Tanveer back on top; Rajendra docked road penalty; Tanika stars again: 2w Rally Nationals

Chikkamagaluru, 28 May 2023: Former National champion, Mysuru’s Abdul Wahid Tanveer of Petronas TVS Racing, who became the first Indian to win a class in an international rally, was in his elements once again as he conquered the premier class in the Rally of Chikmagalur, the second round of the MRF MoGrip fmsci National Rally Championship for 2-wheelers here on Sunday.

The TVS talent won the top Superbike Pro-Expert Group A class clocking a time of 54 minutes, 08.106 seconds as he relegated defending champion and teammate Rajendra RE of Shivamogga, who was docked a one minute, 10-second liaison penalty for the transport section, that did him in. Yuva Kumar, the celebrated Hero MotoSports is back on the podium after a long time as he took the third place. Abdul Tanveer won his class in the Merzouga Rally in 2019.

The Petronas TVS Racing team riders dominated the proceedings once again winning the top-four Overall places with Imran Pasha, who bagged victories in the first two rounds, in third Overall place followed by a superb ride from Sachin Ignatius D in fourth. However, T Arun of Hero MotoSports prevented a top-5 sweep in the overall honours, which is a norm for TVS of late. TVS riders won three classes. It was a stunning ride from Imran Pasha who punched above his weight on a humble bike but the TVS Apache became a tiger in his hands.

Tanika Shanbagh, another young Hero MotoSport talent, continued to fly the Women in Motorsports flag winning the Ladies class again. Tanika, who won the National Sprint Championship ladies title in 2022 is keen to add another National title this year to her kitty. Though, the daughter of former rally champion Shanbagh, was streets ahead, she lost stage win to former National champion (road racing) Ryhana Bee in Special Stage 3 and 6. But her Overall 40th place beating about 60 male riders is quite an achievement. Ryhana Bee came second followed by Fazeela U of Palakkad, who is supported by Vamcy Merla of Kalyani Group in Andhra Pradesh, a former Promoter of 4w INRC.

Tanika, the young talent from Satara, is now leading the championship winning both the rounds, thus far, in the Ladies class while others, also keeping their slate clean after two rounds are, Nataraj R in the Group A Superbike Expert class, Star of Karnataka Darpan Darshan of Shivamogga, TVS’ pair of Imran Pasha and Syed Asif Ali in Supersport 260cc and Scooter class, respectively, and the new-found talent from Kulu, Nitish Bharadhwaj in the Group D 450cc Super Stock class.

Defending Ladies champion Aishwarya Pissay moved to the top class and finished fourth among five Pro-expert bikes. Preparing for Dakar 2024, the 2019 World Baja winner beat 81 male riders. She was on a superior 450cc TVS Apache rally bike as she competed with men on equal footing.

In the Supersport 400cc Group B, Rohit Shinde of Baramati turned the tables on first-round winner Russel Jossey, who had to be content with a second place and Syed Aquib of Chikkamagaluru took the final spot on the podium.

In the Supersport 550cc Group B Class 6, Bengaluru’s Mohammed Zaheer won beating reigning champion Naresh “Bruce Lee” VS while Jeemon Anthony, the supercop from Kochi took a third place keeping himself in points. The first round winner Arun Joy logged a DNF in Stage 2.

In a fight between TVS teammates in the scooter class, traditionally dominated by TVS NTorq, Syed Asif Ali once again came on top with Karthik Naidu taking second place. Despite a 20-second penalty, Goutham N of Bengaluru took third place beating Aprilia JB Racing teammate Pinkesh Thakkar, who took a podium in the first round.

Chalass Bose of Kottayam, the defending champion in Super Sport 130 cc – Group B class shifted to 165 class as the SS 130cc event is replaced by a new class, as 2023 championship saw the introduction of a Super Stock class for upto 450cc Group D bikes, where Nitish Bharadwaj of Kulu in Himachal Pradesh took the honours in the second round repeating his success in the first round at Coorg.

The National Rally Championship for two-wheelers powered by time-keepers Zeitmesser, is meticulously organised by Motor Sports Club of Chikmagalur (MSCC), under the dynamic leadership of Farooq Ahmed, a three-time Overall winner of INRC for 4-wheelers and former Vice-President of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (fmsci). Godspeed Racing of Pune headed by 7-time National champion Shyam Kothari are the Promoters. Dilip Jain, ably assisted by other team members pulled off another National event but the Club is famous for hosting the four-wheeler INRC for decades.

Vamcy Merla supports 25 riders, awards cash for podium stars

Meanwhile, Vamcy Merla Sports Foundation has supported 25 riders and also awarded cash prizes for those who stood on the podium. Merla has also announced and supported riders for the first round held in Coorg. Vamcy Merla Sports Foundation is also in the process of supporting Aishwarya Pissay for Dakar 2024.

Second round Podium stars from the select group of 25 riders: Nataraj 1 st Group 1A Rs. 50,000; Nitish Bharadwaj 1st Group D Rs. 50,000; Ajin Abraham 2nd 165 class Rs.25,000; Challas Bose 3rd place Rs.15,000; Naresh VS 2nd 550 class Rs.25,000; Jeemon 3rd 550 class Rs.15,000; Russel Jossy 2nd 400 class Rs.25,000; Rehana 2nd Women’s class Rs.25,000; Fazeela 3rd Women’s Class Rs.15,000; Total Prize Money given away to nine riders is Rs.2,45,000.

Provisional Results:

Class 1: Superbike Pro-Expert Group A: 1. Abdul Waheed Tanveer (Petronas TVS Racing) (54 minutes, 08.106 seconds); 2. Rajendra RE (TVS) (55:35.192, including 1min, 10sec liaison/road penalty); 2. Yuva Kumar (Hero MotoSports) (57:19.377);

Class 2 Superbike Expert Group A: 1. Nataraj R (Bengaluru) (57:41.574); 2. Aman Pawde (Nagpur) (59:18.192); 3. Sinan Francis (Ernakulam) (59:20.892).

Class 10 Star of Karnataka: 1. Darpan Darshan (Shivamogga) (1:05:50.303); 2. Kiran Kumar S (Mysore) (1:06:56.178 incl. 10-sec penalty); 3. Madhusudhan Suresh (Shivamogga) (01:07:01.954).

Class 3 Supersport 165cc Group B: 1. Abrar Pasha (Shivamogga) (1:01:47.827); 2. Ajin Abraham (Kottayam) (1:02:46.695); 3. Chalass K Bose (Kottayam) (1:03:58.263).

Classs 4: Supersport 260 Group B: 1. Imran Pasha (TVS) (56:48.770); 2. Sachin Ignatius D (TVS) (57:04.271); 3. T Arun (Hero Motosports)  (57:12.135);

Class 5: Supersport 400 Group B: 1. Rohit Shinde (Baramati) (1:02:04.453); 2. Russel Jossey (Mumbai) (1:03:17.438); 3. Syed Aquib (Chikkamagaluru) (01:04:48.101).

Class 6: Supersport 550 Group B: 1. Mohammed Zaheer (Bengaluru) (1:02:07.125); 2. Naresh VS (Bengaluru) (01:03:00.904); 3. Jeemon Anthony (Kochi) (01:03:16.858);

Class 7: Scooters up to 210cc Group B: 1. Syed Asif Ali (TVS) (1:05:12.797); 2. N Karthik Naidu (TVS) (1:05:24.794); 3. Goutham N (Aprilia JB Racing, Bengaluru) (1:09:42.098).

Class 8: Women’s Class Group B: 1. Tanika Shanbhag (Hero MotoSports, Satara) (1:06:10.932); 2. Rehana Bee A (Chennai) (1:07:18.812); 3. Fazeela U (Palakkad) (1:12:03.957).

Class 9: Super Stock up to 450cc Group D: 1. Nitish Bharadwaj (Kulu) (1:03:02.882); 2. Mohammed Arshad (Thrissur) (1:03:31.897); 3. Sabarish R (Coimbatore) (1:03:41.690).