Goa to host MRF National Supercross Championship

Panaji, May 23 (IANS) Goa will host the first round of the MRF National Supercross Championship Sunday, which is expected to see nearly 100 riders spread over six categories participating in the event.

Speaking to reporters Friday, chairman of the Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India (FMCI) Shyam Kothari said that the event was being held for the eighth year in succession and the Goa edition would be followed by legs in Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Pune and Jaipur.

'We have participants coming in from all over the country. We have already received entries from Assam, Bangalore, Kerala etc,' Kothari said, expressing disappointment that world renowned motorcycle manufacturing brands like Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Ducati had not expressed their interest in the event yet.

Speaking to IANS, general manager of MRF A. Rodricks said that it was only a matter of time before the big guns started roaring on the motocross scene in Goa.

'Companies like Yamaha, Honda have already set up shop in India. They realise the potential of the Indian market. They can't ignore us anymore. It is only a matter of time before they start participating in these championships,' Rodricks said, adding that only endorsement of the sport by big auto manufacturers would help motocross come of age in India.

However, he said, the authorities needed to do much more on ground to promote motocross.

'We need to have infrastructure in place. Come to think of it, we do not even have a proper racing track,' he said.

'We have made a start in some way with the MRF National Supercross here. While Honda has not officially registered their team, we the renowned Pashalkar racing team on Honda motorcycles,' Rodricks said.

The MRF official said that Goa with its tourism background was an ideal location for motocross events.

'Goa's reputation as a tourist haven would certainly complement any motocross. Some of the most popular Formula 1 destinations like Monaco are well renowned tourism hubs in their own right,' he said.

The first leg of the National Supercross championship will kick-start on a dirt track of 800 mts designed by former motocross riders Pratap Bhagwat and Ashok Yande in Panaji. The track's circuit includes eight double jumps, one triple jump and one table top.

The 100-odd participants will be slugging it out in six categories during the tournament - foreign open, novice, Indian experts, locals etc.