Whacking Open the Throttle

TVS invited us to take part in their Apache Racing Experience GP Cup Finale that was held at the Madras International Circuit. We swung a leg over their Apache RTR 200 race bike and twisted the throttle open. Read on

- Charan Karthik

IT WAS A WHILE AGO THAT WE ATTENDED the Apache Racing Experience (ARE) GP Cup in Pune. The ARE GP Cup Finale, as the very name suggests, is the end game. There were two categories: the RR 310 Media and the RTR 200 Media. We participated in the latter.

We were taken to the Madras International Circuit at eight o'clock in the morning. After a quick debriefing session by the organisers and an elaborate debrief by the FMSCI officials, we were asked to step out and get ready for the track. Before that, however, we had to go and get our racing licence approved. Once we had finished all the paperwork and got our racing licence, we were asked to go and suit up. TVS provided us with everything. And, yes, I mean everything. A full racing suit, gauntlet gloves, racing boots, chest and back protectors, an ECE 22.06 certified double D-ring helmet, and, of course, the bike itself. I was assigned bike number eight.

The RR 310s were the first to roll out, while the rest of us watched and observed. At 10.30 am we were asked to suit up and get ready. We were out on the track 30 minutes later for our practice session and I did four laps within the time they allowed us. The first two laps just involved riding moderately and getting used to the track and having a few markers. After the time was up, we all pulled into the pits and cooled down.