MOTORSPORTS | Rajiv Sethu crowned champion in premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open category

Rajiv Sethu turned the National champion in the Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open category on the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National bike racing championship on the Madras International Circuit (MIC) on Sunday, October 22, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Though he was denied a ninth-straight win, the 25-year-old Rajiv Sethu gained the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open category in the fifth and ultimate spherical of the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship on the Madras International Circuit (MIC) right here on Sunday.

Also clinching the National titles have been Vignesh Goud of Race’ists Motorcycle Club (Novice-Stock 165cc) and Lani Zena Fernandez of RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate (Girls-Stock 165cc).

The championship standings in the Pro-Stock 165cc Open category weren’t declared pending settlement of a disputed consequence in the fourth spherical.

Even as Sethu, nursing an injured left shoulder, delivered a third-straight rider championship to his crew RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate, it was younger Sarthak Chavan, the 16-year-old from the Petronas TVS Racing secure, who scripted a stirring win after ranging from P17. He handed a flagging Sethu on the final lap for the most important victory of his blossoming National championship profession.

Provisional outcomes (all 8 laps except talked about): National Championship: Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open: Race-2: 1. Sarthak Chavan (Petronas TVS Racing) 14:59.041s; 2. Rahil Pillarisetty (KTM Gusto Racing) 14:59.566; 3. Rajiv Sethu (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) 14:59.656.

Pro-Stock 165cc Open: Race-2 (5 laps): 1. Rajiv 9:55.075; 2. Sarthak 9:56.286; 3. Chiranth Vishwanath (Petronas TVS Racing) 9:57.533; Rider champion: Not declared pending enquiry; Team champion: Not declared pending enquiry.

Novice (Stock 165cc): Race-2 (6 laps): 1. Savion Sabu (Axor Sparks Racing) 12:56.237; 2. Kaushik Subbiah Ganesan (AS Motorsports) 12:56.400; 3. Aadit Shah (Axor Sparks Racing) 12:56.667.

Girls (Stock 165cc, 3 laps): 1. Lani Zena Fernandez (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate) 6:40.083; 2. Nadine Faith Balaji (Alpha Racing) 6:54.558; 3. Adlin Seles (Alpha Racing) 7:00.642.

Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup: NSF 250R Open: Race-2: 1. Kavin Quintal 15:09.312; 2. Johann Reeves Emmanuel 15:14.912; 3. P. Mohsin 15:14.974.

Petronas TVS One-Make Championship: Open (301-400cc, RR 310): Race-2 (6 laps): 1. Chiranth 11:39.641; 2. Romario John 11:40.117; 3. G. Balaji 11:40.157.

Media (Apache RTR): Race-1 (5 laps): 1. Joel Kolathoor Raju 11:19.208; 2. Alshin Okay. Thomas 11:19.312; 3. Ananya Awasthi 11:19.646.

Race-2 (5 laps): 1. Alshin 11:15.520; 2. Joel 11:15.642; 3. Punya Prasun Sharma 11:21.399.