After venturing into the business of setting up fitness gyms and a licensing deal for a perfume named after him, India cricket captain MS Dhoni has now launched his own bike racing team, to be called Mahi Racing Team, a top official involved with the developments said. Dhoni, along with his business partner Arun Pandey’s promoted Rhiti Sports have floated a joint venture company, called Rhiti N Motor Sports. Rhiti Sports holds majority stake in the company, while Telugu actor Nagarjuna and Nandish Domlur, a doctor, are the other investors in the venture. Details of the shareholding pattern were not available.
Arun Pandey, Chairman and MD of Rhiti N Motor Sports, said the team will make its India debut in March 2013, likely at the Buddh International Circuit.
Rhiti Sports is in talks with corporates to ink multiple sponsorship deals. Pandey said the team is close to signing at least three big-ticket sponsors, though he declined to divulge details. “We are planning a detailed marketing strategy for this venture; apart from sponsors, we will be organising annual talent hunts to popularise the sport further,” Pandey said. Though the initial investments made in the team are not known, the sponsorships could be up to Rs 1,000 crore, an official close to the developments said.
Riders in Dhoni’s team include 19-year-old French sportsman Florian Marino and UK’s Dan Linfoot.Dhoni’s team is already competing in FIM Supersport World Championship, having debuted in the Czech Republic. The Supersport championship is associated with the World Superbike championship and is sanctioned by FIM - motorbiking's international governing body.In April this year, Dhoni made his debut in the commercial fitness space, by launching a chain of gyms under the name Sportsfit, on an investment of Rs 1,500-2,000 crore over a period of five years.
