FIM MiniGP India Series to begin with trials in Bengaluru on July 9

Bengaluru, 14 April 2022: India will host the inaugral FIM MiniGP World Series with the Garden City Bengaluru hosting three of the five rounds and the grand initiative will kick-start with selection trials on July 9 at Meco Kartopia, th 1.2km track at Bagaluru in North Bengaluru.

Road to MotoGP is a series to promote racers to get a chance to the ultimate Road Racing event, the MotoGP World Championship. The MiniGP India Series too, will have the winner take a shot at the Road to GP series. The Indian riders will be compete on Ohvale GP-0 160 mini-race bikes shod with Pirelli Tyres, who will be the only tyre supplier. All the five rounds will be held on Karting circuits approved by fmsci, the Indian Federation – Meco Kartopia in Bengaluru and Chicane in Hyderabad.

Chicane circuit in Hyderabad will host two rounds. “Our efforts to bring in international events to India are starting to bear fruits, thanks to fmsci. It is an excellent opportunity for Indians to get into international racing. Our goal to catch them young and train for international exposure is fulfilled and the MiniGP India series will create a right platform for riders in the age group of 9 to 14 years to showcase their skills and gain the much-needed experience,” said Sujith Kumar BS, the FIM ASIA vice-president and the 2-wheeler Racing Commission chairman of fmsci. This is the only series in the world which is providing everything for free to the riders to encourage youngsters in India. Ohvale will be the single-make machine for the series and the transportation and excise duty charges are being waived for the riders.

The World Series began in 2021, culminating in an incredible first FIM MiniGP World Series Final at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, just ahead of the MotoGP season finale. In 2022, the series is expanded to include more National Series, with a number of new countries including INDIA joining up. 

The 2021 Series was held in Alpe Adria, France, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, North America, Portugal, Spain and the UK. This year apart from India, Australia, Austria, Indonesia and Qatar join the MiniGP. The top two riders from each of these competitions will be invited to join the 2022 FIM MiniGP World Series Final. In the inaugural year of the FIM MiniGP World Series,​ the winner of the World Final will, subject to minimum age and location/nationality, secure a spot in one of the Road To MotoGP programs on the next rung of their career ladder. 

The calendars for each of the Series comprising the 2022 FIM MiniGP World Series can now be announced, with competition underway in many already.