MotoGP Bharat: Why India’s biking enthusiasts are excited and hope it is here to stay

Its the G20 of motor sports in Indiardquo exclaims Ritesh Tokas as he gears up for the muchawaited MotoGP Bharat this weekendThe 32yearold Delhi resident is the Director of Shark Sports and Events which holds sporting events all over the country He is also living proof that the excitement for the motorbike racing event is not just limited to biking enthusiasts but Formula 1 racing fans as wellldquoThe Buddh International Circuit BIC is where I spend most of my weekendsrdquo Tokas says about the venue of the MotoGP Bharat ldquoI participate in drifting competitions but have also been a biking fan Now Irsquom expecting friends not just from all over India but even some from Dubai to attend MotoGP BharatrdquoAarti AnthonyOne of the friends Tokas is expecting is Vivek Singh from Mumbai who is also involved in Shark Sports For Singh the bond is an emotional one he stopped biking after an accident in 2007 and watching events like MotoGP is his only way to relive the good old daysldquoI cannot begin to tell you how excited I amrdquo Singh tells us from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport an hour before his flight to Delhi ldquoI have always been passionate about biking My first bike was an Apache and I got a Ducati after that I canrsquot believe MotoGP is finally here and that Irsquom going to see it liverdquoFor motor sporting fans like Tokas and Singh the event is a highly anticipated one not just because of the thrills of the race but also because as fans they feel proud that it puts India on the world mapAbhishek Takle Vivek Singh and Ritesh TokasAs Dombivli resident Aarti Anthony puts it ldquoI remember watching the Moto GP on television and it always made me wonder when India would start hosting such races And here we are today as we watch that thought manifest into reality This will be a game changer for the biking and racing world in India as it will create a keen interest amongst riding enthusiasts Itrsquos amazing to see all the brands participating and we couldnrsquot have asked for morerdquoThe excitement is palpable with the city being beautified and sponsors aligning with the organisers for the tournament which will see 82 riders participate in 20 races The run up also saw events like performances music shows giveaways ldquomotoinfluencerrdquo contests and felicitation of women riders to encourage increased participation This yearrsquos tournament will witness participation from numerous MotoGP greats including last yearrsquos winner Francesco Bagnaia from Italy Marc Marquez from Spain Jack Miller from Australia and Brad Binder from South AfricaldquoMotoGP has always had a hardcore fan following in Indiardquo says senior auto journalist Abhishek Takle ldquoWe love our bikes even if every one of us canrsquot buy a Ducati And bike racing has a thrill of its own much more intense than even F1 It is a unique feeling that runs through your heart when the bikers lean into hard turns around sharp corners and straighten up again without missing a beatrdquoSuperbike designer Zubin Ponnappa while excited about MotoGP also hopes that red tape wonrsquot hinder the event PicSatej ShindeFor this reason the track at BIC has been modified and triple checked to make sure that safety is ensured at every turnldquoOver the past decade safety measures have significantly advanced in the sport Considering these improvements in safety measures and in accordance with the guidelines which call for specific minor alterations in the track and runoff areas these modifications are taken care ofrdquo Vaibhav Sinha CEO of FairStreet Sports tells midday FairStreet Sports has obtained the license to organise the race in India from 2023 to 2029 from Dorna Sports the global organiser of MotoGPDetailing the safety precautaions Sinha says ldquoKeeping rider safety on priority wersquove incorporated cuttingedge Type A B and C barricades some of which utilize air and others feature foam components These barricades represent the latest advancements in track safety technology ensuring that our track is equipped with the most uptodate safety measures for the upcoming race Wersquove expanded the runoff areas throughout the Buddh International Circuit installing substantial gravel traps to provide a safety cushion in case a bike goes off the track Furthermore wersquove implemented significant adjustments at various turns as well as relocated a larger wall at one turn to a safer positionrdquoType A barricades are air fences while Type B And C are foam safety barricades imported from Austria and Italy to be installed at corners designated as high impact zonesIn a media interview earlier this month Carlos Ezpelata Chief Sporting Officer at Dorna Sports also emphasised the insistence on safety on the track where bikes zoom at over 350 kmph while also stating that India is the biggest twowheeler market in the world with a rapidly increasing affinity towards premium bikesSuperbike designer Zubin Ponnappa who owns his design garage The Shed Bandra in Mumbai concurs with both Takle and Expelata Not only is India obsessed with its bikes he says but the country has also become a huge market for designer bikes over the years because of the easy availability of foreign bikes This he adds is what works perfectly in favour of MotoGP as a sportldquoThe event gives us exposure it boosts tourism and it brings riders from all over the world to India plus their fans and the manufacturers aligned with them It is a oneofa kind event and there is definite excitement in the biker community I can only hope that red tape does not hinder the event so that we can host MotoGP again next year and the years after thatrdquo says Ponnappa who rues the fact that he canrsquot attend this year but is already planning to go next yearFor most people from the biking enthusiast community in India this yearrsquos MotoGP Bharat is a deciding moment for the years to comeldquoA lot depends on how we do this yearrdquo says Takle ldquoFactors like how the riders like the track whether they will want to come back in light of the the visa hassles they faced this year and whether safety standards are maintained all throughout the tournament will contribute towards whether or not MotoGP is here to stay in Indiardquo