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Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Interview: TVS One Make Championship winner Saimah Baig opens up on her racing journey
HT Auto: What made you join racing in the first place? Saimah: When I was a kid, I wanted to learn how to ride a bike, and at that time I aspired to race on a race track. Once I learned how to ride a motorcycle, I wanted to race. But I did not find a safe environment so I never got into that kind of stuff. And as a kid, I used to start to look up at what are the opportunities, what are the things, where can you professionally race? That's when I came across the TVS One Championship. But back in those days, unlike now, there were not so many resources to check on how you can get on board. So I decided to wait. And of course that helped me as well because I could brush up my skills, become a better rider and get some more saddle time. So, in 2022 I enrolled for the TVS One Week Championship. We had a city selection round and then the final selection round. The city selection round for me was in Bombay. And that's when I went in with a very open mindset because I had never, ever been on a race track at that point. And I was not looking or expecting anything out of it. I just went with a very I want to learn out of this day and I want to just make the most out of learning how to ride on the I did outperform myself, so I did get selected. That's when my journey began, and from there I never looked back. Also Read : Win or learn: My first track day experience with TVS Young Media Racer Program From learning to ride a motorcycle on a friend's bike to competing professionally, Saimah has a come a long way HT Auto: How has your skillset grown from the first season to now the fourth season in the championship? Saimah: The support I got from TVS in terms of getting the race suit, the bike prep, all of those kinds of things. Basically they provided a very safe environment with trainers. So that kind of helped and groomed me into becoming a good racer, not just somebody who's going and doing running here and there. The first season was the most challenging because by then there were goals coming from pan India; people who had more experience than me. My first season when I went the first time on my race track, it was like I was running helter-skelter. I could not figure out the corners, my braking marker, nothing, because it was like being on a big track. And there, during my first season, I've had crashes. I did not qualify for the race in the qualifying round. I literally sat down with the track map with my TVS trainer to help me. I was fighting to get on the podium and fighting with the top bunch of girls from all over India who were there. The top racers you can say of India and everyone wanted the championship, so TVS provided me the platform and it really helped me improve my skill. The first season is what shaped me because I did not take the setback. I wanted to come back and become a better racer and perform better. That was my mindset in every race. The first season is where in my last round, I fractured my leg. So in fact my family, everyone thought that's it. Maybe you should not get back to this. But for me, that was the position I was fighting for when I broke my leg, I was on the podium. By Round 5, if I have improved so much, I can do much better when I come back and that's what I did when I came back in Season 2. My second season, in 2023, was a little more calm. I was a little more pre-planned for my races. I tried to work more on my fitness, I tried to get more track time before I could come for a race. I used to come and check out what my preparations are with my technician. In fact, the entire technical team at TVS is very supportive. If I come back with feedback, then they will always ask, is your bike perfect? Do you need anything to be changed?.Is your throttle fine? I was a little more confident and a little more calm before a race in 2023. And I did secure podiums in 2023, but I could not come first in the championship. I came 4th that time. But like I said, again, even that point it sort of pushed me that if I have been able to go from sixth or seventh, to getting just one podium in my first season, I am able to now move one step higher, get second or third on the podium. That was the mindset. I knew that I had to be on my A1 game from the first race, no questions asked. HT Auto: What was your family's reaction about your decision to go racing? Saimah: My family has been very, very supportive and while they were very hesitant in the beginning, they never stopped me from it. They were only scared that iif this a safe sport which for them dangerous. I made sure to take my parents with me to the track so that they can see what the environment is like and absorb all that. To the person from the outside, it looks just like track time. But everything that goes behind also matters. Before we sit on the bike, TVS conducts all the checks including the bike, riding gear, helmet, gloves, riding suit, and boots. Everything is as per the norms. We all know motorsport is dangerous, you can crash in a race. It's part of the sport. So while you crash, you have to make sure that you've taken precautions. Once my parents came and saw the environment, they realised what was happening. When I had my crash in front of my parents and they were scared, and they were scared to death like. But it was just a fracture. In some of my crashes, I came out with just a scratch, so that sort of helped them become more confident. Plus, I really wanted to chase this dream of mine. HT Auto: What's the first steps, according to you, that you can take to make things easier at home when pursuing motorsport? Saimah: You can just go Google stuff, check out the social media of the brands and you will have all the information there. Regardless of gender, anyone who wants to probably get a chance, can get an opportunity and be out there. To convince your parents, you need to probably sit down and talk to them and make them aware about the sport. If you see something like IPL (Indian Premier League) or any cricket match, pretty much people in India know about it, even somebody who's not a fan of cricket. In the end, it is a leather ball that can still injure you. I feel you need to make your parents and people around you more aware about the sport. You need to go show them what the races are like. These are the basic mandatory stuff that we need to take care of. HT Auto: You are now moving to the Apache RR 310 category this year? Tell us more Saimah: You have to move one step above right every time you achieve something. It's not like you settle down and you're like, okay done. I'm enrolling for the RR 310 category, which will be an all-open grid. So I'll be racing with existing boys, champions and all the fastest riders across India and that is something I am looking forward to. I have been trying to work more on my skill set now. It will be about getting used to the new bike. Thanks to TVS, I have the bike now with me so I can brush up my skills with that. TVS recently gifted Saimah the Apache RTR 310 streetfighter for winning the One Make Championship HT Auto: You were recently gifted the TVS Apache RTR 310 by the company. How different is riding the street bike compared to your race bike? Saimah: Compared to the race bike, it's very different, but as a motorcycle as a whole, the first time that I wrote it here once I took the motorcycle, I was actually very surprised because the one thing which I actually personally like the most about the bike, it's an exceptionally lightweight bike. So that combination of having that much power and being so lightweight, it really enhances the entire experience of riding. Over the weekend, I could really confidently open the throttle wide open and corner or just swing through traffic. Also, it's very flickable and lightweight. I cannot wait to take something like this on the race track because that's where I can actually test the whole potential right on the road. On a race track, I think it'll be a beast. HT Auto: What can budding women riders do who want to try out their luck in racing? Saimah: If you are really passionate about motorcycles and you are learning now. When I started out, I did not always have a bike. I don't come from a family who's into motorsports. Leave aside being a girl and being into motorsport, none of the boys in my family are into motorsport or bikes for that matter. You need to go out there. Speak up for yourself. Don't hold back. What I did was very simple. Went up there. Told them [friends], this is what I want to learn. My friends are pretty supportive. They also hesitated a little but were supportive. They said, 'we'll teach you." But I would say that for anyone who wants to learn, or you know, you're passionate and you want to just chase something. Get a chance out of it, don't wait. Now-a-days, you can go and learn at riding schools at a small cost and expenses. If you cannot afford that, just learn the basics - learn how to ride a bike, try to get as much as time as you can - and once you have that kind of an opportunity like selections, you can just go test yourself out. That's what I did. I had not done any sort of a training programme before I went for the TVS One Make selections. I looked at the One Make selection as my one chance. This is where I can go and test myself. Am I ready or not? HT Auto: What's the long-term goal for you? Is international motorsport space something you would like to pursue? Saimah: I really do want to do that because every time you achieve something you want to take it one step higher, right? So for me, starting off with the TVS One Make championship, the girls category grid, I want to move up to the open category RR 310 and probably after that, if TVS has more options, I would want to explore that as well. If I am am able to improve myself in due course of time, I would look at going international as well. I also want to explore different formats of racing. Let's say you look at any of the MotoGP riders or the top riders of the world. They do not restrict themselves to one particular format because getting into different formats, exploring all that, giving yourself the exposure of different formats is only going to improve you as a rider. Women-friendly racing programs are the need of the hour, Saimah says, as more young girls are taking their first steps towards motorsport HT Auto: What more can other brands do to make it more inclusive for women? Saimah: I think the concept of getting a pure race grid just for girls, is something I give TVS credit for. Just having women sort of helps because you're not throwing someone new to the sport directly to compete with the boys or like the top bunch. You're giving them sort of a platform where they can get their basics correct. We can get an experience of what racing is like and feel inclusive. I think a lot of other brands also need to come up with things like this if they are looking at coming anywhere close to where TVS is right now. So, if you have an all-women's grid or an all-women's championship, I think that sort of helps us. As somebody who wants to come into racing, it sort of makes you feel like this is an opportunity to not just go and try but also achieve something. Because you have a higher chance of winning, you have a higher chance of getting better in that particular discipline, one step at a time. TVS started in 2016 and it's been a good journey so far. Check out Upcoming Bikes In India. First Published Date: 17 May 2025, 17:32 PM IST
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Win or learn: My first track day experience with TVS Young Media Racer Program
The 9th edition of the TVS YMRP was hosted at the Madras International Circuit. Check Offers Watching automotive motorsports on a television screen looks glamorous with high speeds, close calls and the second-hand fear that is instilled in you seeing unfortunate crashes. However, watching on television is a whole different ordeal than being in on the action in the flesh. After being an automotive enthusiast my whole life, I recently got the opportunity to experience the action first-hand. TVS organised the ninth edition of its Young Media Racer Program. This initiative is designed to nurture and identify young motorbike racing talent in India. TVS has been deeply involved in racing since 1981, starting with 50 cc mopeds and now making history as the first to introduce electric two-wheeler racing in 2023. It's clear that racing is in their DNA, and I felt privileged to be part of that legacy. The training and qualifying sessions were held at the iconic Madras International Circuit in Chennai. This writer was one among 42 journalists and content creators under the age of 30 who got this opportunity to go through Level-1 training, followed by a qualification session. With very little motorbike riding experience, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to hone my two-wheeler riding skills. Here's a quick roundup of everything I experienced during this intense one-day program. TVS Young Media Racer Program: Meeting the mentors The day kicked off bright and early at 8 am, as we gathered in the pits. After a quick group photograph, we were introduced to our instructors for the day—Harry Sylvester, Jagan K, Ahamed KY, and Arvind Ganesh. With years of racing experience and multiple championship wins under their belts, their presence instilled confidence in us rookies. The instructors were professional riders themselves. Ahamed KY, the first Indian to enter Moto3, was also a part of this crew. TVS Young Media Racer Program: Understanding the rules Our first session was a crucial one—a briefing where the instructors walked us through the dos and don'ts of racing. It wasn't just about speed, it was about respect on the track, safe overtaking, and discipline. We went over critical track safety rules like not riding in the opposite direction and how to properly exit and enter the pits after a session. TVS Young Media Racer Program: Race flags, racing line and engine braking Next, we dived into learning race communication through flags. These colour-coded flags are the only form of communication between track officials and riders. Each carried a specific message, whether it was a hazard ahead, a race-suspended situation, or a caution signal. We were then taught about the racing line, the fastest and most efficient way around the track, as well as using the corner-apex-corner method. We were also introduced to the concept of engine braking. The first practice session on the track involved staying in fourth gear and avoiding using the brakes entirely, letting the engine do the braking. We also practised the pit-entry hand signal, something I made sure to remember every time I came back into the pits. TVS Young Media Racer Program: Gearing up Once the first theory session was done, it was time to suit up. But before putting on our safety gear, each of us had to pass a breathalyser test, followed by a gear scrutiny check once we were suited up. Safety is taken very seriously, and rightly so. Suiting up is no easy feat; and getting into the suit required a decent amount of effort and strength. The racing gear had the riders well compressed and protected to avoid cramping of muscles and protect in case of a crash. But it was all worth it as I finally got to sit on the bike, the race-spec TVS Apache RTR 200 4V. At first glance, these machines have been stripped of non-essential elements like headlamps and turn indicators. The bike sports a lightweight build and a free-flow exhaust that roars with a raspy growl. The clutch and brake levers have been upgraded to more durable and adjustable ones. The gearbox felt notchy, which worked well with the kind of boots we were wearing and helped avoid accidental shifts. ABS was disabled, and there was no rev counter or speedometer. It was clear this wasn't a regular Apache 200. It was a lean, mean racing machine. With a slight press of the switch, the bike came to life. Others were already enjoying revving their engines to the limiters. TVS Young Media Racer Program: Lessons and practice It was finally time to hit the track. I started my bike and followed the instructors for a few familiarisation laps. They pointed out key markers like apex points and marshal positions. So far, so good, I thought to myself as we returned to the pits to continue the next round of theory. The second lesson focused on riding posture and cornering techniques. We were told to position the ball of our foot on the pegs, among other insightful techniques. After the lesson, I got back on the bike to put everything into practice. This time, the pace increased, and trying to remember multiple things at once made me forget one of the most basic instructions: "Look where you want to go." I only remembered this when I noticed dirt near the edge of the track. I looked at it to remind myself to avoid it but ended up staring at it too long. You can probably guess what happened next—I went wide and off track, onto the grass. My bike wobbled and every warning bell inside my head started going off. I quickly regained composure, let go of the throttle, and swerved slightly to the left. What a save! I assured myself. Riders needed to be focused on the track, looking where they wanted to go instead of where they were. Noting my mistake, I worked on fixing it in the next few laps. I started gaining confidence, touching higher speeds, and leaning the bike with more control. With increasing speed came more wind pressure, so I crouched and hugged the tank to stay aerodynamic on the straights. By the end of the session, I was far more aware of the risks involved in racing. Naturally, I felt even more nervous about the final qualifying round. The third practice session took place after another theory session where we learned about race starts, formation laps, and braking points. I did my best to absorb everything and carry that knowledge onto the track. TVS Young Media Racer Program: Qualifying round Finally, after all the training, it was time to put our skills to the test. We were given 15 minutes on the track to set our fastest lap. This would determine who qualified for the TVS One Make Championship. I was still anxious about taking corners too fast and crashing, but I gave it my all, pushing myself and the bike with every lap. I knew I wasn't going to beat riders who had been riding for years, but I wanted to end the day as a better rider than I was when I started. TVS Young Media Racer Program: What I learnt Riding under the scorching Chennai sun is no joke but I pushed through every session, learning more with every lap. At the end of a super intense day, I realised that racing is all about winning or learning. There's no room for mistakes on the track. Once you're out there, you need to give it everything you've got. You have to be fit—physically and mentally—to make it through. Winning the race requires so much more than just speed. It's about control, awareness, and a relentless drive to improve. Although this experience was my first, I'm positive that more time on the track would bring a lot more learning to me. Not just that, it would even help hone my skills on the road and inculcate a habit of safer riding. Check out Upcoming Bikes In India. First Published Date: 15 May 2025, 17:20 PM IST
