Here at TeamKART, our expertise has primarily been working with Formula Student Cars. However, being immensely passionate about motorsport, we had this perennial urge to explore other domains related to it too. Hence, one fine day we invited Mr. Ashish Rungta who is an Indian national-level motorcycle racer and an Indian National drag race winner, to shed some light on the many differences between automobile racing, which we are used to and motorcycle racing- Ashish’s area of expertise.
“Ihave had a tendency to go fast on the road since my school days, racing on the road on scooters”, says Ashish, as he elaborates on how he entered the world of motorsport. While he started racing in 2016, he notes that some kids start racing from as early as 6 years old on dirtbikes! The motorbikes driven by racers like Ashish fall into two broad categories- stock bikes and pro-stock bikes, Ashish having raced both. Stock bikes are slightly modified road superbikes and pro-stock bikes are fully custom-built for racing all the way from the engine to the chassis. The chassis of a pro-stock bike is even made to measure for the driver! To further emphasize the difference between a pro-stock and a semi-stock bike, Ashish says “racing with a semi-stock bike against a pro-stock bike is like going to a war empty-handed”.
A quintessential part of motorsport is the on-track experiences that stay with a person lifelong. We, at TeamKART, have had our fair share of on-track memories that we will always treasure, and some that came with valuable learnings. Ashish recalls his memorable on-track experiences as he talks about how some crashes that he had had taught him a lot and made him a better driver. He goes on to talk about how racing has made him a more mature person. He has now become a more cautious driver and if he knows a move is not going to happen, he doesn’t go for it.
“My crashes have actually grown me as a person. because I know how important life is now. Before, I used to think ‘just go, race’, but once you start racing and become mature, you start realising that it is not only you, but a fellow racer on the track as well that you have to care for.”
Performing on track, however, is only half the battle. Every car made by TeamKART is a result of a lot of labour, and the drivers undergo intense physical training. It is important for a racecar driver to have strong arms, especially when there is no power steering, and a strong neck to withstand the intense G-forces that are a part of high-speed cornering. Motorcycle racers like Ashish, on the other hand, need to make their body as a whole very strong, in order to withstand crashes that are a part and parcel of racing. Full body strength also plays another important role in motorbikes. Unlike cars, the aerodynamics of a motorbike is heavily dependent on driver position. Turbulent air comes crashing on the driver at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour. It takes a massive amount of core strength to resist this flow of air and to orient one’s body against it. Driver position also has another important role to play in enhancing the stability of the vehicle. Unlike Formula Student cars, where the driver position is static, the driver can affect the center of gravity of a motorbike to a great extent, having an impact on its stability. The rider should keep their body as low as possible, at all times which is why it is important for moto racers to regularly hit the gym and maintain a good physique.
The actual racing lines (the optimal path to take around a corner) also significantly differ between four and two-wheelers, with the latter being a lot more smooth and flowing. Motorbikes also do not have the ability to take curbs, which is why racing lines in their case avoid them. Unfortunately, getting on track was something the vast majority of the motorsports community couldn’t do when the Covid-19 pandemic hit us in 2020. At TeamKART, we spent the majority of the lockdown refining the design of the K6. It was, however, a different story with Ashish. He still attended numerous races, with special permits in place. These events, however, were not ordinary ones- they were marred with supply difficulties. Ashish recalls one specific event, where he had to make a single pair of tyres last for two whole weeks!
“Car racing lines are very very sharp. Cars often brake at the last moment and take sharp turns, while moto racing lines are a lot more flowing. Also, two cars may fit into a corner, but the third may or may not. In moto racing, however, multiple bikes can fit in a corner and if we see an overtaking opportunity, the temptation to go for it is very strong.”
Different as our disciplines are, TeamKART shares one attribute with Ashish and with the broader motorsport community- we never rest on our laurels, and keep continually striving to better our craft. Winning a season doesn’t guarantee success in the next. It is easy for a talented engineer or for a quick driver to tip the status quo in a matter of months. Motorsport is an immensely challenging avenue- one which requires a lot of effort to get to and stay on the top. But again, that is what makes it as thrilling as it is!
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