Royal Enfield has cemented its place as one of the leading manufacturers of affordable modern classic motorcycles. And now, the company is looking forward to introduce India's first ever retro motorcycle racing format with the 'Continental GT Cup'. The idea is to not only make racing retro but make it more accessible to new riders as well as experienced riders. Royal Enfield's larger goal is to nurture motorcycling sub-culture and communities. Royal Enfield will launch the Continental GT Cup in partnership with JK Motorsport and the first edition of the Cup will make an appearance at JK Tyre National Racing Championship in October 2021. Royal Enfield will also introduce track-riding schools for the 2021-22 season in a bid to provide enthusiasts with an accessible platform to learn riding on a racetrack.
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(The Continental GT is the most track-oriented motorcycle in Royal Enfield's line-up)
Adrian Sellers - Custom Programme Lead & Manager, Product Strategy & Industrial Design at Royal Enfield said, "Nurturing and encouraging the spirit of pure motorcycling has been the core philosophy of Royal Enfield for over a century. In 2019, we developed two race ready Continental GT 650 motorcycles with Harris Performance, leveraging their 40 years of racing experience to make the most track worthy GTs we could, all without fundamentally changing the base motorcycles. The result exceeded our expectations, and so we are excited to continue that story and launch the Continental GT Cup, an exciting and engaging entry into retro track-racing and motorsports. The Continental GT 650 is the most track-ready motorcycle in our portfolio, and with just a few modifications, the race prepped Continental GT-R650 version makes it the ideal machine for the track. We are expecting a spectacular first season this year and we hope to foster the spirit of track-racing year-on-year."
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(The track-spec Continental GT-R650 gets significant updates over the stock model)
The track-spec motorcycle will be called the Royal Enfield Continental GT-R650 and it obviously gets purpose-built performance modifications which the company says, is designed to offer agile, spirited and more importantly an un-intimidating performance on the race-track. The GT-R650 gets a stiffer race-tuned suspension at both ends which results in better handling, lowered clip-on handlebars, rear-set footpegs and the motorcycle loses a significant 24 kg of weight too. The stock exhaust has been replaced with a bespoke stainless steel full system exhaust that is tuned to give 12 per cent more power. The motorcycle will come with a specially designed fairing and belly pan that provides greater aerodynamics and gives the GT-R650 its quintessential retro racer look. The motorcycle will be equipped with soft compound race tyres by JK Tyre to ensure better grip and braking while offering better cornering speed and feedback.
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(The track-spec Continental GT is said to offer better handling, gets grippier tyres and stiffer sprung suspension)
Moreover, Royal Enfield says that the simple, old-school build of the motorcycle makes it easier in terms of maintenance and repair, which in turn makes it an ideal track motorcycle that is easy for novice riders to learn on and an equally capable machine in the hands of experienced racers.
(The Royal Enfield Continental GT-R650 is perhaps the most beautiful-looking racebike in the country currently)
The registration process for the Continental GT Cup goes live from today till September 30, 2021. From the registered participants, 100 eligible riders will make it to the Rider Selection Programme at Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore from October 18 to 19, 2021, where the 18 fastest riders will be shortlisted. They will then battle it out for the Continental GT Cup in a total of 4 rounds at the JK NRC, with the first 3 being held in October, November, and December at the Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore, followed by the Grand Finale in January 2022 at the Buddh International Circuit, Noida.
