Honda India announces team for Asia Road Racing Championship 2022

The FIM Asia Road Racing Championship has been one of the premier modified production motorcycle based championships in the region for a long time, similar to British Superbike in England and MotoAmerica in the USA. After a brief absence of two years because of the pandemic, the championship returns in 2022. Since 2017, Honda India has been fielding a team of young Indian riders in the championship, as it hopes to uncover the best Indian motorcycle racing talent.

For the 2022 season, the team will field two riders in the Asia Production 250cc class, riding modified versions of the Honda CBR250RR. Rajiv Sethu, who has been with the team in the series since 2017 returns, along with Senthil Kumar, who first joined the championship in 2019. The two riders are accomplished within India, having won several INMRC series’ in their career. The goal for both riders will be to finish within the top 10.

Honda is also fielding two Indian riders in the Thailand Talent Cup 2022. The championship acts as a feeder series that helps young riders be spotted by higher levels of championships. Representing the Idemitsu Honda Racing team in this cup will be 16 year old Kavin Quintal from Chennai, who won Honda’s own India Talent Cup in 2021, and 15-year-old Sarthak Chavan from Pune, who had won the India Talent Cup in 2020. They will be riding the Moto3 spec machine, the Honda NSF250R.

Speaking about the announcement, Atsushi Ogata, MD, President & CEO - Honda India said, “I’m happy that the motorsports activities in India and the Asian region are getting back to normal after a two-year gap. It is my dream to see an iconic Indian Rider making India proud at international championships. To realize this dream, we have laid a 360-degree roadmap that focuses on faster skill up of potential Indian riders under the able guidance of Tadayuki Okada, ex MotoGP rider. This year, two of India’s racing icons will compete with Asia’s best at Asia Road Racing Championship in AP250 class. Further, we are also fast-tracking the development of 2 next-generation riders who will race at the Thailand Talent Cup. We are aiming for our boys to be in the top group and make us proud on the international stage. I wish all our riders and team a very successful 2022 racing season!”

The announcement will surely provide a huge boost to aspiring young motorcycle racers in the country, who now know that Honda has created a path for them to step up the motorsport ladder while also being economically viable. Pre-season testing and the first round in Thailand will begin from 22nd March 2022. To stay updated about the young Indian riders, and for more news on Indian motorsport, stay tuned to Fast Bikes India!