Rajiv Sethu finishes 14th, scores two more points at Suzuka Asia Road Racing Championship
India’s Rajiv Sethu managed to finish at the 14th place in the fourth round of the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARCC) at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan. As many as nine riders had to crash out of the round but Sethu secured two more points for Honda racing after Sunday’s race at Suzuka.
Rajiv, who had started the round 13th on the grid, was off to a great start and was placed seventh before the last corner of the first lap. However, poor visibility for the Indian rider led to his fall in the round and he had to eventually settle down at the 14th place at the end of the fourth round of the ARCC.
“A great start pushed me to 7 but second lap onwards it was very difficult to ride due to visor fog. I couldnt see corners and water patches ahead and started dropping positions. I decided to open my visor in lap 3 but the water back-splash of riders before me held me back. By lap 5, rain stopped for a bit and I pushed hard with rider bunch,” Sethu said after the race, reported Sportstar.Â
“Taking the slipstream advantage, I made a move in the last corner of race and finished 14. Zhuhai will be a new track for all riders. Whoever learns fast will make gains and I will push harder there.”
The other Indian in the round, Senthil came up with a good show at Suzuka and managed to end at the 20th place. He had started the race at the 24th position but managed to jump four places in the last two laps of the round to eventually finish in top 20.
“Today’s race was the toughest race for me till now. Not only is Suzuka a tough technical track in itself but the rain and wind made it really hard to push. It’s the first time that I rode in this condition. The first three laps I was blinded by fog in today’s rain,” explained Senthil.
“I was opening the visor in every straight and cleaning it to avoid crash. It was only by the 4 lap that I started to make gains and finished 20th. Next up Zhuhai is not only a new track for me but all riders. Hopefully I will learn fast and do better there.”