Domestic Drag Racing National Championship Non-F1

Alimon sets record; Strong comeback by Hemanth Muddappa: Drag Nationals

INDIAinF1 Desk December 29, 2022

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Alimon Saidalvi clinches Unrestricted Championship with a round to spare. INDIAinF1 photo

Chennai, 29 Dec 2022: Bengaluru riders Alimon and Hemanth Muddappa scored dominating wins in their respective superbike categories in the third round of the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship 2022 at the Madras International Circuit, here on Thursday.

Alimon continued his win-spree to clinch the National Championship with a round to spare in the Unrestricted category as he took the honours on a Kawasaki Ninja H2, and also set a track record of 07.556 seconds over 302 metres. He won all the three rounds thus far and, today he finished ahead of Hemanth Muddappa (Mantra Racing) and Attaulla Baig, also from Bengaluru. The Unrestricted class was introduced this year and the 851-1050cc class was made as a Support Race.

Alimon, thus, set the fastest time at the MIC, bettering the previous best of 07.749 by Muddappa. The victory also gave Alimon an unassailable 32-point lead over Baig in the championship standings with a round to spare.

Alimon Saidalvi who won the Championship in the Unrestricted class at the Madras International Circuit on Thursday. Photo for INDIAinF1.com

“With strong contenders in fray, it’s been a challenging field in the Nationals for this class. Perseverance and dedication helped me and the team to achieve this incredible feat. I would like to thank Topgun Racing team for the support and motivation throughout my racing career. Highlighting motorsport in India is my vision and I hope to set an example for many aspiring talents who look to enter motorsport in India,” said Alimon.

Earlier, Muddappa, the multiple National champion, was in his elements in the 1051-1650cc category astride a Suzuki Hayabusa, with a winning time of 07.910 seconds while Mujahid Pasha (Bengaluru) and yesterday’s Round-2 winner Md Riyaz (Hyderabad) came in second and third, respectively. After three rounds, Muddappa leads Riyaz by 20 points in the championship and needs just six more points to clinch the title, he is set to take his 10th National Championship title.

Another Bengaluru rider, Anish Damodara Shetty (PRN Motorsports) notched a splendid win in the 361-550cc class on a KTM RC-390 bike while Chennai rider Mohan Babu of Rockers Racing won the Super Sport Indian upto 165cc class.

In the Stock 165cc Girls class, Mumbai’s Sarah Khan of Axor Sparks Racing topped astride a Yamaha R15, to keep the championship race open with Soundari Sindy Anantharaj leading the points table with 62 points. But it will winner take it all in the final round and Sarah (58) will be looking to turn the tables on the defending champion.

The fourth and concluding round of the 2022 Championship will be run at the same venue on Friday.

Hemanth Muddappa on his Suzuki Hayabusa. INDIAinF1 File photo by Srinivasa Krishnan

Girls class winner Sarah Khan (centre), along with Senior Technician Ebbi (red ‘T’), is flanked by second-placed Aditi Krishnan and Lani Zena Fernandez (extreme right). Chief guest Anoop, (MMSC) left, is also seen. Photo: Axor Spark Racing

Round-3 results (Provisional, all 4-Stroke Super Sport unless mentioned):

Unrestricted: 1. Alimon Saidalavi (Bengaluru) (07.556secs); 2. Hemanth Muddappa (Mantra Racing, Bengaluru) (07.768); 3. Attaulla Baig (Bengaluru) (08.037).

1051-1650cc: 1. Hemanth Muddappa (Mantra Racing, Bengaluru) (07.910); 2. Mujahid Pasha (Bengaluru) (08.019); 3. Md Riyaz (Hyderabad) (08.103).

851-1050cc (Support race): 1. Saurabh Parabh (Mumbai) (07.880); 2. Hemanth Muddappa (Mantra Racing, Bengaluru) (08.065); 3. Sugan Prasad SP (Bengaluru) (08.236).

551-850cc: 1. Sidharth Ratan Parmar (Mumbai) (08.510); 2. Saurabh Parab (Mumbai) (08.552); 3. Mohammed Riyaz (Hyderabad) (08.630).

361-550cc (Super Sport Indian): 1. Anish Shetty (PRN Motorsports, Bengaluru) (12.243); 2. Bharath Raj (Rockers Racing, Chennai) (12.244); 3. Aiyaz Rem (Bengaluru) (12.363).

166-225cc (Support race): 1. Srikantha P (Bengaluru) (13.520); 2. Aiyaz Rem (Bengaluru) (14.293); 3. Madhan Kumar R (Chennai) (14.333).

Upto 165cc (Super Sport Indian): 1. Mohan Babu (Rockers Racing, Chennai) (14.154); 2. Arvind Ganesh (Chennai) (14.234); 3. Bharath Raj (Rockers Racing, Chennai) (14.235).

2-Stroke 131-165cc: 1. Prashanth (Bengaluru) (12.821); 2. Aiyaz Rem (Bengaluru) (12.983); 3. Shreyas Hareesh (Rockers Racing, Bengaluru) (13.069).

2-Stroke Upto 130cc: 1. Abdul Shaikh (Bengaluru) (13.497); 2. Mohamed Rafiq (Bengaluru) (13.778); 3. Mohammed Arfath (Bengaluru) (13.784).

GIRLS (165cc, Novice): 1. Sarah Khan (Axor Sparks Racing, Mumbai) (16.562); 2. Aditi Krishnan (Bengaluru) (16.639); 3. Lani Zena Fernandez (RACR, Puducherry) (16.704).

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