Nashik to kick start MRF MOGRIP 2-Wheeler Nationals with Round 1 today
Nashik, 30 May 2015: Pit Stop Motorsports Club, Nashik will host ‘MRF MOGRIP FMSCI National Rally Championship (2-W) – 2015’ in Nashik on Sunday, 31/May/2015. The rally, to be flagged off fromHotel Express Inn (Nashik), will cover a total distance of 170 kms and will run on the Ghoti – Vaitarana route upto Dharnoli – Valvihir and back to Hotel Express Inn.
The first leg of the competition will begin from the flag-off point to Dharnoli (37 kms) and is expected to be covered in an ideal time of 50 minutes. The competitive section has been demarcated from Dharnoli to Valvihir (15 kms) and the riders’ skills & experience will be tested in the four laps of this competitive section (total 60 kms).
Spectators will be treated to spectacular speeds, thrilling turns, bumps & riding acrobatics at close quarters in this section. Last year’s record timing of 12 minutes for covering one lap (15 kms) over this route is expected to be broken in this year’s competition. The judges’ panel consisting of Shrikant Karani (Mumbai), Ravi Shamdasani (Nashik) & Prashant Gadkari (Nashik) has been appointed by the Federation of Motor Sports’ Club of India (FMSCI) while Sarvesh Chitko’s ‘Crazy Coders’ team will take care of individual competitor timings and also complete & comprehensive results for the event. Amod Mhaskar will coordinate the overall event. Pradeep Mhaskar, Clerk-Of-the-Course for the event, briefed the reporters at a specially organized press conference.
FMSCI had discontinued organizing 2-wheeler rallies for the past five years. Despite this, Pit Stop Motorsports Club had continued hosting this annual 2-wheeler event to encourage rally enthusiasts in the region. In 2014, the event was renamed in memory of Late Anjali Mhaskar, the driving force behind Pit Stop. Encouraged by the consistent response to Pit Stop events since 2010, FMSCI has revived the 2-Wheeler Rally Championship and has designated Nashik event as one of the five legs in the series. Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Hyderabad & Chennai will host remaining four legs of the championship and the overall national winner will be declared on points won by the competitors in all these five events. The first three podium-finishers at each round will earn 20, 18 & 15 points, respectively.
The organizers have secured valuable sponsorship support for this event from MRF Ltd., the tyre-manufacturer giant in the country, through the good offices of Shyam Kothari, former national champion in 2-wheeler category. Apache RTR-180has also extended valuable support in organizing this rally.Hotel Express Inn has graciously agreed to host the rally event (including the flag-off & prize distribution) and extend inclusive hospitality to the rally officials.
Additionally, Thane Janata Sahakari Bank Ltd. has also chipped in with sponsorship support.
The rally event will be held in the following eight categories –
I. 2-Wheelers upto 130 cc engine capacity
II. 2-Wheelers from 131 – 165 cc engine capacity
III. 2-Wheelers from 166 – 260 cc engine capacity
IV. 2-Wheelers from 261 – 500 cc engine capacity
V. Scooters
VI. Royal Enfield Bullet
VII. ‘Star of Nashik’ – Special group for amateur 2-stroke motorcycles
VIII. Imported Foreign Made Motorcycles
The first three winners in the rally will be awarded with a trophy & a cash award of Rs 10,000/-, Rs 7,500/- & Rs 5,000/-, respectively. Besides these awards, the best amongst first-time participants in the rally (Novice) will also be felicitated with Late Anjali Mhaskar Trophy.
Explaining the regulations & modalities for the event, Ravindra Waghchaure, Member Technical Coordination Committee, further elaborated that, it is mandatory for all competitors to wear rally-specified helmets, safety-dress, and hand gloves. Alongwith R Natarajan (current national champion), KP Aravind, R Venugopal, the star 2-wheeler riders nationally, Nashik’s own Shamim Khan, Nilesh Thakre, Hiten Thakker have confirmed their participation in the rally and approx.
40 riders have already entered their names. The competitors & their vehicles were subjected to documentation & technical scrutiny on 30/May/2015 at Hotel Express Inn and then were taken through city’s main roads in a ceremonial procession.
All requisite safety precautions have been arranged for this exciting event and four ‘Trauma Ambulances’ will be deployed on the rally route, added Sudheer Joshi, the chief safety officer for the event and a former rally participant himself.
A special contest for press photographers has also been announced on the sidelines of this event. The four best photographs published in the newspapers will earn a cash award of Rs 2,100/-, Rs 1,500/-, Rs 1,000/- & Rs 500/-, respectively. The original photograph in size 8”x12” alongwith the cutting of the published newspaper needs to be submitted to the organizers latest by 04/June/2015 for being eligible to participate in the contest.
MRF MOGRIP FMSCI National Rally Championship (2-W) – 2015 will be flagged off from Hotel Express Inn on 31/May/2015 at 9.00 am at the hands of Mr. Murali, Mr. Muralidharan, Mr. Prashant (all from MRF Ltd.) & Mr. Darryl Blenkley (Gen. Manager, Hotel Express Inn, Nashik). Mr. Pranit Perumal, Chairman, 2-Wheeler Rally Committee, FMSCI, will also bepresent on this occasion as a special observer.
eom/FMSCI press release
