Chennai,25 Feb 2018: The pair of Mathana Kumar (Trichy) and fellow-rider Aravind Balasumbramanaim (Chennai), representing Honda Ten10 Racing team, emerged overall champions in the AVT Gold Cup Million Endurance Race for two-wheelers at the MMRT circuit, here on Sunday.
It is one of the firsts by Madras Motorsports Association (MMSC), as awareness about Endurance races is yet to reach the masses in India. “The Madras Motor Sports Club has been the pioneer in developing and promoting motorsport in India since 1953, and we look to further improve in the years to come. It is the club’s endeavor to provide more opportunities for competitors, and to this end, various progressive programmes were chalked out and this is one of them,” said an organiser.
Kishor VS and Antony Peter (Apex Racing Academy) finished second overall ahead of Honda Ten10 Racing team’s Senthil Kumar and AS Alexander. All three podium pairs completed 41 laps.
The final outcome of the 90-minute race had more to do with the team strategies and just about the pace of the riders. Each team comprised of two riders.
As per the regulations, the minimum time a rider could ride was for 20 minutes and the maximum time was set at 45 minutes. After the minimum time and before the maximum time elapsed, the rider had to make a mandatory rider change. The mandatory stop time for a rider change was set at 1 minute.
During the course of the race, a team had to make a mandatory fuel stop for which the motorcycle must have remained stationary for at least 3 minutes. The teams were allowed to do a tyre stop as well but this was not mandatory.
“I think, our strategy worked well today. I went out first, built up a lead which my team-mate Aravind maintained. On my second run, I suffered from cramps, but somehow, I managed to complete my turn,” said an overjoyed Mathana who rode the Honda CBR 250 bike.
The results (Provisional):
Overall / Honda CBR 250: Mathana Kumar / Aravind Balasubramainam (Honda Ten10 Racing) 1 (41 laps, 01hr, 31mins, 38.048secs); 2. Kishor VS / Anthony Peter (Apex Racing Academy) (41 laps, 01:31.57.186); 3. Sethil Kumar / AS Alexander (Honda Ten10 Racing) (41 laps, 01:32.06.461).
Pro-Stock Open (301-400cc): 1. P Sai Sahil / G Vikas Kumar (40 laps, 01:31:50.690); 2. K Raja Pandian / Varun Patil (38 laps, 01:32:06.038); 3. Aakash Rajshakha / Bhumik Lalwani (37 laps, 01:32:53.352).
Pro-Stock Open (130-165cc): 1. Yashas RL / K Kannan (39 laps, 01:31:45.003); 2. A Amala Jerald / C Rajkumar (Honda Ten10 Racing) (39 laps, 01:32:11.871); 3. Sarath Kumar / PK Mithun Kumar (Honda Ten10 Racing) (39 laps, 01:32:31.469).
Stock (130-165cc): 1. Aditya Rao Immaneni / Karthik (39 laps, 01:32:00.317); 2. Manoj Y / A Ryhana Bee (38 laps, 01:31:47.013); 3. Anand R / Narayanan K (38 laps, 01:33:29.028).
eom/MMSC release
