Big grids likely for National motorcycle championship

With over 200 entries and 10 categories, including three single-make series, the MMSC-SIDVIN Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship, commencing at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore Friday, is expected to have big grids. This year’s series sees a few changes, notably the introduction of a manufacturer’s championship while TVS joins Honda and Yamaha in a separate one-make championship. At a media conference here Tuesday, FMSCI president Vicky Chandhok said: “We have had a record number of entries in 2012, with 220 entries already received thus far from all across India.” By way of incentives to the riders, Rs 3,50,000 is being offered as cash awards for each round and the Championship winners going home with Rs.7.75 lakh. A total of Rs.25 lakh is being awarded to the riders through the season. Making its debut in the championship is the 165cc Group C (limited modification) class for the Open category riders and also the start of the manufacturer’s championship for all classes. As in MotoGP, the manufacturer of each competitor will accumulate points as per the finishing order of the bikes in each race. The highest points scoring manufacturer at the end of the season credit themselves with the National title in each racing class. The championship itself is far more structured in 2012 with the 130cc and 165cc Group D (unmodified) classes conducted for the novice riders. These classes serve as an ideal platform for riders progressing to 165cc Group C and Group B (fully modified) classes. The Group A (imported) Superbikes up to 600cc will again be the showpiece of the championship that comprises of five rounds of double-headers for a total of 10 races. In the one-make championship, TVS will run their brand new Apache RTR 180 bikes while Yamaha will be introducing YZF R15 Version 2 that will be fitted with Daytona Race kits while Honda’s CBF Stunner and CBR 150R will be seen in action with a team championship while the novices will be on the Twister (non-championship). The championship schedule is: June 1-3 (Coimbatore), June 29-July 1 (Chennai), Aug 10-12 (Chennai), Sep 7-9 (Chennai) and Sep 28-30 (Chennai).