Sarath Kumar is the first rider from India to compete in the FIM MotoGP World Championship; he currently has one race in the 125 cc class to his credit. A new financial grant virtually assures that Kumar will soon be lining up on a World Championship grid once again.
Sarath Kumar’s New Support
The FIM very recently approved a large grant to be used for the training of Sarath Kumar in his assault on the 125 cc Grand Prix class. The money is part of a larger grant of more than US$100,000 which will be routed through the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of India (FMSCI) to Kumar and to provide some incentive to lure foreign coaches to India as the Indian Supercross and Motocross teams are looking for professional instruction.
Considering that Kumar has had only one race in the series so far this season, under the banner of his WTR-Ten10 Racing Team, the extra cash will make a serious difference in his young career. His one appearance was in the Grande Premio de Portugal at Estoril back in May of 2011 where he placed 24th riding the WTR-Ten10 Aprilia. Perhaps this new support will help the FMSCI give Sarath Kumar more chances to be mentioned on the MotoGP results charts by the end of this year, or at least get him some more time on the track.
CEV Buckler for Kumar
The Chennai born and raised Sarath Kumar is currently spending time in Europe by taking part in the CEV Buckler (Spanish National) Championship with teammate Francesco Mauriello. It is a long way from where he started in India, both physically and culturally, and especially at his young age. Kumar does have experience dicing it up on the tracks, but much closer to home, as he now stands as India’s 165 cc Champion.
Spain is a great place for Sarath Kumar to cut his teeth in pursuit of a MotoGP career as the CEV Buckler is where many of today’s top-tier racers grew up racing motorcycles. Kumar needs the grant to keep him running with his WTR-Ten10 team so that he gets the invaluable seat time that racing in a very competitive series nets a rider; it is the kind of experience every young racer needs to make it to where Sarath Kumar wishes to go.
FMSCI and Kumar
Needless to say, the infinitely polite Sarath Kumar expressed his sincere gratitude to the FMSCI, saying, “I would really like to thank the FMSCI and in particular Mr. Vicky Chandhok and Mr. Rajan Syal without whom this grant and funding would not have been possible.” Kumar is truly the big hope for India’s motorcycle racing support community; after all, he is the only Indian rider at this level of world championship motorcycle racing.
India’s FMSCI is certainly dedicated to Sarath Kumar, and if this support continues, all Sarath Kumar will have to focus on is winning motorcycle races…and nearly all of India is behind him in accomplishing his goal!
