Did Anish Shetty and Bhuvan Bonu Steal the Show at the FMSCI National Racing Championship Round 1?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Anish Shetty achieved a remarkable hat-trick in the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup.
- Bhuvan Bonu displayed incredible skill at just 15 years old.
- The event featured a mix of experienced racers and novices.
- The JK Tyre Racing Championship continues to grow in popularity.
- Weather conditions played a role in the performance of the racers.
Coimbatore, Aug 10 (NationPress) For fans of motorsport, the Kari Motor Speedway on the outskirts of Coimbatore delivered an exhilarating experience as the Royal Enfield Continental Cup presented by JK Tyre and the JK Tyre Novice Cup showcased thrilling action on the track.
As part of the 28th JK Tyre Racing Championship, the weekend featured electrifying races in two categories, with Anish Shetty and Bhuvan Bonu exhibiting remarkable skills in Round 1, which concluded over the weekend.
Anish proved to be unbeatable in the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup, achieving a stunning hat-trick of victories across Saturday and Sunday. His dominance in the two-wheeler category was a testament to his hard work and determination. These bikes, weighing nearly 200 kg, pose a significant challenge on the track, but Anish's fitness, form, and speed captured everyone's attention. The weather varied over the two days.
Saturday was bright and sunny, where Anish made it clear that the competition had a new leader. Having started racing at the age of 15, he is now a seasoned professional at 30, reaping the rewards of his dedication and persistence. The GT Cup grid includes a blend of experienced riders and newcomers who have transitioned from street racing to the circuit. One potential challenger to Anish was Kayan Zubin Patel from Mumbai. While Kayan couldn't match Anish's speed, he managed to secure second place in the third race of the weekend, with defending champion Navaneeth Kumar from the previous season also making a strong comeback.
In the overall standings, Anish Shetty leads with 30 points, followed by Kayan with 19 points and Navaneeth with 12 points. "It has been a successful weekend, and all my hard work has paid off," Anish commented. For the young drivers on the grid, Anish served as an inspiration, demonstrating both speed and style. Among the amateurs, Bryan Nicholas from Pondicherry excelled, winning all three races (36 points), with Johring Warisa from Umrangso in second place (27 points) and Kabir Sahoch from Vadodara in third (18 points).
In the JK Tyre Novice Cup, Bhuvan Bonu was unmatched, showcasing remarkable speed. The 15-year-old from Bengaluru, who trains in the USA, appeared to be in a league of his own, making it look effortless. Bhuvan expressed, "I kept improving throughout the weekend and truly enjoyed the experience."
As for the other competitors, including Ojas Surve and Abhijit Vadavalli, it was mostly a display of Bhuvan's extraordinary performance over the two days. He opted to keep his thoughts to himself regarding the speed of his car during an incident-filled final race on Sunday.
Provisional Race Results:
Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup
Race 1:
Professionals:
Anish Shetty: 13:46.628
Kayan Zubin Patel: 13:52.702
Ashish Patel: 14:01.852
Amateurs:
Bryan Nicholas: 14:08.432
Johring Warisa: 14:08.629
Saran Kumar: 14:25.828
Race 2:
Professionals:
Anish Shetty: 13:39.635
Kayan Zubin Patel: 13:42.676
Navaneeth Kumar: 13:49.416
Amateurs:
Bryan Nicholas: 14:02.450
Johring Warisa: 14:07.477
Kabir Sahoch: 14:15.237
Race 3:
Professionals:
Anish Shetty: 13:28.442
Navaneeth Kumar: 13:31.330
Kayan Zubin Patel: 13:31.493
Amateurs:
Bryan Nicholas: 13:44.805
Johring Warisa: 13:48.084
Saran Kumar: 14:07.926
JK TYRE NOVICE CUP:
Race 1
Bhuvan Bonu (Team MSport): 13:59.719
Abhijit Vadavalli (Team Momentum): 14:10.391
Ojas Surve (Team DTS Racing): 14:26.937
Race 2:
Bhuvan Bonu (Team MSport): 14:14.815
Ojas Surve (Team DTS Racing): 14:27.489
Parthik Ashok (Team DTS Racing): 14:28.154
Race 3:
Bhuvan Bonu (Team MSport): 14:54.313
Parthik Ashok (Team DTS Racing): 15:16.183
Lokithingeash Ravi (Team DTS Racing): 15:16.263