IDEMITSU Honda India Race Team Arrives At Suzuka — Invading Japan

Honda India's IDEMITSU Honda Racing India Team has arrived the Suzuka Circuit at Japan to continue to their season in Asia's toughest championship, the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) this weekend.

They're half way into the season, and the IDEMITSU Honda Racing India Team has earned 22 points so far, and ranks in top 7 of Asia Production 250 class at ARRC.

Speaking about the team's performance, Mr. Prabhu Nagaraj, Vice President, Brand and Communication, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, "2019 is a turnaround for our solo Indian team at ARRC."

"Rajiv is already winning points from first race of the season and has climbed to fight with top 5 in his last race in Buriram. Senthil is also showing improvement in his race craft. Knowing fully the potential of our trainers and intensive programme, we are pumped and ready to take on the challenges that come with this track," he added.

Suzuka has been a tough circuit for Rajiv in the past. The racer finished 28th at his debut in 2017, and was unable to do much in 2018 because of a fractured wrist. He finished at 28 again. However Rajiv is all set for Suzuka this year.

His skills have been honed because of the experience from a 4-hour endurance race at Suzuka. His third year at the ARRC has made him a serious contender. Rajiv is the first Indian racer to qualify in the top 7 in single round of the ARRC. Rajiv currently has a tally of 22 points, and ranks 14th.

Rajiv Sethu, the 21-year-old IDEMITSU Honda Racing India rider said, "This season has boosted my confidence by leaps and bounds. With 7 wild card entries, the competition becomes more tough now. But my practice and training on home ground as well as Suzuka for the 4HR endurance has given me more strength and confidence to finish in top 10 and extend the positive streak of results."

His teammate Senthil Kumar has made his debut this season and has a tally of 2 points, and ranks 21st. He is all too excited to take flight at Suzuka, one of the toughest race circuits in the world.

Looking forward to riding at Suzuka, Senthil Kumar said, "I am looking forward to racing on the Suzuka Circuit again after testing my skills in 4 hours Suzuka endurance race earlier this month. I now enter the round 4 with much more confidence and I will give my 100% to this championship."

The championship has gotten tougher with wild card entries of seven fantastic riders in the Asia Production 250cc class, along with 25 of Asia's top riders from Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taipei and India.

Adding excitement to Round 4 of the 2019 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship is the fight between AP Honda Racing Thailand's Muklada Sarapuech, and Indonesian rider Andy Muhammad Fadly, both at the top with 86 points each.

The Asia SuperBike 1000cc (ASB) class of ARRC 2019 will see Malaysian rider Zaqhwan Zaidi who races for Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA team return in full form. The team has top personnel from Honda subsidiaries across Asia & Oceania, including a race technician from India.

Thoughts About The IDEMITSU Honda India Race Team At Suzuka

We had said earlier that we we're thrilled to witness motorcycle manufacturers taking an interest in motorsport in the country. We have met and spoken with Senthil and Rajiv in the past and we know they are doing everything to stay focused and to keep winning races. Suzuka will be a big challenge for the team, and all of us at Drivespark wish them luck. Luck!