Ten-time national drag champion Hemanth Muddappa begins 2023 in style with a double

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 1 : Reigning National champion in his class, Hemanth Muddappa, displayed his masterclass once again to begin his 2023 campaign in style as he bagged a double in the opening round of the MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Drag Championship 2023 at the Madras International Circuit (MIC) here on Sunday.

The Mantra Racing rider, a 10-time Indian National Drag Champion is the defending champion in the 1051cc to 1650cc Superbikes class.

On Sunday he claimed the honours as the 'Fastest Rider' of the day. On way to victory in the Four-stroke 1051cc to 1650cc Super Sport class, he defeated Sidharth Parmar of Mumbai with a handsome margin and then set the quickest time of Round 1, as he went on to win the Blue Ribbon event, the four-stroke Unrestricted class beating Mohammad Riyaz of Hyderabad by three-tenths of a second, a big boost for his 2023 season.

"When you touch rock bottom, it teaches you lessons that reaching mountain tops never will," was how the fitness freak explained his exploits today. Last year, he set out his focus on three titles but was able to win the Championship in only one class, which may have disappointed the Indian record holder, but nevertheless, Muddappa got his 10th National title in 2022.

The second of the four rounds will be orgsed by Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC) at the MIC on July 1 and July 2.

Provisional Results: (4stroke National Championship classes on Sunday)

4s 361 to 550cc Super Sport Indian: 1. Shah Rukh Khan, Mumbai (Mantra Racing) 11.891; 2. Mohammad Fazil, Bengaluru, 12.066; 3. Jason D Souza, Mumbai (Mantra Racing) 12.122.

4s 551 to 851cc Super Sport: 1. Mohammad Riyaz, Hyderabad, 8.461; 2. Sidharth Parmar, Mumbai, 8.611; 3. Hemanth Muddappa, Bengaluru (Mantra Racing) 8.772.

4s 1051 to 1650cc Super Sport: 1. Hemanth Muddappa, Bengaluru (Mantra Racing) 7.689; 2. Sidharth Parmar, Mumbai, 8.097; 3. Mohammad Riyaz, Hyderabad, 8.382.

4s Unrestricted: 1. Hemanth Muddappa, Bengaluru (Mantra Racing) 7.616; 2. Mohammad Riyaz, Hyderabad, 7.915; 3. Sidharth Parmar, Mumbai, 8.024.