EXCLUSIVE: Interaction With India’s First FIM MiniGP Champion

The first time I hit the track, I was overwhelmed, scared and excited at the same time. However, I was 20 years old when this happened. Well, times have changed in India though, with the age of serious talent ever reducing, evident in the form of a 12 year old kid, named Shreyas Hareesh.

Known online as the ‘The Bengaluru Kid’, this young sensation recently clinched the title of being the FIM MiniGP India champion after a gruelling fight over nine rounds of racing. He is now on the course of being one of two young Indians to represent the country at the FIM MiniGP World Series at Valencia in Spain, during the MotoGP weekend from November 4 to 6.

Here’s our exclusive interaction with Shreyas, as he gives us insights into his past, along with how he is preparing to take on 28 young talented racers from across the globe, all of whom will battle it out on track to begin their journey towards the epitome of road racing, MotoGP:

Zigwheels: So Shreyas, it’s really nice getting a chance to interact with you considering you are on course to do something very few people your age have been able to do. So firstly, I want to start by congratulating you on being India's first ever FIM MiniGP champion. How does it feel to be representing the country on a global level at a MotoGP weekend?

Shreyas Hareesh: Thank you, and I am really, really happy but not excited. The real challenge lies ahead of me in Spain, when I will be racing against the World’s 28 best riders in the MiniGP Championship.

ZW: Right. But then, you know that you've got a lot of people back in India who will be cheering you on. And that includes us. We will be cheering you on and hoping that you make the entire country proud. So, at what age did you start riding a motorcycle? Like how did the passion for racing begin? 

SH: I started riding a motorcycle when I was seven years old. The passion for riding bikes started when my dad would take me around town on his Yamaha RD350. 

ZW: That’s nice. Who are your inspirations or your idols? It can be someone from the racing world, or people outside the racing world too. 

SH: I like Marc Marquez. He has always been my idol and someone I look upto. I also like Casey Stoner. 

ZW: That's nice. We all know how Marc Marquez has the ‘never give up’ attitude. And now coming to the MiniGP series, we saw that the battle for the championship was close throughout the season. Your main rival, Jinendra Kiran Sangave won five races back to back after which you came back to fight well and win the championship. So considering he started the season well, what gave you motivation or did you feel any pressure to fight back and win the next four out of five races?

SH: Yeah, four out of the first five races were photo finishes. So I knew that I could win races too, and had to just get my head together. So when I focussed my energies, it all worked out for me as I was able to give my best to the races. So instead of racing under pressure, I was able to put the competition under pressure.

ZW: It's really nice hearing how you were able to keep calm and deliver under pressure. Even more so seeing someone your age remain so composed. So, hats off to you! So we now know how fast you are in road racing, do you also like MX racing or cross country rallies? Have you tried your hand at off-road as well? 

SH: Yes, I like MX too. For the first two years, I only rode dirt bikes. My first ever race was a dirt race in Hassan. My Dad has still kept my KTM 85 SX bike and when we return from the MiniGP finals in Spain, I intend to compete in the last round of the MRF Supercross in Goa.

ZW: So if you had to pick between MX or road racing, what would you choose?

SH: I love road racing.

Hareesh (Shreyas’ Father): In fact, because of the FIM MiniGP series, and the National championships, Shreyas missed out on the complete supercross championship this year. But I think we would just be back in time for the last round of the MRF Supercross in Goa, and if the schedule permits, Shreyas will definitely be competing at least in one round.

ZW: That's really nice to know. There are very few athletes in the world of racing in India at least, who compete both in MX and road racing. And it’s great to see Shreyas, especially at this age, entering every aspect of racing. So apart from the MiniGP, which other race series have you participated in this year and how was your experience? 

SH: I enjoyed riding the TVS Apache RTR 200 in the One Make Rookie Cup. Unfortunately, this year I could not find the right setup for the bike and finished 3rd in the Championship. Also I was mainly focused on the MiniGP series.

I also participated in the race weekend in the Group D category of the MRF National Championship on a Yamaha R15. I won the race and it was a very positive experience for me, as I was racing against much bigger competitors.

Hareesh: Because of the MiniGP, I did not want him to race extensively in the Group D. However after the MiniGP championship was over, Shreyas convinced me to enter him in the MRF National Championship, and he ended up winning his first ever race in the Group D category.

ZW: Right, that's incredible. Absolutely incredible. And how was your experience in these races, as you went up against much older competitors. So what goes through your mind when you enter the pits and you see people who are much bigger in size as well as age?

SH: I just kept my mind cool and believed in myself. I know that I have the will to win, and I stayed focused to perform on track.

ZW: That's really nice. So how do you balance your studies in school, along with your racing?

SH: School is definitely a compromise for me. I miss going to Kensri school but after the World Championship I intend to attend school regularly and also take special classes to make up for the lost lessons in the last four months.

Hareesh: I must say that one of the best decisions I’ve made four years ago was to shift Shreyas to Kensri school. Because as much as we parents have supported him, the school has equally played an amazing role. 

ZW: It's great. It's very rare that educational institutions provide such support, especially in the world of racing because we know how demanding this sport can be.

Hareesh: It’s a sign that things are changing for the good.

ZW: So, Shreyas, which subject do you like in school?  

SH: I like science, because it is applied in riding too.

ZW: So in six years, when you turn 18, and considering the same bikes that we have now are available after six years, which bike would you want to own? 

SH: Kawasaki Ninja H2R. I would not want to ride it around on the streets and only ride and race it on the track. 

ZW: Right, and what's your training schedule like on a daily basis? How many hours do you exercise?

SH: I do long distance cycling, around 25kms at one stretch, and I also go to a professional gym for physical training. Apart from this, I regularly train at karting tracks in and around Bengaluru. My diet includes egg yellows, and two omelettes daily. 

ZW: Okay, that's nice. So, with the MiniGP World finals less than a month away, how are you preparing yourself?

SH: Due to budget issues, we could not plan any training in Europe ahead of the Championship but Dad is making me work hard on my physical fitness, my mental strength and my racing skills in Bengaluru itself.

ZW: We really hope the hard work you're putting in pays off, and wish you all the best in the world finals. We definitely will be cheering you on. 

ZW: What would your message be to other children of your age who are interested in following your footsteps? You are an inspiration to a lot of people and at a stage where people are looking up to you.

SH: It's a wonderful sport, and I feel truly alive when I'm on the motorcycle. I would encourage more kids to try out this sport. And there are separate race schools to train young kids too. 

ZW: So any particular race schools that you attended while you started off?

Hareesh: Shreyas used to be the only kid at the Motocross training track. And even when we shifted to road racing, we had so much lack of infrastructure that I had to convert Shreyas’ Kawasaki KLX110 MX bike into a supermoto bike. He attended his first basic training under Ramji at Ten10 racing and then followed it up with advanced level at CRA Motorsports. 

SH: I spend a lot of time training and practising my skills with Dad and he gets me to focus on my weak points using cones and performing drills. I regularly attend PnP sessions at MMRT, CRA sessions, RACR trackdays, Gusto, TVS, AS Motorsports and other trackdays.

ZW: That's incredible. Obviously right now there is a structure in place, but I can only imagine back when you started out, the struggle that it would've taken for you to reach this level. And that is why we'll be cheering you on as you take on your competitors at a global level. And we just hope that you make us all proud. 

SH: Thank you, and I will give it my best effort at the MiniGP Finals in Spain.