A strong wind picked up a dozen years back in Chennai. Today after all those years, that wind which started off as a 21 year old lad is a hurricane which has taken Indian Motorcycle Racing by storm. Rajini Krishnan is by far the most decorated motorcycle track racer that India has had in the recent past.
Photo: Joseph Raja Singh
Rajini had his first visit to the track at the not so young age of 21 and the very next year, he jumped into the fray and won the 150cc 2 stroke Championship in 2003. From there was no looking back as he racked up the National Championships having won 11 of them on the trot and still winning in the 2013 season. As he won the inaugural race at Buddh International Circuit on the 15th of September.
Photo: Joseph Raja Singh
Photo: Bala Vijay
Photo: Bala Vijay
The Triple 600cc National Champion is a self made man. He only needed to hear the sound of powerful bikes vrooming past him to get addicted to the adrenaline rush and he then went ahead and taught himself the fine art of motorcycle racing. A disciple with only himself to follow, his greatest challenge in his initial years was having to race with inferior machinery. Only after he showed his potential by getting regularly onto the podium with his lower spec bike, did he manage to grab the attention of the bigger teams. TVS and Red Rooster played an important part in helping him develop and evolve.
In a motorcycle racing career, as in life there are many firsts, the first podium the first win and the first championship. Sometimes there are other overlooked firsts as well. Like the first time that this champion rode abroad, what struck him most was the level of facilities provided to racers. The basic feeling of being given importance, was something that Rajini experienced for the first time when he rode in Japan thanks to Red Rooster Racing. The first thing that he does before every race, is to start with a small prayer. He is also the first Indian to be sponsored by another country in the form of QMMF at the Losail Championship.
Photo: Joseph Raja Singh
Photo: Glarry
At the age of 35 (a year younger than his idol Valentino Rossi), racing against young upstarts trying to snatch the crown might get a bit difficult, but Rajini draws inspiration from Max Biaggi who won the World Superbike Championship at the age of 40 in 2012. Dedication towards his goals is what keeps him ahead of the rest. He keeps it simple – “You do what needs to be done!” But fortunately for him his wife is extremely supportive of him in this dangerous sport and his nephew always accompanies him on every race, thus allowing him to concentrate all his energies on the racing.
A sport like motorcycle racing takes its pound of flesh and Rajini has had his fair share of crashes. The worst being in 2009 in Coimbatore where he crashed into the barriers at 180 kph. A speed that we can hardly imagine riding at. He severely dislocated his shoulder and strained his nerves, while injuring his back as well. That injury caused grief for the next 2 years and even now he is reminded of the accident every time the temperatures dip. After special training to strengthen the muscles, his body slowly recovered to allow him to race again. To maintain his fitness levels he indulges himself with cycling, swimming and enjoys the odd game of badminton as well.
Rajini Krishnan understands the problems one has to face to race in India. With almost zero support, all the young guys who love riding, don’t have access to track or monitory funds to indulge in such an expensive sport. He advices young aspiring racers to have the correct attitude with truckloads of grit and determination and hunger to succeed. He believes that one should not forget their ethics and roots when in the glamorous motorcycle racing world. There is a lot of negative attitude that one will face when they start off their careers and one needs to capable of rising above that. Though a lot has changed, but still the lackadaisical attitude hasn’t changed much in the last 12 years. The only welcome addition is the Buddh International Circuit, a track of world standards.
The highlight of Rajini’s career so far was when the Indian National Anthem was played in Qatar at the Losail Asian Championship, for his win in the 600cc race. The icing on the cake was that he was flanked by his fellow riders Gautham and Deepak. He success though had a bitter tinge to it as he recollects – “I felt so proud and complete, to know that my hard work had paid off well. But was so sad people in India did not know about that.” The media will roll off reams of print for a broken finger of a cricketer, but these gladiators do not get a mention when they put their life on the line to keep the tricolour flying high.
Rajini has his head placed very firmly on his shoulders, as he will believe in himself as long as he can get up there on the podium, but once he is done with racing professionally, he will take up cudgels to traing youngsters so that they can have a head start in their racing careers. The champion leans into the 2014 season, where he will be racing in two championships. In the Indian National Championship, he will race under Team Moto REV in the 600cc category and in Qatar he will race in the Losail Championship with QMF with a 1000cc motorcycle. xBhp wishes him the very best in his future endeavors.
Photo: Adhitya
Photo: Bala Vijay
