Honda Racing India rider Sarthak Chavan has made India proud by becoming the first Indian to bag a podium in the Honda Thailand Cup. Round 2 of the talent cup was held last week and saw the 15-year-old Indian racer finished third in the second race of the weekend. Chavan's teammate Kavin Quintal also had a positive run as he finished ninth making impressive progress over the weekend. The second round of the 2022 Honda Talent Cup was held at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand.
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Race 2 saw Chavan start 12th on the grid, which made it a challenge for the Pune-based racer. However, a strong start and a resilient Chavan put up a good show as he climbed the order. Sarthak skillfully chased other Asian riders and managed to bag a third place, just 0.583 seconds behind the race leader.
Sarthak Chavan started 12th on the grid in Race 2 and worked his way up to finish 3rd
Speaking about his performance, Sarthak said, "I am very happy with my performance in this round as I was able to give my maximum on the track. With learnings from the last round and training with my mentors, I achieved 3rd place on the podium. This win has boosted my confidence and I will continue to fight hard to bring more laurels for the country."
Kavin Quintal, meanwhile, started 15th on the grid of 16 riders. The 16-year-old Chennai boy made the most of a good start as he passed five riders on the opening lap itself. The remainder of the race was more about defending his position and managed to cross the chequered flag in ninth place, despite some stiff competition.
Speaking about his performance, Kavin said, "This round was all about learnings for me. The competition is very tough here. Personally, I am humbled with my performance in this round as I was able to earn points for the team. My aim is to improve my race craft and further better my results in upcoming rounds."
Kavin Quintal began Race 2 in 15th place and managed to finish 9th, securing crucial points
Sharing an overview of the performance of both Indian riders, Prabhu Nagaraj, Operating Officer - Brand & Communications, HMSI said, "We are extremely happy with the results of our riders in Round 2. Both Sarthak and Kavin showcased stellar performance & fighting spirit on the international soil. Sathak Chavan has made us all proud as it is for the first time in the history of Honda India racing that an Indian rider took a podium position at the Thailand Talent Cup. Also, this victory is a testimony of how our riders are consistently climbing up the ladder and getting ready for the international arena."
Honda Racing India team announced its entry in the Thailand Talent Cup earlier this year and entered the second round with a total of 13 points to its name. Race 1 of the weekend saw Sarthak and Kavin finish 9th and 13th respectively with Sarthak gaining six points and Kavin four points. Race 2 clearly showed the immense potential both riders have, adding 32 points for the team. At the end of Round 2, Sarthak now hold 35 points in the championship, while Kavin has 10 points to his name.
