• Pole position for Rajiv Sethu, Vignesh Goud

Chennai, August 4: Chennai ace Rajiv Sethu and Hyderabad’s Vignesh Goud, both looking to extend their unbeaten run, qualified for pole position in their respective categories as the third round of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2023 commenced at the Madras International Circuit, here on Friday.

The 24-year-old Sethu (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate), winner of all four races so far this season, showed impressive pace in the latter half of the 15-minute qualifying session for pole position in the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc category, clocking a best lap of 01 minute, 50.457secs, to finish ahead of Petronas TVS Racing team’s threesome of Jagan Kumar (01:50.787), Deepak Ravikumar (01:50.845) and Pune youngster Sarthak Chavan (01:50.849).

Later, 19-year old Vignesh Goud (Race’ists Motorcycle Club) from Hyderabad, who is unbeaten in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category after four races over two rounds, put in a best lap of 02:08.750 for pole position, ahead of Bengaluru’s Savion Sabu (Axor Sparks Racing, 02:09.170) and Chennai rider Sangeeth S (ACCSYS India Rookie Racing, 02:09.753).
 

Earlier, in the free practice session for Pro-Stock 165cc Open category, Petronas TVS Racing’s KY Ahamed (01:55.455) and multiple National champion Jagan Kumar (01:55.471) set the early marker, ahead of championship leader Rajiv Sethu (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate, 01:56.344) and defending champion Mathana Kumar (Pacer Yamaha, 01:56.480).

In the Girls’ category (Stock 165cc), Ann Jennifer (Alpha Racing) was the quickest with a hot lap of 02:10.645, while Lani Fernandez (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) from Puducherry was second fastest in 02:10.925, ahead of Nadine Faith Balaji (Alpha Racing) whose best was 02:13.791.

Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (NSF 250): Unsurprisingly, Kavin Samaar Quintal, the teenager from Chennai, topped the practice session time sheets with a best lap of 01:50.859, well clear of another local rider Rakshith Dave (01:51.993) and Bengaluru’s AS James (01:52.818).
Petronas TVS One-Make Championship: Coimbatore’s Senthilkumar S took the pole position in the Open (RR 310) category with a best lap of 01:54.221 while Alwin Sundar from Chennai (01:54.871) and Chiranth Vishwanath from Bengaluru (01:54.961) completed the front row
 

Chennai’s Nadine Faith Balaji outpaced the Girls (Apache RTR 200) field for pole position, clocking a top lap of 02:14.670, ahead Bengaluru’s 13-year-old Nithila Das (02:15.534) and Sarah Khan (02:15.751) from Mumbai.

Bengaluru riders, Copparam Shreyas Hareesh, 13, winner of four consecutive races this season, and Savion Sabu, 16, were the quickest in the free practice session for Rookie (RTR 200) category. Shreyas clocked a best of 02:06.150 as against Savion’s 02:07.914 while local rider, Nandanan, 13, was third quickest in 02:09.185.
 

The results (Qualifying – Top 3 Best laps):
National Championship – Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open: 

1. Rajiv Sethu (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (01 min, 50.457secs); 
2. Jagan Kumar (Chennai, Petronas TVS Racing) (01:50.787); 
3. Deepak Ravikumar (Chennai, Petronas TVS Racing) (01:50.845).

Novice (Stock 165cc): 

1. Vignesh Goud (Hyderabad, Race’ists Motorcycle Club (02:08.750); 
2. Savion Sabu (Bengaluru, Axor Sparks Racing) (02:09.170); 
3. Sangeeth S (Chennai, ACCSYS India Rookie Racing) (02:09.753).
    

Support Event – Stock 301-400cc (Novice): 

1. S Rohit Lad (Bengaluru, Pvt) (02:04.718); 
2. Aldrin Babu (Thrissur, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (02:04.786);
3. Anand N (Chennai, RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) (02:05.181).

Petronas TVS One-Make Championship: Open (RR 310): 

1. Senthilkumar C (Coimbatore) (01:54.221); 
2. Alwin Sundar A (Chennai) (01:54.871); 
3. Chiranth Vishwanath (Bengaluru) (01:54.961).

Girls (Apache RTR 200): 

1. Nadine Faith Balaji (Chennai) (02:14.670);  
2. Nithila Das (Bengaluru) (02:15.534); 
3. Sarah Khan (Mumbai) (02:15.751).