Indian Motorsports

Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 kicks off in Chennai

Round 1 of MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship kicked off in Madras International Circuit.

Published

1 year ago

June 17, 2024

Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 kicks off in Chennai

The Madras International Circuit buzzed with excitement as the first round of the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 unfolded over the weekend.

Qualifying Highlights

On Friday, teenagers Sarthak Chavan from Pune and Chiranth Vishwanath from Bengaluru dominated the Pro-Stock 301-400cc category. The two 17-year-olds, representing TVS Racing, claimed the top two positions, with Chavan setting a pole time of 1:51.688. Gusto Racing India’s Sairahil Pillarisetty from Hyderabad followed closely behind. Chavan also secured pole position in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open category, indicating his potential for a double victory.

Equally noteworthy was the performance of 17-year-old Abdul Basim from Chennai, who claimed pole in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category. Former National champion Ann Jennifer led the Girls (Stock 165cc) category. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan from Chennai topped the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) category.

In the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup, Mallapuram’s Mohsin Paramban, 22, secured pole position in the NSF 250R category. He narrowly edged out 15-year-old Rakshith S Dave from Chennai, with Shyam Sundar also from Chennai, rounding out the top three. Mohsin’s hot lap of 01:51.187 was just ahead of Rakshith’s 01:51.218, while Shyam posted a time of 01:71.708.

The TVS Racing One-Make Championship saw Chennai’s Manoj Yesuadian setting the pace in the Open (RR 310) class qualifying session. Followed closely by Senthil Kumar from Coimbatore and Ajai Xavier M from Nagercoil. In the Rookie (Under-23) (Apache RTR 200) category, Tirupati’s CS Kedarnath topped the qualifying session. Bengaluru’s Harshith V Bogar and Thrissur’s Saranjith KM completed the front row.

Mumbai’s Sarah Khan concluded the day by comfortably securing pole position in the Girls (Apache RTR 200) class, finishing 2.4 seconds ahead of Pune’s Saimah Ajaz Baig. Coimbatore’s Aisvarya V trailed by three seconds.

Race Day Triumphs

Saturday’s races saw the spotlight on the Dave twins from Chennai. Rakshith Dave, 15, triumphed in the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250R) race, while his sister Rakshitha secured her maiden win in the Girls (Stock 165cc) category. Another set of siblings, KY Ahamed and Abdul Basim, also from Chennai, each won a race in their respective categories.

In the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc race, Sarthak Chavan continued his excellent form by leading a 1-2 finish for TVS Racing alongside Chiranth Vishwanath. Despite a red flag that shortened the race to four laps, Sarthak maintained his composure and crossed the finish line first. However, in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open race, he faced a setback, crashing out while leading. KY Ahamed took advantage and claimed victory in a tight finish ahead of his TVS Racing teammate, Jagan Kumar.

Also finishing on the top step of the podium was Chennai’s Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate), who won the Novice 301-400cc class. The class gained National championship status this season.

Earlier, pole-sitter Abdul Basim held off a strong challenge from Mysuru’s Tasmai Cariappa (Motul Sparks Racing), who led briefly in the penultimate lap but conceded the advantage. Basim went on to win, with Tasmai and Coimbatore’s Abhinav G (Chandra LGE Racing) finishing second and third, respectively.

Rakshitha Dave, starting from P2, moved in front by Turn-2, deftly avoiding any jostling behind her, and enjoyed a trouble-free run for a commanding win. Another Chennai rider, Jagathishee Kumaresan (One Racing), and Ryhana Bee (Motul Sparks Racing) settled for second and third spots, respectively, while pole-sitter Ann Jennifer (Alpha Racing) came in a disappointing fourth.

“I am very happy to score my first-ever win in the National championship. I had a good start today and a trouble-free run after going into the lead early in the first lap. The bike too performed very well,” said a delighted Rakshitha.

In the TVS One-Make Championship Coimbatore’s Senthilkumar C took the honours in the truncated Open (Apache RR 310) race that was reduced to three laps from six due to a red flag stoppage following an on-track incident. Jayanth Pratipathi (Chennai) came in second, ahead of Nagercoil’s Ajai Xavier M.

Harshith V Bogar from Bengaluru notched a dominating win in the Rookie category with second-placed Saranjith KM (Thrissur) finishing some 10 seconds behind. Vijayawada’s Akarsh Jangam was a distant third.

Mumbai’s Sarah Khan won the Girls (RTR 200) race untroubled by Pune’s Saimah Ajaz Baig and Aisvarya V (Coimbatore).

On Sunday, teenagers Sarthak Chavan, Rakshitha Dave, Abdul Basim, and Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan each clinched double victories in their respective categories.

Seventeen-year-old Sarthak Chavan from Pune established himself as the frontrunner in the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open class, winning both races in commanding fashion. Despite a strong challenge from fellow 17-year-old Chiranth Vishwanath of Bengaluru, who secured second place in both races, Sarthak’s pace proved unbeatable. The duo’s performance left the rest of the field competing for the remaining podium spot.

In the Pro-Stock 165cc category, Sarthak experienced a setback when a collision with Chiranth while battling for the lead caused him to crash. Although both riders rejoined the race, veteran TVS Racing teammates Jagan Kumar, KY Ahamed, and Deepak Ravikumar capitalized on the opportunity to finish in that order. This marked Jagan’s first win of the season after a challenging 2023.

Chennai schoolgirl Rakshitha Dave, at just 15 years old, delivered a flawless performance in the Girls (Stock 165cc) category. Following her victory in Race-1 on Saturday, Rakshitha secured an unchallenged win in Race-2, further establishing her dominance in the field.

Another standout performer from Chennai, Abdul Basim of Rockers Racing, achieved a clean sweep in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category. Abdul won Race-2 with ease, mirroring his performance in Saturday’s race, and showcasing his consistent form and skill.

Chennai’s Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan also notched a double victory in the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) class, leading from pole position in both races and demonstrating his racing prowess.

The Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup saw an impressive ride from Shyam Sundar of Chennai, who won the NSF 250R race after starting from P4 on the grid. Shyam skillfully navigated through the front-runners to secure victory, with Mallappuram’s Mohsin Paramban finishing second and Saturday’s winner, Rakshith Dave from Chennai, taking third.

The TVS One-Make Championship witnessed a stellar performance from Senthilkumar C of Coimbatore. He won both races in the Apache RR 310 category, continuing his relentless pace from Race-1 on Saturday to top Race-2, ahead of Chennai riders Manoj Yesuadian and Jayanth P.

Bengaluru’s Harshith V Bogar continued his dominance in the Rookie category, winning Race 2 after his triumph on Saturday. Tirupati’s CS Kedarnath took second place, while Saranjith KM from Thrissur finished third, completing the podium.

Earlier in the weekend, Sarthak Chavan comfortably topped the TVS Electric RTE race, with his rival Chiranth Vishwanath finishing second and Chennai’s Alwyn Sundar taking third.

Results from the weekend

Friday Qualifying results (Top 3, best laps):

National Championship – Pro-stock 301-400cc Open: 1. Sarthak Chavan (Pune, TVS Racing) (01min, 51.688secs); 2. Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru, TVS Racing) (01:52.581); 3. Sairahil Pillarisetty (Hyderabad, Gusto Racing India) (01:52.994).

Pro-Stock 165cc Open: 1. Sarthak Chavan (01:56.772); 2. Chiranth Vishwanath (01:58.251); 3. Deepak Ravikumar (Chennai, TVS Racing) (01:58.463).

Novice – Stock 165cc: 1. Abdul Basim S (Chennai, Rockers Racing) (02:08.076); 2. Tasmai Cariappa (Mysuru, Motul Sparks Racing) (02:09.417); 3. Abhinav G (Coimbatore, Chandra LGE Racing team) (02:10.686).

Girls (Stock 165cc): 1. Ann Jennifer AS (Chennai, Alpha Racing India) (02:10.201); 2. Rakshitha Dave (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (02:10.381); 3. Jagathishree Kumaresan (Chennai, One Racing) (02: 10.799).

Novice – Stock 301-400cc: 1. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (02:02.320); 2. Rohit Lad (Bengaluru, Mad Rabbit Racing) (02:02.668); 3. Lokesh V (Bengaluru, Pvt) (02:03.583).

Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250R Open): 1. Mohsin Paramban (Mallapuram) (01:51.187); 2. Rakshith S Dave (Chennai) 01:51.218); 3. Shyam Sundar (Chennai) (01:51.708).

TVS One-Make Championship – Open (Apache RR 310): 1. Manoj Yesuadian (Chennai) (01:56.672); 2. Senthil Kumar C (Coimbatore) (01:57.289); 3. Ajai Xavier M (Nagercoil) (01:58.785).

Rookie (Apache RTR 200): 1. CS Kedarnath (Tirupati) (02:11.108); 2. Harshith V Bogar (Bengaluru) (02:11.845); 3. Saranjith KM (Thrissur) (02:15.956).

Girls (Apache RTR 200): 1. Sarah Khan (Mumbai) (02:13.314); 2. Saimah Ajaz Baig (Pune) (02:15.771); 3. Aisvarya V (Coimbatore) (02:16.388).

Saturday results (Provisional, all 6 laps unless mentioned):

National Championship – Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open (Race-1, 4 laps): 1. Sarthak Chavan (Pune, TVS Racing) (7mins, 36.007secs); 2. Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru, TVS Racing) (07:39.254); 3. Sairahil Pillarisetty (Hyderabad, Gusto Racing India) (07:41.470).

Pro-Stock 165cc Open (Race-1): 1. Ahamed KY (Chennai, TVS Racing) (12:04.178); 2. Jagan Kumar (Chennai, TVS Racing) (12:04.192); 3. Deepak Ravikumar (Chennai, TVS Racing) (12:14.569).

Novice (Stock 165cc) Race-1: 1. Abdul Basim RS (Chennai, Rockers Racing) (12:55.808); 2. Tasmai Cariappa (Mysuru, Motul Sparks Racing) (12:56.136); 3. Abhinav G (Coimbatore, Chandra LGE Racing team) (13:04.554).

Girls (Stock 165cc) Race-1 (5 laps): 1. Rakshitha Dave (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (10:58.183); 2. Jagathishree Kumaresan (Chennai, One Racing) (11:03.012); 3. Ryhana Bee (Chennai, Motul Sparks Racing) (11:03.150).

Novice (Stock 301-400cc) Race-1: 1. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power 1 Ultimate) (12:17.257); 2. Lokesh V (Bengaluru, Pvt.) (12:23.458); 3. Varun Nanjundegowda (Mysuru, Gusto Racing India) (12:27.927).

Idemitsu Honda India Cup (NSF 250R) Race-1: 1. Rakshith S Dave (Chennai) (11:12.157); 2. Mohsin Paramban (Malappuram) (11:16.226); 3. AS James (Bengaluru) (11:16.669)

TVS One-Make Championship – Open (Apache RR 310) Race-1 (3 laps): 1. Senthilkumar C (Coimbatore) (05:56.457); 2. Jayanth Pratipathi (Chennai) (05:59.277); 3. Ajai Xavier (Nagercoil) (06:02.953).

Rookie (Apache RTR 200) Race-1: 1. Harshith V Bogar (Bengaluru) (13:43.666); 2. Saranjith KM (Thrissur) (13:53.770); 3. Akarsh Jangam (Vijayawada) (14:07.100).

Girls (Apache RTR 200) Race-1 (5 laps): 1. Sarah Khan (Mumbai) (11:19.075); 2. Saimah Ajaz Baig (Pune) (11:21.156); 3. Aisvariya V (Coimbatore) (11:23.221).

Sunday results (Provisional, all 6 laps unless mentioned):

Pro-Stock 165cc Open (Race-1): 1. Ahamed KY (Chennai, TVS Racing) (12:04.178); 2. Jagan Kumar (Chennai, TVS Racing) (12:04.192); 3. Deepak Ravikumar (Chennai, TVS Racing) (12:14.569).

Idemitsu Honda India Cup (NSF 250R) Race-1: 1. Rakshith S Dave (Chennai) (11:12.157); 2. Mohsin Paramban (Malappuram) (11:16.226); 3. AS James (Bengaluru) (11:16.669)

Rookie (Apache RTR 200) Race-1: 1. Harshith V Bogar (Bengaluru) (13:43.666); 2. Saranjith KM (Thrissur) (13:53.770); 3. Akarsh Jangam (Vijayawada) (14:07.100).

Girls (Apache RTR 200) Race-1 (5 laps): 1. Sarah Khan (Mumbai) (11:19.075); 2. Saimah Ajaz Baig (Pune) (11:21.156); 3. Aisvariya V (Coimbatore) (11:23.221).

Indian Motorsports

Super Formula to race at India’s Buddh International Circuit?

A delegation from Japan Race Promotion (JRP), the organizers of Super Formula, visited the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida to inspect the track and discuss a potential future race.

Published

1 week ago

November 10, 2025

Aman Adusumilli

Super Formula to race at India's Buddh International Circuit?

Image Credit -

Japan’s premier single-seater championship, Super Formula, could soon make its debut in India. A delegation from Japan Race Promotion (JRP), the organizers of the series visited the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida this week to inspect the facilities and explore the possibility of adding India to the championship’s future calendar.

Super Formula delegation — Image Credit – HT PHotos

The high-level delegation included Yoshihisa Ueno (President), Takuya Hori (Technical Director), Takashi Matsui (GM, Corporate Strategy), and Genki Miura (Assistant Manager, International Sales and Marketing). They met with officials from the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), including CEO Rakesh Kumar Singh, ACEO Nagendra Pratap Singh, and OSD Shailendra Bhatia, before touring the circuit to assess its readiness for hosting a Super Formula round.

“The visit is a major step toward adding India to the Super Formula calendar. If the delegation finds the circuit suitable, we’ll move ahead with detailed planning and formalities for hosting the championship” – YEIDA CEO Rakesh Kumar Singh

What is Super Formula?

Founded in 1973, Super Formula is Japan’s top-tier open-wheel series and is often regarded as the second-fastest racing championship in the world after Formula 1. The series features advanced Dallara-built chassis powered by Honda and Toyota engines and races at iconic Japanese circuits such as Suzuka, Fuji Speedway, and Twin Ring Motegi.

If confirmed, this event would mark the return of world-class motorsport to India, years after the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix (2011–2013), FIA Formula E Hyderabad E-Prix 2023 and MotoGP Bharat 2023. Both faced setbacks due to logistical and financial hurdles, but Super Formula’s potential entry signals renewed international interest in Indian motorsport.

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

Indian Motorsports

Akshay Bohra’s 2025 FRECA Season Review: First Indian Race Winner & Pole-Sitter

A historic win, a breakthrough pole, and a season of undeniable progress. Akshay Bohra has firmly established himself as one of the most exciting rising talents in European junior racing. With the 2026 season fast approaching, one question remains: what lies ahead for the #FlyingNaan?

Published

2 weeks ago

November 6, 2025

Aman Adusumilli

Akshay Bohra’s 2025 FRECA Season Review: First Indian Race Winner & Pole-Sitter

Image Credit - © Dutch Photo Agency.

Early Season: Finding Pace and Consistency

Akshay Bohra entered the FRECA season with some prior experience in the Formula Regional car, having competed in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship earlier in the year — a five-round series held across January and February of 2025. Akshay got up to speed quickly, scoring points on his FRECA debut with a P9 finish at Misano. He continued to build momentum in Round 2 at Spa-Francorchamps, showing strong pace, though a few small mistakes prevented him from converting it into a bigger points haul.

The breakthrough came in Round 3 at Zandvoort. In a weekend marked by the season’s first wet sessions — one of the hardest conditions for any young driver — Akshay delivered a standout performance, qualifying on the front row and going on to claim his first FRECA podium. This result also made him only the second Indian to stand on a FRECA podium, following his brother, Nikhil Bohra.

History Making Weekend: The Pole and the Win

Akshay’s standout moment came at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, where he made history by taking pole position and converting it into a lights-to-flag victory. He controlled the race from the start, managing pressure, tyre wear, and pace with maturity well beyond his experience. The result marked the first pole and first race win for an Indian driver in the Formula Regional European Championship.

Mid-Season Challenges and Growth

Following his historic win at Imola, Akshay encountered a more challenging phase of the season beginning at the Red Bull Ring. He finished outside the top four for the first time in five races and missed out on points for the first time since Race 2 at Spa-Francorchamps, which brought an end to his nine-race points-scoring streak. The difficulties continued into Race 1 of Round 8 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where he once again finished outside the points.

However, in Race 2 at Barcelona, Akshay appeared to regain his momentum. He finished on the podium in P3, showing composure and racecraft by holding off a fast-charging Freddie Slater, the eventual 2025 FRECA champion.

Final Rounds and Overall Championship Standing

Akshay was running comfortably inside the top five in the overall championship heading into the final round, but his position changed after a difficult weekend at Monza. In Race 1, he had produced one of his strongest drives of the year, climbing from P18 to P5 within the first ten minutes of racing despite a tough qualifying. However, just after a safety car restart, his car suddenly lost power and he was forced to retire. “It was tough,” Akshay reflected, “but these things happen in motorsport.” The incident not only cost him a significant haul of points, but also shifted the momentum in the championship standings at a critical stage.

Akshay concluded his Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) campaign 6th in the overall championship(2nd of the first-years’), with 1 race win, 1 pole position, 6 podium finishes, and 15 points-scoring races.

What’s next for Akshay?

Akshay Bohra’s 2025 racing campaign is not over yet. He will return to India to contest the remaining two rounds of the Indian Racing League with Hyderabad Blackbirds. He will be back behind the wheel of the #31 car, which he shares with Gabriela Jílková, and the duo currently leads the Cars’ Championship standings after Round 3.

Given his performances in FRECA this year, a step up to FIA Formula 3 would seem like a natural progression. However, Akshay will not be making that move for 2026 due to financial constraints. Speaking to Desi Racing Co, Akshay Bohra said that his “future plans are still being discussed.”

F3 in 2026 seemed like the next step considering my performance this year, but unfortunately with no major financial support from anyone but family, the budget was too high. However, I still have many exciting options that I’m looking forward to – Akshay Bohra

Indian Motorsports

Mumbai Street Circuit Announced; Set to A Host Night Race in 2025

Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis has officially announced the Mumbai Street Circuit, set to host a night race. With this, Mumbai becomes the fourth city to feature a street race and only the second to stage a night street race.

Published

2 months ago

September 19, 2025

Aman Adusumilli

Mumbai Street Circuit Announced; Set to A Host Night Race in 2025

“This is a step in the direction to make Maharashtra the motorsports capital of Asia. We will be hosting the F4 race as a street circuit in Navi Mumbai as our 1st initiative in this direction.” – Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

CM Devendra Fadnavis witnessed the signing of MoU between RPPL and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation.

Akhilesh Reddy (CEO and MD of RPPL) and NMMC Commissioner, senior officials were present too.

This is a step in the direction to make Maharashtra the motorsports capital of… pic.twitter.com/LJs9AxYSok
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) September 19, 2025

The Mumbai Street Circuit will host Round 5 of the Indian Racing League and Indian Formula 4 on November 29–30, 2025. With this, Mumbai joins Hyderabad, Chennai, and Goa as a street circuit host city, becoming only the second venue to stage a night street race after the Chennai Formula Racing Circuit, which held its race in August 2024.

Neither Racing Promotions Private Limited nor the Government of Maharashtra have confirmed details of the track or location yet. It is understood that more details, including the track layout, will be revealed closer to the round in November.