In Conversation With B Selvaraj And Syed Asif Ali Of TVS Scooter Racing

Team Zigwheels – Can you give us a brief introduction of TVS’ racing history?

Mr. B. Selvaraj - To start with, TVS racing has been participating in racing events all over the country for the past four years. We have won many rallies, and we were also the INRC champions in 2015 & 2016. This year, our rider Syed Asif Ali has already won the championship with a round to spare. In 2014, we won the Gulf Monsoon rally as well, but this year we missed it by a fraction. A new event called Gulf Autocross is also happening this year for the first time in India where we struck the complete podium, and Syed Asif Ali was a whole 9 seconds faster than the competition. We have maintained a consistent record of 90 per cent wins in our tenure in scooter racing. 

Team Zigwheels - So scooter racing is the youngest part of TVS racing so far?

Mr. B. Selvaraj - Yes. We just started four years back. 

Team Zigwheels - What motivated you to enter scooter racing? 

Mr. B. Selvaraj - The main objective of TVS racing is to participate and win as many events as possible, scooter events being one of them. With scooter racing, we have faced many challenges. The experience, however, has had many lessons which we plan to implement in product development. Also, scooter racing has a lot of potential in India as there are many exclusive events for this category. They are thought of as some of the toughest rally events like the Dakshin Dare, Raid-de-Himalaya and the Special Monsoon Rally. 

Team Zigwheels - So, has the learning experience from racing helped in product development of other TVS products?

Mr. B. Selvaraj B. Selvaraj - Yes, it has. We apply the learning from the race track to the new products. TVS racing has always been about innovation, problem solving and continuous improvement. 

Team Zigwheels - How different is scooter racing from traditional racing?

Mr. B. Selvaraj B. Selvaraj – It is quite different because there are many challenges while racing with a scooter, like the reflex action and the sitting mechanism is quite different. In addition to that, we also have to fine tune the engine and the CVT for the specific terrain. We have done a fine job with that, as Syed Asif Ali is consistently performing and finishing in top 10, even among motorcycles. 

Team Zigwheels - How important a factor is reliability for you?

Mr. B. Selvaraj -  It is quite important for us. We are constantly working on power improvements, and that means we have to compromise on the reliability factor. But Syed Asif Ali visits the factory frequently to test out any new developments and for his own personal riding training as well. We will continue on power improvement as long as it doesn’t cause us any problem in actual races.  

Team Zigwheels - Can you tell us more about the scooter used by Syed Asif Ali in races?

Mr. B. Selvaraj - It is called the TVS SXR 150. It has a single-cylinder air-cooled engine which produces 18PS of power and can attain a top speed of 120kmph. We have done major modifications to the induction system and exhaust system for optimized performance. But it’s not a single system, it's a combination of systems that has to work together for a scooter. 

Team Zigwheels - Is the TVS SXR150 based on a commercial production scooter? 

Mr. B. Selvaraj - It is based on the TVS SXR 110 scooter, we have converted it into the SXR 150, thanks to the Group B regulation norms. 

Team Zigwheels - What changes did you have to make?

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Mr. B. Selvaraj - We optimised the CVT system and the centrifugal system. It can now engage at a higher rpm because that is one of the characteristics required by a race engine. 

Team Zigwheels - Any changes in the suspension setup?

Mr. B. Selvaraj - It looks standard at first, but we have modified internal parts like damping forces and spring characteristics to be optimized according to Syed Asif Ali’s weight. Also, at 90kg, the scooter is much lighter because lighting and safety equipment are not mandatory. The exhaust system is also modified to be lighter. But we haven’t done extensive research on alternative materials. It is still a metal body. 

Team Zigwheels - Going forward, what is the future like for TVS scooter racing?

Mr. B. Selvaraj - We plan on participating and covering as many scooter events and rallies as possible. We are also constantly evaluating possibilities, and if the opportunity arrives we will do our best to maintain our 90 per cent win record.

Team Zigwheels - Are you looking forward to participate in international events?

Mr. B. Selvaraj - As of now, the focus is on a national level, but we are open to opportunities. We will be there in time.  

Syed Asif Ali, the rider.

Team Zigwheels - How did you start your racing career?

Syed Asif Ali - It started very early in my childhood days. In the beginning, I was racing with my personal bikes. I saw that racing is more inclined towards motorcycles, so I came up with scooter racing, and that’s when TVS spotted me at a local event. 

Team Zigwheels - Did you start with on-road or off-road racing?

Syed Asif Ali - I started with off-road racing, and later shifted towards scooter racing. 

Team Zigwheels - What is the most difficult aspect of adapting to scooter racing? 

Syed Asif Ali - It depends upon the rider. You have to match yourself with the machine. I got the hang of it pretty fast though. However, I had to develop new skills to do stuff like pass on corners, take jumps, etc. on a scooter.

Team Zigwheels - Can you elaborate a bit more on the adapting process? Like what did you do in terms of cornering?

Syed Asif Ali - As you know knee-down is a reliable technique to do it, but it can’t be done on a scooter. So I had to put some weight on the handlebar and maneuver it differently. For jumps, I had to put all my weight on the footrest and pull the seat. 

Team Zigwheels - How has your experience been with the TVS scooter?

Syed Asif Ali - It has been pretty good till now. I’ve ridden it in the Indian National Rally Championship for three years in a row. I won the championship last year, so I have a good winning ratio, winning five of the past six races that we competed in. This year a new race has been introduced - the monsoon autocross - which is exclusive to scooters. It’s a very tricky track. You have to be very careful, as one mistake can cause you to lose as much as 10 seconds. 

Team Zigwheels - Would you like to see some changes in the scooter?

Syed Asif Ali - I always say I need more power, but it’s not entirely about power. Different rallies require different setups. For example, smaller tracks require us to go very fast, so we need service as soon as we stop. The team has done an excellent job adapting to it. Recently, they have also added a rear disc brake to the scooter. 

Team Zigwheels - What was the toughest race of your career?

Syed Asif Ali - Every race is tough. But if I had to choose one, I’d say Dakshin Dare. It was a 50kms stretch where I was overtaking bikes with my scooter. I was 8th or 9th overall. 

Team Zigwheels - Who is your toughest competitor?

Syed Asif Ali - I am my own competition. I have to beat myself for the podium. 

Team Zigwheels - How do you work on your fitness?

Syed Asif Ali - The upcoming event is quite tough, so I am doing a lot of cross training and cycling. I have the SXR 150 at home for practice. I also visit the factory for my riding training. 

Team Zigwheels - What’s next for you?

Syed Asif Ali - We will be participating in the upcoming Raid-de-Himalaya event. It’s a quite difficult terrain, and has a very low completion rate of 40 per cent. But we have been training since last year and are targeting a podium finish. 

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