TVS Apache RTR200 Media Race - Living the dream

Turn the pages of history and one fact is clear that automotive manufacturers have looked up to motorsports to push the performance envelope higher.  The desire to win and the pursuit of glory with your arch rival competing against you means that there’s that extra level of push from the engineers and technicians to go for the win. Gladly for us road users, the technology used by the racers trickles down to the machines that we get to purchase from showrooms, albeit after a few years. With respect to motorcycle racing in India one manufacturer in particular has had a rather good history and that’s TVS Racing. Established in 1983, they started racing on the small 50cc mopeds that used to be produced in the early 1980s, moving on to 2-stroke screamers and, now, the 4-stroke machines. I have been lucky enough to cover the one make championship and witness the race bikes in action but this time I was in a different role.

I wasn’t just wearing my journalist hat but a one-piece leather suit! To give us scribes a better perspective into the mind of a racer, TVS organised a special media race. Before we could head to the tarmac there was a briefing to be attended. We were given a crash course on the various do’s and don’ts on the circuit by track officials. Every rider utilised those precious 30-minute practice session in learning the track layout, racing lines and braking points but, most importantly, also getting used to the motorcycle. 

The bike we were riding was the TVS Apache RTR200 (carburetted) but with certain modifications to enhance its performance. Visual changes on the bike were restricted to masking tape on the headlight, while the leg guard has been removed for weight reduction. The motorcycle also gets equipped with a sports exhaust that not only helps in weight reduction but also makes the bike sound throaty and loud. The engine was also retuned for a better mid-range and top-end which was felt on the race track. I felt the race bike should have been equipped with softer compound race-spec tyres instead of the Pirelli rubber as seen on the stock bike. The fact that TVS didn’t put in much effort in modifying the Apache RTR200 hints that it is focusing its attention the upcoming Akula 310 which we feel will have all the bells and whistles.

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On the following day, we were given a 10 minute window to confirm my grid position. It really didn’t go well for me and I managed to only qualify in 8th place among the 10 riders on the grid. I must admit I was nervous as I lined up on the starting grid with a only few minutes to spare before the lights went off. The anxiety got the better of me and I made a jump start and wasted valuable seconds in the start itself. Unfazed, I tried my best to regain positions in the race and my first break came when one rider went wide. In the following few corners I managed to pass two riders to rise up to fifth place. Things were looking good but I tried to peek behind while exiting a corner which meant I went off the track on the back straight and lost two places. A small distraction had cost me dearly!

Despite my best attempt I couldn’t regain the lost position and, to make matters worse, was handed a one place penalty for the jump start. The race result could have been better but, nevertheless, the learnings were priceless. I will urge every biker to do a track day or at least attend a riding school as it will improve you immensely as a rider and, not to mention, make you faster also.