Nataraj wins overall title in MRF Mogrip 2w INRC Rally of Baroda
Baroda, 4 May 2018: Rajendra RE, Aishwarya and Syed Asif Ali of team TVS Racing win their respective classes in the Indian National Rally Championship for two-wheelers (INRC) here on Sunday.
Blazing sun failed to douse their spirits as two-wheeler riders set the tone for the season opener with defending champion R Natraj of TVS racing winning the overall title in the Round 1 of the MRF MOGRIP FMSCI National rally championship 2 wheeler on Sunday.
The Rally of Baroda saw as many as 55 riders taking the start at Jarod Village near Baroda over a course of 75 km. in four competitive stages of 50 kilometres.
The Rally of Baroda which opened the 2018 season yet again proved that Team TVS Racing had no match with Natraj leading the charge on a powerful TVS RTR 450FX on which he logged 47 minutes 42 seconds to win Class 1.
Natraj’s poor show in the second stage was due to problem in his disc-brake that resulted in him falling twice. Nonetheless he picked up his bike and continued running to complete the stage.
“There was service after two stages and the problem was rectified by TVS mechanics which allowed me to ride better in the last two stages and win the rally,” said Natraj, who had won the opening round in Baroda last year too.
“The win is always a morale booster and after this win I am ready for the challenge of the Round 2 scheduled next weekend in Indore,” said Natraj.
“The rally went off smoothly and without any hiccups. What more can I ask for as a promoter.” Said Shyam Kothari, Director of Godspeed Racing, the promoters of the 2-wheeler rally championship.
“Besides more entries this year as compared to last year shows that this sport is spreading at the grassroot levels. Moreover, the response from motorsports enthusiast was also enthralling,” said Kothari.
“We had marked the course on rugged ground, which was quite testing while competing in temperatures hovering over 43 degrees Celsius,” said Amit Waghchoure of AW Events.
Aishwarya wins – riding her TVS RTR 2004V, Aishwarya Pissay won the Ladies class by a good one-minute beating Palakkad privateer Fazeela, who rode a Hero Impulse. Local girl Gurmail Kaur finished third, also on Hero Impulse.
The scooter class title went to champion TVS Racing rider Syed Asif Ali, who rode TVS Wego and clocked 59 minutes 55 seconds beating Aprillia Racing’s Pinkesh Thakkar (1:01:40), who rode Aprilia SR150.
