2023 TVS Young Media Racer Program: The Lights Go Out!

When I came back from the training/qualification session at MMRT, I was determined to work on my fitness. I did. Sort of. I had around 50 days, but ultimately, I only ended up doing Yoga for 15 of those. I chose Yoga, as it would help me develop mental calmness and physical flexibility, both of which are crucial in racing. So, did it help? More than you can imagine! The first challenge that I had to face was the venue itself – Kari Motor Speedway. Having practised on the race-spec Apache RTR 200 4V at MMRT, I had become comfortable with both the motorcycle and the track. However, Kari demanded that I take a step back and familiarize myself with it. Our schedule for the weekend was set – a 25-minute practice session on Saturday morning, followed by a 15-minute qualification session at the end of the day, all of which would culminate in an 8-lap race on Sunday afternoon.

During practice, I gradually increased my pace, and by the third lap, I was feeling fast. Something significant also happened during this session – I managed to achieve my first knee-down! And lap after lap, my pace ramped up. I was now sliding my toe-slider, which told me two things. I knew I wasn’t fast enough, which means my body position was off somehow. How? I didn’t know. So, I decided to dial it down a notch to avoid any unexpected mishaps. After the practice, I knew I had gained pace over other riders, and it showed. Last time around in Chennai, I finished in ninth position, but now I was the seventh fastest rider.

Qualification marked the last session of the day, and by then, fatigue had started to take its toll on me. A day at the race track can be physically taxing, especially when the sun is relentless, as it was that day. I hopped onto the motorcycle for the last time that day, eagerly waiting for other riders to go on so I could have a clear track to myself. At the time, it felt like the right way to go, but in hindsight, it was a wrong move.

As I went around the circuit, I could feel my stamina waning, and without any reference points to follow, I suddenly lost all focus on my lines. I didn’t want to unnecessarily push and fall, so I dialled it down a notch. I was able to pull together a lap of sorts, but I was placed 11th on the grid. A sense of disappointment echoed through me. It was a classic case of one step forward, two steps back. What’s more, every other rider had bettered their practice times, while I failed to match their progress.

The next day was the much-anticipated race. Starting from the 11th, I knew that a perfect start was essential for me. However, what I didn’t know was that my bad luck awaited me. As the countdown to the race began, the 5-minute board appeared, followed by the 3-minute board, and then the 1-minute board. It was supposed to be followed by the 30-second and 5-second boards, but to my utter dismay, I completely missed them. And suddenly, the lights were on. At that moment, I realized that I was yet to shift into first gear. A gulp of anxiety rushed through me. It seems that the situation was about to turn dire very quickly.

But you see, throughout the entire weekend, I had dedicated myself to practising my race starts on the race-spec TVS Apache RTR 200 4V every time I was out on the track. And despite the urgency of the situation, I managed to put my bike into gear, give the engine a handful of throttle, and released the clutch as the lights went out. It felt like a beautifully orchestrated symphony of motion. I got one of the cleanest of starts on the grid, so much so that I was on the tail of the lead pack by C1! I knew it wasn’t going to last because I was on the inside, but still, I made up a good number of positions.

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As for the race, it flew by ever so quickly. I was battling and constantly moving towards the last of the pack, and slowly and steadily, people in the front started falling, allowing me to gain positions. My strategy was simple – don’t fall and make it to the finish line. And it worked. I had a few good battles in the middle of the pack, and honestly, I was delighted at finishing the race. And later I learnt that I had finished eighth. Those fifteen minutes after I got off the motorcycle will remain the happiest moments of my life! I couldn’t stop grinning! And what’s more, the light fitness routine ensured that I didn’t have any kind of muscle pain after a weekend of racing. Honestly, the plan now is to slowly and steadily improve on both fronts – fitness and skill – so that when the lights go out at the MMRT next time, I won’t have to make up from the start.