Hemanth Mudappa looking to clinch sixth National title
Chennai, 23 January 2021: Multiple National Drag champion Hemanth Mudappa, who completed a hat-trick of tiles in 2019, will be gunning for his sixth title as the Indian National Motorcycle Drag Championship concludes with the second and final round at Madras Motor Sport Track near here at Irungattukottai on Sunday.
The 31-year, Bangalore-based rider passionate about fitness, representing Mantra Racing and tuned by Sharan Pratap, won the first Drag National in 2017 winning the Unrestricted Foreign Open class, the feature race, and went on to win the same class in 2018 and 2019 for a hat-trick of titles. In 2018, he also became National champion in the 851 to 1050cc class and the 1051cc & above class for a total of five National titles till last year. However, in the absence of the Feature Race this year, he is raring to go, to win gold in both the top two classes he entered, and is gunning to beat his own Drag National record for 302 metres. He needs to beat 7.922 to win the 851 class, even if he wins the gold to break the tie with Riyaz and clinch the championship in 851cc class. Hemanth who set the National record of 7.976 in 2019 Round 2, broke it in the first round of 2020 on Oct 11 clocking 7.783. And a National record on Sunday will be a big bonus. He is also in line for the Gold in 1051cc and above class.
Meanwhile, Ann Jennifer won the National Championship in the 4stroke Girls Class on Saturday with Nivetha Jessice second, and Czimkhy third. Mohammed Rafiq won the 2 stroke upto 130cc class National title with Mohammed Touheed and Mujahid Pash coming second and third, respectively. Aiyaz clinched the National crown in 131cc to 165cc category with Mohammed Touheed taking runners-up in this category too, and Manoj Kumar S finishing second runner up in the National championship in this class.
On Sunday, five more classes will be held in the final round as the 2020 Championship is completed successfully under bio-bubble due to Covid19 by promoter Madras Motor Sports Club under the aegis of Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI). The 2w and 4w National Racing Championships already concluded on time in 2020.
