Burning Rubber

Publication: The Man
Date: August 2011

Abstract: Sarath Kumar, India's first and only Moto GP rider just wants to race more than anything else...

Article:

Sarath Kumar, India's very own MotoGP rider is a youngster who dropped out of school to pursue his dream of racing. His cousin Rajini, who was already a rider, encouraged him to burn rubber on two wheels on the track in Chennai. The first time he ever hit the track it was on the powerful 125cc TVS, the entry-level bike for novice riders that weighs a hefty 73kgs and does a top speed of 240 kmph. He did so well in that first round that he was picked up by TVS Racing to represent the team to the national Championship, which he won.

MotoGP is the 18-race series over 14 countries across 4 continents, with 32 riders vying for pole position. Currently with 9 races done there is still a lot to look forward to, with its culmination in November in Italy.

Ramji Govindarajan, with dreams of making India relevant on the MotoGP circuit saw the potential in Sarath Kumar and brought him into his team Ten 10 in 2009. Sarath rode the Yamaha R15 150cc fully modified; and finished overall in the fourth position in the National Championship.The following year, once again, he won the National Motorcycle Racing Championship in Chennai, this time on a Yamaha R15 165cc fully modified for the expert category.

The 19-year-old youngster raring to race is currently stymied due to a lack of funds. The old bogey of no sponsorships for any sport other than cricket rears its ugly head even as Sarath continues to practice and keep in shape. He cycles 80 kms a day and swims for an hour every alternate day. He works out in the gym for about 4-5 hours and keeps his mind strong with yoga. Eating light meals every few hours takes care of his diet. "The problem is that in other countries, people love different sports," he says. "In India everybody is interested only in cricket and so there are sponsors only for this one sport. It is very difficult to be a rider in this country. I hope things look up for riders after the Buddh International racing track is completed for F1."

Practice sessions are possible only at weekends when he steps on the gas and thunders along the racing track on 600cc Moto 2-level machine, taking curves almost parallel to the ground at a mind boggling 165kmph. The safety doesn't bother him. "The gear is specially made with a view to safety," he says." That's all taken care of; custom made light weight kangaroo leather fabricated to GP specifications and approval." On weekdays, the track is often booked by automobile corporations for their R & D sessions.

"The Aragon circuit in Spain is quite difficult. Every corner is blind and either uphill or downhill. That one is really tough. The Chennai track is not so interesting for me anymore because I know every turn and corner here. Besides, the bike I ride on the International circuit is an Aprilliya which is a change from what I use here. Portugal has a special place in my heart because that's where I qualified for the first time. Qatar was disappointing and a horrifying experience because I lost out by a millisecond. Can you imagine! I was devastated."

"In my free time, I enjoy gaming on Play Station 2. My favorite is Moto GP," he laughs. "I love Gods of War, too. I love watching movies." HE thought Vinai Thandi Varuvaya was great. "Ajith is my favorite star. Asin is really beautiful and she's a great actress, too," he admits after much prodding. "I love going to the beach with my friends. We just hand around there or in malls. My girlfriend thinks I'm a hero because she finds what I do very glamorous."