Honda riders all set for Round 2 this weekend

Chennai: After a blockbuster performance in Round 1 of 2018 Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship, Honda riders are once again geared up for podium glory. 

The Round 2 of the national championship will take place this weekend at Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT), Chennai along with Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup.

In the first round in Coimbatore earlier this month, Idemitsu Honda Ten10 Racing rider Anish Shetty scored back to back wins in Pro Stock 165 class. Defending Honda’s 2017 title, Anish will aim for a hat trick of wins this weekend in Chennai. Mithun Kumar and Senthil Kumar displayed promising performance in round 1 and will be looking to improve their spot on the grid.

In the SuperSport 165 class Rajiv Sethu, the 2017 national championship runner-up, will lead the charge along with Mathana Kumar and Sarath Kumar. Mathana Kumar’s challenging spirit had helped him bag double podiums in Round 1. 

Speaking on the preparation of Honda riders for national championship and Talent Cup, Prabhu Nagaraj, Vice President, Brand & Communication, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “After the thrill and excitement of Round 1, our riders are set to fight for the podium in the national championship this weekend. The action packed weekend will witness the introduction of Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup - CBR 150R class. In this new category we will also see budding racers in the age group of 13 to 18 years selected from the first leg of Talent Hunt conducted in Bangalore.”

MRF slick tyres debut 

The slick tyre made a promising debut and received a thumbs up from all the riders who used them during the free practice session of the second round. 

MRF supplied slick tyres for the premier Super Sport Indian (165cc) and the Pro-Stock 301-400cc classes. The impact of the slick tyres, being used for the first time in the championship, had an immediate impact with timings improving by about two seconds with the likelihood of dropping further at race pace this weekend.

The fastest rider on the track in the 165cc class, KY Ahamed of TVS Racing, who leads the Super Sport Indian 165cc class following a double win in the first round last month, spoke glowingly about the MRF slick tyres after the practice session.