The only Indian team on the grid, Honda Racing India ended the weekend on a positive note after its rider Rajiv Sethu finished fifth place in the feature race of the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) Round 3 in Japan. The rider managed to bag 11 points in the process, the highest ever to be won by the team in a single race so far. Sethu was competing in the AP250 class, with the Japanese round turning out to be one of the toughest races of the season.
The feature race saw about five riders crashing out on the opening lap and included Honda's second rider, Senthil Kumar. It was now on Sethu to make a strong finish for the team and score some crucial points. The wet race saw Sethu start 14th on the grid but the racer showed some masterful riding as he tackled the wet tarmac and his competitors to move up to P6. He held on to the position till Lap 5 when he fell due to the wet circuit. Nevertheless, the rider was back up and re-joined the race to cross the chequered flag in the fifth position, his best-ever in the championship.
Senthil Kumar suffered a DNF in Race 1 but recovered to grab a point in Race 2 over the weekend
Proud of today's performance, Prabhu Nagaraj, Operating Officer - Brand & Communication, HMSI, said, "Today, it's a happy day for Honda Racing India! We have reached the first step of our target top 5 finish. In nail-biting race where many riders crashed out due to wet weather conditions, our rider Rajiv Sethu showed his mettle and made India proud with his fifth-place finish. With his splendid performance, the team earned 11 points. His performance not only created a record but also boosted the morale of entire team. Meanwhile, Senthil Kumar couldn't complete the race due to a crash. This was disappointing but he's learning fast and I'm confident that he will come back stronger and wiser. I am confident that tomorrow's race will see more excitement from both the riders."
Speaking about his strong finish, Rajiv Sethu said, "Today's race was a true test for all riders as weather conditions were not in favor. I am happy that I didn't rush on the wet track and maintained a steady position in race. Despite meeting a crash, I continued with the same performance as my focus was to earn points for the team. The training from our trainers and experience in past races helped me in countering all race hurdles and set a record for the team in ARRC. Having this performance as one of the biggest motivations, I am looking forward to another best results in tomorrow's race."
Rajiv Sethu bagged 11 points in Race 1, the team's highest so far in the championship but conceded to 17th place in Race 2
The team, however, could not replicate the same level of success win the sprint race on Sunday at the Sportsland SUGO circuit. Nevertheless, Senthil Kumar bounced back after a dismal performance on Day 1 to claim a single point for the team. The race saw four crashes and was challenging for everyone. Kumar used this opportunity to finish within points. Meanwhile, Sethu could not replicate his success from earlier after a mistake in the initial laps relegated him to the back of the grid. He finished the race in 17th place.
Speaking about his recovery, Senthil Kumar said, "Learning from my mistakes of yesterday I wanted to perform better today. I am happy to have bagged a point for the team and it is only with their support and guidance that this was possible. I am hopeful for better and more refined performances in the future. I am excited for the next round as I want to show what I truly have to offer."
