Muddappa, who has won national titles in drag racing a record 12 times, continued his successful association with the Mantra Racing team, and the combination put together another stellar performance in the first round, missing a triple by a whisker.
He started with a hard-fought victory in the 551-850cc 4-stroke Super Sport class, clocking an impressive 8.630 seconds to edge out Hyderabad's Mohammed Riyaz, who clocked 8.675 seconds. Altaf Khan, also from Hyderabad, came third.
The Bengaluru rider then took the start in the final 851-1050cc Super Sport race but lost to Mumbai's Anvay Patil by eight-hundredths of a second. Mantra Racing's Muddappa clocked 8.294 seconds against Patil's 8.286. Muddappa's teammate Sugan Prasad SP came third in 8.448 seconds.
Later, he returned to his element in the 4-stroke Super Sport category, from 1,051 to 1,650 cc, where he recorded a fast silver time of 08.063 seconds to take his second victory of the day. He beat Bengaluru's Mujahid Pasha (8.103) to come second, and another Bengali, Aymaan Baig, came third with 8.117.
Riding a Suzuki Hayabusa, the reigning champion of the Unrestricted category recorded 8.251 seconds, tying with his city mate Mujahid Pasha, who also recorded the same time but had a shorter reaction time, which he took advantage of to break the deadlock. Alimon Saidalvi came third.
“I'm happy to start the season on a positive note. After all the hard work during the offseason with testing and rehearsals, it feels good to be on the track. I thank my hard-working team at Mantra Racing and my friends, fans and family, who have always been by my side. It is a joyful journey and despite the disappointment, I am glad to start with a double,” said Muddappa, nicknamed 'LightningR1' for his raw speed.
Provisional results: Round 1: (all 4 times)
No restrictions (Super Sport): 1. Mujahid Pasha (Bengaluru, Team Fast Track Racing) (08.251); 2. Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) (08,251); 2. Alimon Saidalvi (Bengaluru) (08.279).
1,051 to 1,650 cc (Super Sport): 1. Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) (08,063); 2. Mujahid Pasha (Bengaluru) (08.103); 3. Aymaan Baig (Bengaluru) (08.117).
851 to 1050 cc (Super Sport): 1. Anvay Patil (Mumbai) (08,286); 2. Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) (08,294);
551 to 850 cc (Super Sport): 1. Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) 08,630); 2. Mohammed Riyaz (Hyderabad, Fast Track Racing team) (08.675); 3. Altaf Khan (Hyderabad, Fast Track Racing team) (09.112).
He started with a hard-fought victory in the 551-850cc 4-stroke Super Sport class, clocking an impressive 8.630 seconds to edge out Hyderabad's Mohammed Riyaz, who clocked 8.675 seconds. Altaf Khan, also from Hyderabad, came third.
The Bengaluru rider then took the start in the final 851-1050cc Super Sport race but lost to Mumbai's Anvay Patil by eight-hundredths of a second. Mantra Racing's Muddappa clocked 8.294 seconds against Patil's 8.286. Muddappa's teammate Sugan Prasad SP came third in 8.448 seconds.
Later, he returned to his element in the 4-stroke Super Sport category, from 1,051 to 1,650 cc, where he recorded a fast silver time of 08.063 seconds to take his second victory of the day. He beat Bengaluru's Mujahid Pasha (8.103) to come second, and another Bengali, Aymaan Baig, came third with 8.117.
Riding a Suzuki Hayabusa, the reigning champion of the Unrestricted category recorded 8.251 seconds, tying with his city mate Mujahid Pasha, who also recorded the same time but had a shorter reaction time, which he took advantage of to break the deadlock. Alimon Saidalvi came third.
“I'm happy to start the season on a positive note. After all the hard work during the offseason with testing and rehearsals, it feels good to be on the track. I thank my hard-working team at Mantra Racing and my friends, fans and family, who have always been by my side. It is a joyful journey and despite the disappointment, I am glad to start with a double,” said Muddappa, nicknamed 'LightningR1' for his raw speed.
Provisional results: Round 1: (all 4 times)
No restrictions (Super Sport): 1. Mujahid Pasha (Bengaluru, Team Fast Track Racing) (08.251); 2. Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) (08,251); 2. Alimon Saidalvi (Bengaluru) (08.279).
1,051 to 1,650 cc (Super Sport): 1. Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) (08,063); 2. Mujahid Pasha (Bengaluru) (08.103); 3. Aymaan Baig (Bengaluru) (08.117).
851 to 1050 cc (Super Sport): 1. Anvay Patil (Mumbai) (08,286); 2. Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) (08,294);
551 to 850 cc (Super Sport): 1. Hemanth Muddappa (Bengaluru, Mantra Racing) 08,630); 2. Mohammed Riyaz (Hyderabad, Fast Track Racing team) (08.675); 3. Altaf Khan (Hyderabad, Fast Track Racing team) (09.112).
