entertaining battle.
Sparks Racing had a profitable outing in the Novice ( Stock 165cc) class as Aditya Rao and Karthik Mateti delivered the team a 1- 2 finish from a 32- rider grid that was arrived at after two heats.
Akshay Murali ( Apex Racing) completed the podium.
There was more cheer for Sparks Racing as Ann Jennifer won the national championship girls race ahead of Nivetha Kumar ( First 1 Racing) and Czimkhy R. V. from Trivandrum. The girls did well to hold their nerve as the eight- lap race was run in spells of sharp showers.