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Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt Limited has revealed its 2018 CBR 250R motorcycle for this year’s Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup. Meanwhile, the INMRC starts today and six Honda riders will be taking part in the Super Sport 165cc class and the Pro Stock 165cc category. Among the six riders from Honda is 17-year old Senthil Kumar, a budding racer from Coimbatore will be a part of the Pro Stock 165 category of Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (INMRC). The Coimbatore lad had put an impressive performance in the Thai Talent Cup, finishing the first round in top 12. Rajiv Sethu, Sarath Kumar and Mathana Kumar will lead Honda’s 2018 campaign in the SuperSport 165cc category while Anish Shetty Senthil Kumar and Mithun Kumar will take charge of the Pro Stock 165cc category in the INMRC.
The Honda CBR 250R cup was first introduced in 2012 to spot the upcoming riding talent in the country. This season will be the first where two Sri Lankan riders will be taking part in the CBR 250R cup, in a bid to develop motorsports in neighboring countries.
Here is the full text of the official press release from HMSI:
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. is all set to charge up the domestic motorsports season which begins this weekend. This year, 6 Honda riders will be participating across various categories of Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship.
Honda has already kick-started the 2018 motorsports season with 1st Indian team (IDEMITSU Honda Racing India by T Pro Ten10) in Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC). The team includes second timer Rajiv Sethu and Anish Shetty who scored his first ever international points in Round 2 (Australia). In the 3rd round in Japan both riders finished in top 25. With 3 rounds to go Honda 2Wheelers India riders are all set to enthral the spectators in the next round in Chennai.
Identified for his performance in Honda One Make Race – CBR 150R Novice class 2017, 17 year old Senthil Kumar from Coimbatore, is a part of the Pro Stock 165 class of Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship. Participating in the Thai Talent Cup, Senthil showcased promising talent, finishing in the top 12 in the first round itself.
Speaking about Honda’s preparation for national championship and Honda India Talent Cup, Mr. Prabhu Nagaraj, Vice President, Brand & Communication, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Followed by a major direction shift towards motorsports, 2018 has started as a cracker of a motorsports season for Indian riders with a strong performance in Asia Road Racing Championship and Thai Talent Cup. Local boy Senthil will be joined by 5 other riders as a part of Honda Ten10 Racing team and are all set to fight for the podium in the opening round of national championship. In the Honda India Talent Cup – CBR 250R class, this time the focus is not only on the riders but also on the technicians training as a part of overall motorsports development. We will very soon have an exciting announcement for a second class of Honda India Talent Cup.”
Leading Honda’s campaign in the SuperSport 165 class will be Rajiv Sethu (Runner-up in 2017 national championship). Along with him will be Sarath Kumar (India’s first Moto3 rider) and Mathana Kumar (winner of 1st ever AVT Gold Cup Million Endurance Race in February 2018). In Pro Stock 165 class, Honda won the championship last year. Honda’s charge will be led by Anish Shetty (3rd in Pro Stock 165 class in 2017 season), joined by youngsters Senthil Kumar and Mithun Kumar.
IDEMITSU Honda India Talent Cup – CBR 250R class is a part of Honda 2Wheelers India’s vision to promote motorsports in the country. With 26 registrations received, 20 riders will race for podium glory in Round 1 this weekend. Growing in stature since the CBR 250R Cup was introduced in 2012, 2018 will be the first season where 2 Sri Lankan riders are participating as a part of support to develop motorsports in neighbouring countries.
