Date:01/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/01/stories/2008090160002000.htm

Sport - Racing : Motor

Sharan Vikram and Aditya Patel corner glory

Sports Reporter

DOUBLE DELIGHT: Aditya Patel came up with a stirring show to clinch two titles on Sunday.

CHENNAI: Untimely but welcome showers failed to douse the vivacity of local racers Saran Vikram and Aditya Patel who cornered glory in the fourth round of the J.K. Tyre National racing championship at the Madras Motor Track, near here on Sunday.

While Sharan finished first in both Formula LGB Swift class races, Aditya roared home in both races in the Formula Rolon category.

Starting from pole in the first race, the 18-year-old Sharan maintained his lead from start to finish. He had little trouble in holding off Delhi racer Karthik Shankar (TVS Girling) and Sudanand Rajan (WSRF with Leela) who came in second and third respectively.

With the grid reversed for the second race, Sharan was fourth off the blocks, while Rayomand Banajee (WSRF with Leela) took the pole.

The position reversal had scant effect on Sharan as he manoeuvred ahead early in the race and took the chequered flag again.

Supreme display

In the premier Formula Rolon Chevrolet class, defending champion Aditya of Team Speed NK Racing reasserted his supremacy by coming in first despite a stiff challenge from Gaurav Dalal of Team Red Rooster.

Gaurav overcame his unimpressive fifth-on-the-grid start to join the leader pack only to be pipped to the post by Aditya.

The second reverse grid race saw another close contest between the two with Aditya prevailing by a hair’s breadth at the finish line.

The eagerly awaited Super Bikes class witnessed growling 600cc and 1,000cc monsters take to the asphalt with the promise of a close race. As has become his practice, Bangalore speed-demon Praveen Keerthi exhibited impeccable control and registered a double win in the 600 cc category.

The 1,000cc race rung true to initial forecasts of a humdinger, with Mazher Ahmed and Alok Shashidhar kissing the curves and racing knee-pad to knee-pad for most of the eight laps.

Both races however belonged to Mazher as Alok finished second best on each occasion.

The results: Formula Rolon: Race 1: 1. Aditya Patel (15:14:680), 2. Gaurav Dalal (15:17:371), 3. Akhil Khushlani (15:18:336). Race 2: 1. Aditya Patel (14:51:427), 2. Gaurav Dalal (14:54:959), 3. Karthick Shankar (15:21:217).

Formula Swift: Race 1: 1. Saran Vikram (15:38:518), 2. Karthick Shankar (15:44:799), 3. Sudanand Rajan (15:56:809). Race 2: 1. Saran Vikram (15:10:294), 2. S. Narendran (15:27:059), 3. Rayomand Banajee (15:29:883).

Super Bikes: 600cc: Race 1: 1. Praveen Keerthi (15:49:872), 2. Gopinathan (16:17:918), 3. Venkat (17:09:001). Race 2: 1. Praveen Keerthi (16:23:065), 2. Gopinathan (16:44:177), 3. Venkat (17:15:026).

Super Bike: 1,000cc (eight laps): Race 1: 1. Mazher Ahmed 16:10: 108, 2. Alok Shashidhar (16:10:348), 3. Vikram (16:44:559). Race 2: 1. Mazher Ahmed (16:23:065), 2. Alok Shashidhar (16:23:984), 3. Vikram (16:31:475).

Saloon cars: Race 1: 1. B. Vijayakumar (19:22:361), 2. C. Rajaram (19:25:070), 3. M. Sivaramakrishnan (19:41:566). Race 2: 1. B. Vijayakumar (16:47:831), 2. D. Vidyaprakash (16:50:667), 3. M. Sivaramakrishnan (16:55:439).

Star Cars: Race 1: 1. Mazdayar Vatcha (20:14:315), 2. Deepak Chinnappa (20:27:622), 3. Byram Godrej (21:04:483). Race 2: 1. Mazdayar Vatcha (18:44:463), 2. Deepak Chinnappa (18:51:148), 3. Vignesh Devaraj (18:58:003).