Rajini ready for FIM Asian Road Racing Championship Chennai-leg

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Moto-Rev India’s K. Rajini will be carrying the local hopes when the third round of the FIM Asian Road Racing Championship begins here at the Irungattukottai track on Friday. The ARRC is the premier two-wheeler racing in the continent having supplied an array of riders to the MotoGP.

The Chennai leg will witness as many as 22 bikers from 10 teams with Chennai-based Moto-Rev India being the sole representative of the country in the Supersport 600cc category.

Apart from the superbikes, there will be support races in Underbone 115cc category and Honda CBR-250R (FIM Asia Cup) where two Japanese girls are vying for the honour with 15 men. Two qualifying sessions are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, while the main races will be held on Sunday.

M. Gautham (600cc and CBR 250-R), Sumit Lucas Topo, Sudhakar Kesavan, Harry Sylvester (all CBR 250-R) and K. Jegan (Underbone 115cc) are the other Indians in the fray.

Up against the factory-backed riders, Rajini knows he has his task cut out this weekend. But the multiple national champion is banking on his knowledge of the track to challenge the big names.

“My best lap at Chennai is 1:44.80s. If I manage to reproduce it, I can keep pace with the championship contenders. I know this circuit like the back of my hand, but the quality of the riders in the ARRC is such that they learn the racing line in no time and they start getting blisteringly pace with in just two sessions. Also, the Dunlop tires used in the series are completely different to the Pirellis I am using in the national championship. It will take me a little time to get used to it,” said Rajini.

At the end of two rounds, Katsuaki Fujiwara of Manual-Tech Beet Kawasaki Racing is on top of the leaderboard in the 600cc with 100 points followed by Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman of Boon Siew Honda Racing with 72 points. Doni Tata Pradita of Yamaha-Indonesia is third with 42 points.

In the exciting Underbone 115cc class, Rafid Topan of Yamaha is leading with 75 points.