Pune: Pune will host the season-opener round of the five-leg MRF National Supercross Championship at the Amanora Park Town in Hadapsar here on Sunday, April 29.
Organised by Sportstrek, the national supercross for the second year in a row is being held at Amanora, which has joined the national riding event as ‘Venue Partner’.
Pune, which hosted the final round of the 2011 championship, saw KP Aravind winning the Foreign Open class. This year the city has been given a chance to open the season of the biggest off-road 2-wheeler racing event in the country that is conducted under the aegis of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI).
“Off-road racing in India has seen steady growth in participation over the years. In India there are about 150 professional riders according to latest data available with us,” said Shyam Kothari, the former national champion and the President of Sportstrek, which has been conducting the national supercross for 11 years in a row now.
“The maximum surge of new participation will be in Privateers and Novice classes,” Kothari added.
The TVS Racing Team will be the strongest this year with the defending champion Aravind leading their charge in the Foreign Open Class. Aravind is just back from riding some races in Sri Lanka. Joining TVS Racing this year will be Harith Noah, who won the Privateer Foreign Class in 2011.
Besides the MRF being the title sponsors, the TVS Motor Company, Sidvin (Oil and Gas) and Bybre by Brembo are the co-sponsors for the national supercross. The Pune round will see a new co-sponsor, Woodland, as ‘Apparel Partner’.
2012 RACE SCHEDULE
Round 1: Pune – April 29
Round 2: Ahmedabad – May 6
Round 3: Jaipur – November 18
Round 4: Chandigarh – November 24
Round 5: Cochin – Date to be announced.