Chennai, Aug 1 (Representative) Two teenagers and TVS Racing team-mates, Sarthak Chavan (Pune) and Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru), who have lit up the home season with their fierce rivalry, will be again going head-to-head in the third round of the MRF MMSC-FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2024 at the Madras International Circuit, at Irungattukottai, about 40 km from here, this weekend. The pair, spearheading the new generation of riders, will be seen in action in four of the scheduled 19 races with over 100 entries in fray as the championship enters a critical point. The front-runners in particular, have to strike a balance between outright aggression and caution as they seek to consolidate their positions on the leaderboard. The scenario is no different in the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250R) and the TVS One-Make Championship comprising three categories – Open (RR 310), Rookie (RTR 200) and Girls (RTR 200). Both these categories have their share of young, talented riders and the races have been nothing short of competitive.
Sarthak, fresh from a double podium finish in last weekend’s FIM Asia Road Racing Championship round in Indonesia, and Chiranth have been going wheel-to-wheel through the ongoing season, especially in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open class, providing edge-of-the-seat excitement. In fact, the duo has all but overshadowed seasoned campaigners who have just about kept pace with the two young guns, but reconciled to passing the baton to Gen Next. For all that, multiple National champion and the “King of 165”, Jagan Kumar, probably in his swansong season, heads the points table in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open class with two wins from four starts. However, the Pune youngster has been in a league of his own in the other premier class, the Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open where he has won all four races across two rounds, displaying stunning pace.
Chiranth too holds out much promise and is eager to score his first win of the season. Meanwhile, another 17-year-old, Abdul Basim from Chennai, has dominated the Novice category, notching four wins on the trot and appears primed to continue his win-spree. Similarly, two Chennai riders, Jagathishree Kumaresan, 20, and 15-year-old Rakshitha Dave, with two wins apiece, have enjoyed success in the Girls (Stock 165cc) category that contains a couple of experienced former National champions, Ryhana Bee and Ann Jennifer. The grid for the Stock 301-400cc (Novice) has been attracting nearly 30 entries and the competition is fierce. Kaushik Subaiah Ganesan from Chennai has emerged as the top contender with three wins from four starts.