Rugved Barguje wins a double, claims ‘Rider of the Day’ award

Pune, 7 May 2022: Talented youngster Rugved Barguje of Petronas TVS Racing was in flowing form as he conquered both the motos to win the ‘Rider of Day’ trophy in the second round of the MRF MoGrip fmsci National Supercross Championship 2022 here on Saturday.

In a huge achievement, popular privateer Arun D of Hassan achieved a double astride an Impulse. He won the prestigious Indian Experts class beating celebrated factory rider and former National champion Nataraj R and his teammate Sachin D of TVS Racing took third place. He won the Private Experts class too beating Shailesh Kumar and Yogesh P came third. All the riders were on Impulse bikes.

Promoted by GodSpeed Racing with TVS Racing, Servo, Sidvin and FXR as sponsors, the Supercross Nationals are back with a bang in Nashik last Sunday attracting huge crowd after a two-year haitus due to COVID19. Pune too welcomed the popular sport with huge crowds gracing the artificial gallery for vantage spot and watched the riding daredevils in action. The daring feats, stunning jumps and the fast bikes did not disappoint them. The Freestyle Motocross riders and their stunts were a bonus for an evening of entertainment as many turned up with families.

CD Jinan, who dominated the proceedings in the first round, had to play second fiddle to the local hero Rugved Barguje, who took the championship lead in the top Foreign Experts class, (the SX1 Group A upto 500cc bikes) from the Kerala master. Barguje, inherited the biking skills and talent from his father, Dhyaneswar, the senior Barguje, who was popular as Bala in his hey days. He also has brothers who raced bikes but with today’s riding it was Rugved, who hogged all the limelight with a dominating show. He took the hole shot in the first moto and by the end of the first lap, the 22-year old opened up a huge gap of over 20 bike-lengths and never looked back, making the victory look so cool.

In the second moto too, Barguje was ahead into the first corner, a low right, but was boxed in by TK Prajwal, who took the hole shot and CD Jinan, who sneaked into second. Not the one to easily give up, the youngster launched an all out attack from the third position and near the third corner he sensed the chance and launched himself with clever use of the berm and overtook both Prajwal and Jinan, to regain the lead. Thereon, he shrewdly managed his lead, controlling his pace and jumps, and extended the gap for another comfortable win. With a straight back and balanced approach, hitting the whoops with his rear tyre at the same spot, Barguje seems to have gained the extra time managing the ten whoops to his advantage.

Behind him it was the Satara youngster, Ikshaan, son of another former racing star, Shanbhag, who clinched a creditable second place in the second moto. Jinan, had a forgettable week-end as he fell in the second moto and injured his leg. But the rider running 50, puts to shame many youngsters with his fitness mantra. He got up and finished the moto, and only during the podium ceremony one could notice a slight limp. Jinan got a third in the other moto and kept himself at a striking distance in the title race. Watchout for the master blaster in the remaining rounds.

“I am so thrilled. It is definitely a very big feeling to win in the home town. The effort and hard work I put in for the past two months had paid off. Now I got the championship lead and with more rounds to go, my focus is to be consistent and I will take it round by round,” said a beaming Rugved Barguje to INDIAinF1 from Pune.

Coimbatore’s Manikandan K won the SX2 ahead of Bhumik Lalwani of Mount Abu and first round winner Ajay Srinivas of Bengaluru. Shillong’s rising star Banteilang Jerwa of TVS Racing, astride a RTR 200 won the Novice class again to take the championship lead. Teammate Sachin D came second ahead of Arun T. Jinendra Sangave of Kolhapur pocketed the Locals class while Shlok Ghorpade won the Junior SX1. Another home-town talent Akshat Hupale bagged the Junior SX2 and is leading the championship after two rounds.

Results: Round 2 – 2022 (provisional):

Rider of the Day: Rugved Barguje (Pune)

1. Class 1 SX 1 (A&B) Group A Stroke 2/4 Upto 500CC (Foreign Experts Class) (2 motos):

1. #9 Rugved Barguje (Pune); TVS RTR 300;

2. #36 Ikshan Shanbhag (Satara) TVS RTR 300;

3. #50 CD Jinnan (Thrissur); TVS RTR 300;

2. Class 2 SX 2 (A&B) Group A: Stroke 2/4 Upto 500CC (2 motos):

1.  # Manikandan K (Coimbatore) KX250;

2. # Bhumik Lalwani (Mount Abu); KX250;

3. #12 Ajay Srinivas (Bengaluru); KX250;

3. Class 3 NOVICE Group C:  Stroke 2/4 Upto 260CC:

1. #27 Banteilang Jerwa (TVS Racing – Shillong, Meghalaya) TVS RTR 200;

2. #40 Sachin D (Petronas TVS Racing) (Bengaluru); TVS RTR 200;

3. #73 Arun T (Hassan); Impulse;

4. Class 4 LOCALS Group B: Stroke 2/4 Upto 260CC:

1. #90 Jinendra S (Kolhapur) TVS RTR 200;

2. # Rajesh Swami, Impulse;

3. #6 Russel Jossy (Goa) Impulse;

5. Class 5 INDIAN EXPERTS Group C: Stroke 2/4 Upto 260CC:

1. #73 Arun T (Impulse) (Hassan); Impulse;

2. # Nataraj R (Petronas TVS Racing – Bengaluru) TVS RTR 200;

3. #40 Sachin D (Petronas TVS Racing- Bengaluru) TVS RTR 200;

6. Class 6 PRIVATE EXPERTS Group C: Stroke 2/4 Upto 260CC:

1. #73 Arun T (Impulse) (Hassan);

2. # Shailesh Kumar; Impulse;

3. # Yogesh P () Impulse;

7. Class 7 JR SX 1 Group A: Stroke 2/4 Upto 250CC (2 motos):

1. #33 Shlok Ghorpade (Satara) KTM 150;

2. #97  Jinendra Sangave (Kolhapur) KX250;

3. #52 Srujan J () KX100;

8. Class 8 JR SX 2 Group A: Stroke 2/4 Upto 100CC (for riders under-12 years):

1. #34 Akshat Hupale (Pune) KTM SX85;

2. #5 Bhairav C () Husqvarna;

3. # Srujan J () KTM SX65;