Raipur, 10 Nov. 2025: KTM Factory Racing’s Shlok Ghorpade produced a stunning comeback at the MRF MOGRIP FMSCI National Supercross Championship 2025, clinching a commanding double win in both motos of the premier SX1 (Group A) up to 500cc class at the Budhapara Stadium here on Sunday.
For the 18-year-old reigning champion from Pune, it was a statement of resilience and raw determination, a ride that marked his return to top form after a major crash last season that left him sidelined for months and forced him to miss a crucial round earlier this year. Ghorpade showed why he remains one of India’s brightest prospects but TVS’s Rugved Barguje still leads the championship with 134 points followed by teammate Ikshan Shanbhag with 131, just three behind, with two more rounds to go.
Promoted by Godspeed Racing under the aegis of The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) and organised by Western India Sports Association and the Chhattisgarh Motor Sports Association, the event attracted huge crowds of over 50,000 for both days put together. Ujjwal Deepak, President, Chhattisgarh Motor Sports Association: “It was a proud moment for Chhattisgarh to host a National Championship event and see such enthusiastic participation from riders and fans alike. With the support of the state government and FMSCI, we have shown that
motorsport can inspire awareness about road safety and responsible riding.” Atul Shrivastava, Secretary, Chhattisgarh Motor Sports Association: “As we mark 25 years of our journey, we are committed to building a culture of safety, sustainability, and sporting excellence. The overwhelming response from young fans motivates us to bring more national-level events to the state and nurture new talent for Indian motorsport.”
Ghorpade was in imperious form from the moment the gates dropped. He took the hole shot in the first moto and powered his KTM SXF 250 through for a comfortable finish, despite some stiff fight from TVS riders Rugved Barguje and Prajwal Vishwanath. In the second, he was overtaken at the first corner but he kept fighting and stayed at a striking distance and when opportunity presented with both his opponents fighting for space and lost ground, he went on the inside line near the berms to sneak in a cheeky victory. “Mastering Raipur’s fast yet tricky jumps at this massive track is not easy. I am learning and coming back from injury and winning today is definitely a bright spot. I am not satisfied with my performance, specially in the second moto, and I will come back strongly,” said the KTM star, whose aggression on the whoops and big jumps drew cheers from the crowd. Petronas TVS Racing’s Prajwal Vishwanath and Ikshan Shanbhag put up a spirited fight, finishing second and third overall, while hot contender and championship leader Rugved Barguje completed a strong Petronas TVS showing in fourth. But there was no denying that this was Ghorpade’s day. “It’s been a long, tough road back,” he said after the race. “After my accident last year, I had to rebuild from scratch — physically and mentally. I’m thankful to my team and everyone who stood by me. This win is for them,” he added.
In other classes, Manikandan K of Coimbatore topped SX2 (Group A) with a solid double victory on his Kawasaki KX250, and took a slender one-point lead over hitherto table topper Basil Sunny of Ernakulam. Another Kerala rider Wilmer Valentino came third. Among the Indian Experts (Group B), Banteilang Jyrwa of Shillong continued TVS Racing’s strong run with a perfect 40 points on his RTR200, edging out Coimbatore’s Kathiroli SK on the Hero Xpulse. Kathiroli earlier clinched the Class 3 Novice Group B winning the single moto.
Private Expert honours went to Abhi S Nath from Adat, Kerala, who dominated on his Hero Xpulse 200 to take a clear win ahead of Aizwal’s Shaun Chhangte. rider Jinendra Sangave of Ichalkaranje, Kolhapur district, impressed in the Junior SX1 (150–250cc) category with twin moto wins on his KX250, while Bhairav Gowda led a Bangalore 1–2 in the Junior SX2 (85cc) class. Gowda was flawless winning both motos. In the Junior SX3, Vismay Ranm, a Class 3 student of Air Force School, Jalahalli, Bengaluru won both the motos followed by Armaan Khan of Mysore and the young female rider Rida Sayed, finished third in both the motos. The tiny tots received huge applause during the prize distribution as their trophies were taller than the riders.
In the local (Group B) class, home favourite Gurvinder Singh Jabbal thrilled Raipur fans by taking top spot on his Hero Xpulse, sealing a memorable outing for the host city. For his commanding pace and emotional return to winning ways, Shlok Ghorpade was adjudged “Best Rider of the Race.”
With two rounds remaining in Visakhapatnam (Nov 30) and the finale in Kerala, the championship battle remains wide open, and if Raipur was any indication, Ghorpade’s resurgence could well rewrite the season’s script.
Provisional results: (Stroke 2/4):
Class 1 – SX1 (Group A) up to 500cc: 1. Shlok Ghorpade; 2. Prajwal Vishwanath; 3. Ikshan Shanbhag.
Class 2 – SX2 (Group A) up to 500cc: 1. Manikandan K; 2. Basil Sunny; 3. Wilmer Valentino.
Class 3 – Novice (Group B) up to 260cc: 1. Kathiroli S K; 2. Jayden W N; 3. Shailesh Kumar
Class 4 – Indian Experts (Group B) up to 260cc: 1. Banteilang Jyrwa; 2. Kathiroli S K; 3. Sachin D.
Class 5 – Private Experts (Group B) up to 260cc: 1. Abhi S Nath; 2. Shaun Chhangte; 3. Karthick A.
Class 6 – Junior SX1 (Group A) 150cc–250cc: 1. Jinendra Sangave; 2. Yash Shinde; 3. Akshat Hugale
Class 7 – Junior SX2 (Group A) up to 85cc: 1. Bhairav Gowda; 2. Chaitanya Joshi; 3. Neil Shetty.
Class 8 – Junior SX3 (Group A) up to 65cc: 1. Vismay Ram; 2. Armaan Khan; 3. Rida Sayed.
Class 9 – Local Class (Group B) up to 260cc: 1. Gurvinder Singh Jabbal; 2. Vasim Qureshi; 3. Atul Bhalothare.
Best Rider of the Race: Shlok Ghorpade (KTM Factory Racing – India)
