Shah Rukh Khan, Arfath, Madhan Kumar clinch 2023 title each; Jagathishree bags Ladies crown

INDIAinF1 Desk December 23, 2023

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Abdul Shaik in action at the Drag Nationals at MIC on Saturday. Photo by Karan Ravi

Chennai, 23 Dec 2023: Winning all the four races in four rounds, Mumbai’s Shah Rukh Khan (Mantra Racing) and Jagathishree Kumaresan from Chennai (One Racing) annexed the 2023 championship title in the 4-Stroke 361-550cc and Girls (4S 165cc, Novice) categories respectively, in the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship 2023 at the Madras International Circuit, Irungattukotta, near here on Saturday.

Meanwhile, two Bengalureans, Mohammed Arfath (2-Stroke 131-165cc Super Sport), Mohammed Fazil (2S 165cc Super Sport India), and Chennai’s Madhan Kumar R (2S Up to 130cc Super Sport) also topped the championship in their respective categories.

Jagathishree wins Ladies Class. All photos by Karan Ravi

It was hectic action at the MIC as the backlog of races from Round 2 in September that was affected by rains, were conducted along with the third and fourth rounds. The championship will conclude tomorrow (Sunday) when races of Rounds 3 and 4 in the remaining categories will be run.

2023 CHAMPIONS: From left Madhan Kumar, Shahrukh Khan, Jagathishree, Mohammed Fazil, Shahinsha (runner up), Mohammed Arfath. Photo by Srinivasa Krishnan

While the championships were being decided, the attention was on the “big boys” of drag racing. Bengaluru’s Hemanth Muddappa (Mantra Racing) notched a double by topping the Round-2 races in the Unrestricted and 1051-1650cc (Super Sport) categories ahead of his main rivals, Hyderabad’s Mohammed Riyaz and Mirza Jahangir, and fellow-Bengalurean Sugan Prasad.

The results (all 4-Stroke unless mentioned):

Madhan Kumar wins 2-Stroke 130cc Super Sport National title for 2023

ROUND-4

361-550CC: 1. Sharukh Khan (Mumbai, Mantra Racing) (11.380secs); 2. Jason D’Souza (Mumbai, Mantra Racing) (11.869); 3. Mohammed Fazil (Bengaluru) (12.044). National champion: Shah Rukh Khan. Team champions: Mantra Racing.

165cc (Super Sport Indian): 1. Saravanan E (Chennai) 13.806); 2. Shainsha R (Chennai) 13.953); 3. Bharathraj Jayaraman (Chennai, Gulf Rockers Racing) (14.016). National champion: Mohammed Fazil (Bengaluru). Team champions: Gulf Rockers Racing.

Girls (165cc, Novice): 1. Jagathishree Kumaresan (Chennai, One Racing) (16.131); 2. Soundari A (Chennai, AS Motorsports) (16.641); 3. Elakkiya (Coimbatore, AS Motorsports) (16.705). National champion: Jagathishree Kumaresan. Team champions: One Racing.

2-Stroke 131-165cc (Super Sport): 1. Mohammed Arfath (Bengaluru) (12.828); 2. Abdul Shaikh (Bengaluru) (12.890); 3. Ashok S (Bengaluru) (13.017). National champion: Mohammed Arfath.

2-Stroke Up to 130cc (Super Sport): 1. Aravind Ganesh (Chennai, ACCSYS India Rookies Racing) (13.221); 2. Madhan Kumar R (Chennai) (13.318); 3. Suresh Kumar R (Chennai) (14.508). National champion: Madhan Kumar R. Team champions: ACCSYS India Rookies Racing.

Support Race (166-225cc): 1. Balasubramaniam R (Chennai) (13.757); 2. Badhusha M (Chennai) (14.079); 3. Madhan Kumar R (Chennai) (14.683).

ROUND-3

Madhan Kumar in action. Photo by Karan Ravi

361-550cc (Super Sport Indian): 1. Shah Rukh Khan (Mumbai, Mantra Racing) (11.409); 2. Jason D’Souza (Mumbai, Mantra Racing) (11.929); 3. Abdul Shaikh (Bengaluru) (12.229).

165cc (Super Sport Indian): 1. Shahinsha R (Chennai) (14.088); 2. Mohammed Fazil (Bengaluru) (14.181); 3. Bharathraj Jayaraman (Chennai, Gulf Rockers Racing) (14.187).

Girls (165cc, Novice): 1. Jagathishree Kumaresan (Chennai) (16.089); 2. Soundari A (Chennai) (16.676); 3. Lani Fernandez (Puducherry) (16.722).

2-Stroke 135-165cc (Super Sport): 1. Mohammed Arfath (Bengaluru) (12.933); 2. Mustafa Siraj Khan (Bengaluru) (12.988); 3. Ashok S (Bengaluru) (13.046).

2-Stroke 130cc (Super Sport): 1. Madhan Kumar R (Chennai) (13.118); 2. Aravind Ganesh R (Chennai, Accsys India Rookies Racing) (13.426); 3. Mohammed Arfath (Bengaluru) (13.523).

Support Race (166-225cc): 1. Balasubramaniam R (Chennai) (13.603); 2. Badhusha M (Chennai) (13.813); 3. Madhan Kumar R (Chennai) (14.510).

ROUND-2

Unrestricted: 1. Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) (07.808); 2. Mohammed Riyaz (Hyderabad) (07.972); 3. Sugan Prasad SP (Bengaluru) (08.239).

1051-1650cc (Super Sport): 1. Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) (07.779); 2. Mohammed Riyaz (Hyderabad) (08.012); 3. Mirza Jahangir (Hyderabad) (08.210).

551-850cc (Super Sport): 1. Mohammed Riyaz (Hyderabad) (08.504); 2. Mirza Jahangir (Hyderabad) (08.748); 3. Mehanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) 08.850).

361-550cc (Super Sport): 1. Shahrukh Khan (Mumbai, Mantra Racing) (11.505); 2. Mohammed Fazil (Bengaluru) (11.937); 3. Altaf Khan (Hyderabad) (12.134).

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