Hemanth Muddappa begins Drag Nationals campaign in style

With a top-speed of 225.14 kmph, he took the honours in a field of 14 riders.I am thrilled to start the season on a positive note.

Mantra Racing's Hemanth Muddappa of Bengaluru won a triple, including the premier 1050cc and above class, to begin his 2022 campaign in the MMSC FMSCI Indian National Drag Racing Championship in style at the Madras International Circuit (MIC) here Sunday.

The nine-time national champion posted top times and won two national championship classes, the 4-stroke Super Sport 1051cc to 1650cc (Suzuki Hayabusa) class and the 4-stroke Super Sport 551-850cc category astride a Kawasaki ZX6R, besides the 851 to 1050cc race, which is declared as a support race this season. The Bengaluru rider, however, missed a chance to make a clean sweep, due to technical glitches, and could only finish seventh in the newly re-introduced Unrestricted Open class.

Despite a slight delay in his reaction time, Muddappa romped home to a sweet victory in 8.614 seconds as he made his debut in the 4-stroke 550 to 850cc class touching a top speed of 198.45 kmph. Shifting to his majestic Suzuki Hayabusa, he dominated the 1051cc to 1650cc race and began his title defense in style. With a top speed of 225.14 kmph, he took the honors in a field of 14 riders.

''I am thrilled to start the season on a positive note. Though I am happy to win a double as we take home a lot of positives, we continue to learn and will come back stronger in the next two rounds. Our goal is three national titles and we go back to work,'' Muddappa said.