Get set for the adrenaline rush

Motor racing to be the next big thing in Hyderabad’s sports arena

November 23, 2012 09:46 am | Updated 10:17 am IST - HYDERABAD:

Mahi Racing Team CEO and Managing Director Nandish Domulur, and actor and company's director Akkineni Nagarjuna announcing the partnership of N-Motor Sport and Mahi Racing Team at press meet on Thursday. Photo: K. Ramesh Babu

Mahi Racing Team CEO and Managing Director Nandish Domulur, and actor and company's director Akkineni Nagarjuna announcing the partnership of N-Motor Sport and Mahi Racing Team at press meet on Thursday. Photo: K. Ramesh Babu

Film star Akkineni Nagarjuna is chasing a new dream – to see a Hyderabadi in a podium finish in the world of motor-sport. His reasoning is that apart from cricket, badminton and tennis are big sports in India now. “And, the celebrities in these two sports are from Hyderabad (Saina Nehwal and Sania Mirza). So, why not dream of a champion from this city in the motor-racing world,” he said with a big smile.

Childhood passion

“Motor racing has always been a passion for me right from my childhood. The primary reason for me to take up this venture is because the bikes they race in the competitions are the same anyone can own and ride too,” he remarked. The popular cine star was announcing the partnership of N-Motorsport with Rhiti MSD (of Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni) to power Asia’s first super motorbike racing team – Mahi Racing Team India – here on Thursday.

The film star, who is the co-owner of the Mahi Racing team along with Dhoni, Nandish Domlur, feels it would be an exciting experience in the days to come, especially to own a world-class Supersport team and to be the first from Asia to take part in the FIM World Supersport Championship next year.

“The idea of our partnership is not just competing but give the much desired fillip to the sport because of its connectivity with the man on the street,” Nagarjuna commented. “I am looking forward to the 2013 season which starts in Melbourne and the second race will be in the Noida F-1 racing track,” he added.

Nandish said Mahi Racing Team would be a formidable force in the world superbike championship and that it should be the team to watch out as it features three-time world champion Kenan Sofuoglu of Turkey, Fabien Foret of Rrance and Dan Lifoot of UK, Florian Marino of France. “Our aim is to win the 2013 world championship,” he asserted.

“Yes, our plans include setting up racing Academies in Delhi and in a Southern City in future besides conducting various related activities which should lure more youngsters into the sport,” Nandish pointed out. Nagarjuna reminded that there was no better person than Dhoni to have a tie-up in motor racing – not because he is the Indian cricket captain but due to his passion for the sport.

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