Chennai, January 8: An air of expectancy and suspense hangs over the fifth and concluding round of the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2025 as the country’s top riders and two-wheeler manufacturers launch a final dash to glory at the Madras International Circuit which will host the three-day event commencing on Friday, January 9, after a three-month break.
With the championship titles still undecided in all the six categories of the National Championship – the Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open, Pro-Stock 165-200cc Open, Stock 301-400cc (Novice), Super Stock Intermediate (165cc), Novice (Stock 165cc) and Girls (Stock 165cc) – the weekend is likely to witness the full range of possibilities and emotions as the National champions of the 2025 season that has spilled over into the New Year, will be identified and celebrated.
The situation is similar in the two One-Make championships that are part of the card of 21 races involving 139 entries. Barring Chennai’s Jagathishree Kumaresan, who has effectively sealed the title in the Girls (Apache RTR 200) class, champions in the other three categories of the Petronas TVS One-Make Championship – Open, Rookie, and Electric – are still to be decided. Likewise, the title in the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup (Honda CB 300F) is up for grabs.
One of the major talking points of the season is the fierce and gripping rivalry between Hyderbad’s 28-year-old Rahil Pillarisetty and Petronas TVS Racing’s lead rider 19-year-old Sarthak Chavan from Pune, in the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc category.
Rahil’s sagging racing career that started in 2017 when he won the title in the Novice class, received a big boost when he switched teams to RACR Castrol Power1 and the powerful Yamaha R3 this season after a few undistinguished seasons on a KTM. His five wins and three podiums in eight races this season not only underlined his talent but also the consistency in his performance that has placed him on top of the championship table, 21 points ahead of Sarthak Chavan.
Sarthak has enjoyed great success on the international stage this season as he finished third in the 2025 TVS Asia championship with one win and nine consecutive podiums. However, back home, he has spent most of the current season chasing Rahil, his race-spec TVS RR310 unable to match the Yamaha’s pace and superior manoeuvrability through the corners. This is in sharp contrast to 2024, his second season with Petronas TVS Racing, when Sarthak won nine of the 10 races to emerge champion while Rahil finished fourth in the championship without a single victory on his KTM.
This scenario besides a three-cornered battle for P3 in the championship involving veteran local ace Rajini Krishnan (RACR Castrol Power1), a former multiple National champion, and two teenagers from the Petronas TVS Racing garage, Chiranth Vishwanath from Bengaluru and Chennai’s Rakshith Dave, has injected a generous dose of excitement in the Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open category proceedings besides lighting up the Championship itself.
Another point of interest is that 23-year-old Lal Nunsanga (Motul Sparks Racing) from Aizawl, has a chance to become North-East region’s first-ever National champion if he can overhaul a deficit of 22 points to leader Hyderabad’s Rajender Beedani (MAI Racing) in the highly competitive Novice (Stock 165cc) category that routinely attracts 20-plus entries.
PRACTICE SESSIONS AND ONE RACE FOR NEPAL RIDERS
Meanwhile, a contingent of 12 riders, including two reserves, from Nepal will be seen in action over the weekend, taking part in two practice sessions on Saturday and one six-lap race on Sunday, astride the TVS Apache RTR 200. Their presence is part of the ‘Racing beyond borders’ initiative to strengthen regional cooperation with MMSC facilitating training-cum-competition in motorcycle racing and karting besides training marshals.
Chairman of the Event and Race Director Manoj Dalal said: “At the outset, we welcome the contingent of riders from Nepal who are part of the ‘Racing Beyond Borders’ initiative between the two neighbours. Hopefully, their participation in one race, besides two practice sessions, will contribute to their development as racers. That apart, the current season which started in June, has been among the best in recent years. Wheel-to-wheel racing up and down the grids, close finishes and intense rivalry in every category have been the standard. With a three-month break, the teams have had time to prepare well for the final round which I am sure will not be short on excitement and thrills as we look forward to identifying the champions for the 2025 season.”
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