TVS Young Media Racer Program – Final Race

TVS Young Media – Final Race

An idea coupled with action will always get better results than expected

The second race at MMRT was a blast, coming in the top 5 with no racing background at all had been quite a boost for me. We would have had a chance of racing 4 times in 2019 but it was cut off to 3. So BIC was not happening and MMRT was the place again for the last race. It is better late than never to log all the details right? So here’s how I got at least one trophy back home from the TVS Young Media Racer Program.

The last two races I had been in the top 5 and scored a decent number of points. The gap between the second and the third race was quite a bit and everyone had the time to get fit. As we all know, everyone just rather focused on the work with barely any fitness regime and reached Chennai just as healthy as they were, pun intended! This time my aim was to at least get a podium and I was very determined in getting the lines as good as possible. Wasn’t sure on having the best power-to-weight ratio though.

The last time during the practice, my timing was 2:24.72 and since it had been quite some time, I thought my timings would be similar. But surprisingly I performed better and improved my practice session by 3 seconds for the fastest lap. It dropped down to 2:21.965 and I was pumped to keep the pace up for qualifying. This was almost qualifying pace coming in the practice session and I got unnecessarily excited. As the qualifying came later in the day, the excitement and tiredness got to me and I was 1 second slower at 2:22.190.

Performing badly in the qualifying round while still having the capabilities to do better hits you hard! Since I was slower while everyone improved their timings in the second session I was worried that I might miss the podium this time too. After coming back, we got in the pool while discussing the mistakes we all did on the track; I understood that I could improve my braking in the last 4 corners. We all had a good dinner post the cooldown session and as I went back to the room I just kept thinking about the lines and braking points.

It is at that one point where the competition kicks the adrenaline to win

Last time I was able to get the first corner entry right by going flat out and my weight helped me to be on the bike as is. But in the last 4 corners I was braking early and I had planned to improve that by targeting the braking points of the fastest riders. I was again in a lonely 6th place but I had to keep the pace up and have a good start to stick around with the leaders.

We took off right at the counter and I had a brilliant start of the race. I picked up 2 places while entering the first corner itself! I was in fourth place while the guy riding third took had taken pole. I was able to stick to the top 3 until the corner 6 which is the start of the parabola. As we were about to complete the parabola, the rider at the pole position crashed and I backed off a little as we were pushing too hard in the first lap itself. Lucky for me I was in the top 3 while the 4th rider was almost 1 corner behind and hence we all skimped on pushing the bikes.

I was happy at the 3rd place until the one behind overtook me in the 5th lap. I understood I was going too slow and I started chasing as I could see the podium going away from me! The first two riders were not pushing as much while I was having a cat-fight for the 3rd place. I overtook him at the same spot I was pushed behind and I started running away. It was the end of the race, just 4 corners to go and as we entered the slowest chicane of the circuit, I overtook the rider at the 2nd place but almost lost my front while switching the side.

I was in 2nd place for a second maybe while the cat-fight turned into a dog-fight for the finish! The rider in the 2nd position was light and he overtook right before the finish line while I finished in a safe 3rd place. Finally, I had the podium while the rider in the 4th place was less than a second behind me! This is how I got a trophy back home but not the championship as I tied in the third place for the points. Nevertheless, it was an achievement for me while a good race for the viewers too as the fight for the podium was very intense!