the goan I network
MARGAO
The 2nd round of the 19th edition of the MRF MoGrip FMSCI National Super Cross Championship will be held on April 15, opposite to SAG Artificial Turf, Fatorda. The action starts at 10 am and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai will be the chief guest for the opening event.
Organised by Godspeed Racing in association with Goa Motor Cross Sports and Sports Authority of Goa, the event has attracted about 128 riders from across the country. Kerala’s Harith Noah (Team TVS Racing), Kalmohan (TVS Racing), Yuvraj Kondeshmukh (Ajmera Racing), Natraj R (Team TVS Racing), Jagdesh Kumar (Impluse Coimbatore), Mahesh VM (Angata Racing), Sarthal Chavan (Angata Racing, Kolhapur), Murali CP (Ernakulam) and Ankush Rao (Goa), who had proved their mettle in Round 1 at Kochi are some of the stars in fray on Sunday.
Goa’s Javed Sheikh, Zabi Mulla, Irfan Killedar and Ahhimanyu will also be keen to showcase their daredevil skills to the spectators. All the winners of first round in Kochi have confirmed participation for the Goa event. Among the top teams are the factory-backed Team TVS Racing. The riders will compete in seven categories and on a technically demanding track.
The administrative checks and practice sessions are scheduled on Saturday. The Fatorda track is one of its kind 700m dirt track, featuring two table tops and mounds of dirt piled up at a height, including 22 jumps. On Thursday, there were rows of mean machines; the sound of angry motors, bikers prepping to race, and a general air of speed and machismo. Team TVS Racing could well aim for the titles if their RTR machines perform to the expectation on the unique track that will see riders compete in second round race.
Speaking at a press conference, Shyam Kothari, former champion and president of Godspeed Racing, Pune said, “As a sport, super cross is gaining in popularity in India. Support and facilities for the riders have started coming up at various locations. It’s time to give the riders and spectators along with sponsors a better platform for racing. Good tracks, facilities, wide range of branding for sponsors and last but not the least, a lot of respect to the riders.”
Godspeed Racing intends to take this very exciting form of motorsport to different destinations every year. The National Super Cross Championship is the biggest off-road two-wheeler championship, which is being taken to different cities by the seven-time national champion Kothari, who has held the rights of organising the championship for about a decade now.
While Kochi will host the first round, the other cities that have been zeroed on are Coimbatore, Jaipur, Nashik, Indore and Goa, not necessarily hosting the rounds in this order. The 19th edition of National Super Cross has attracted almost 100 participants across the eight categories.
“Due to the popularity of the JR SX, the Juniors class, which Godspeed introduced a few years ago and looking at its subsequent growth, we have now decided to give these budding racers a chance to up their game and graduate to the next level depending on their age,” said Kothari.
National Super Cross categories: Class 1 SX1 Foreign Expert Class Group A, Class 2 Novice Group C, Class 5 Indian Experts Group C, Class 4 Locals Group B, Class 6 Private Experts Group C, Class 7 SX2 Group A, Class 8 Junior SX 1 and Junior SX 2 Group A/B/C/D.
