Honda racing announces ambitious plans for new season

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) announced its international team for the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) and Thai Talent Cup (TTC) season 2019. Rajiv Sethu, who made his debut in ARRC 2017 and secured 27th position the next year, would represent Idemitsu Honda Racing India in Asia Production 250cc class, HMSI Vice President (Brand and Communications) Prabhu Nagaraj told reporters here.

Third place winner in the National Motorcycle Racing Championship (INMRC) Pro-Stock 165cc championship -- on the domestic front --, 17-year-old Senthil Kumar would be riding alongside Sethu.

"With two of India's most promising riders representing the Idemitsu Honda Racing India at Asia level, we are aiming that our boys climb the top group and make India proud on the international stage in 2019," Nagaraj said. We are staying true to our commitment towards our motorsport direction announced last year, he said, adding that development of the two next-generation riders to the Asian platform is being pushed aggressively.

HMSI also announced 14-year old Mohamed Mikail of Chennai and 18-year old Kritik Habib as new riders for Thai Talent Cup 2019's NSF 250.

"Giving priority to developing not just world-class riders, but also technicians, P Prabhakaran would join Honda Asia 'Dream Racing Team with SHOWA' coming in new category Superbike 1000cc class (ASB1000) as part of HADR technical team," HMSI said.

ARRC is Asia's most competitive motorcycle road racing championship held since 1996. The 2019 season would have a total of seven rounds across five countries (Malaysia - 2, Australia, Thailand - 2, Japan and South Korea) starting from March 8.

"Starting from identifying high potential riders as young as 13 years through our Idemitsu Honda India Talent Hunt to aiming to develop a top Indian ridder for MotoGP, Honda has an aggressive roadmap to support young Indian riders to realise their dreams," Nagaraj said.