TVS’s YMRP is no stranger to the Indian auto journalist fraternity. It’s where many of us were trained and where we honed our skills. Given the reputation of our roads, it’s an opportunity many of us look forward to. After qualifying in 2018 but having to step away from the races due to personal reasons, this year felt like redemption. And what a ride it was.
A bit of rust, a lot of nerves
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous going in. While I had some pre-COVID track experience under my belt, those sessions were few and far too long ago. Muscle memory fades, instincts dull, and rust has a way of creeping in when you’re away from the racetrack for too long. As we arrived at MMRT in Chennai on a hot, humid day and began gearing up, I realised the weather wasn’t in our favour, and I would need to conserve as much energy to get through the long and well-scheduled day.
Back to school
In the classroom, we had the ever-patient multiple-time national champion Harry Sylvester, while track drills were conducted by other TVS champions – Jagan Kumar and KY Ahmed. We were divided into multiple batches, and each one was escorted by one of the aforementioned riders, who spent most of their time looking back in hopes of spotting any rider mistakes.
The training was split across three practice sessions: the first focused on mastering racing lines and braking markers, the second on body positioning and lean angles, and the third on launch starts and aggressive braking. It was intense but methodical and, more importantly, confidence-building.
What surprised me most was how much I remembered once I was back on the bike. Things I hadn’t thought about in years just began falling into place. However, I did catch myself using my arms to haul myself back up from a lean, a rookie mistake. Sylvester was quick to point it out, showing me how to use my thighs instead. That one correction made a world of difference in how fluid and stable I felt through the switchbacks.
A stitch in time saves nine
One of the unsung heroes of the YMRP programme is how seriously TVS takes safety. Each session was preceded by alcohol tests, full gear inspections, and clear briefings.
Riders were equipped with either KYT or Alpinestars FIM-compliant helmets, Alpinestars airbag vests, leather suits, gloves, and chest protectors. Knowing that the safety nets were in check, we could focus on riding at the limit without fear.
Ride for the day
This year’s race machine was the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, dressed in Petronas livery and shod with gold wheels. I’ve ridden this bike before in road trim, but in race-spec, it’s a very different beast. With a free-flow exhaust giving it a proper raspy bark and stripped-down instrumentation forcing me to ride by ear and feel, the RTR demanded a more connected, analogue approach.
At first, the skinny tyres did create a mental block, but lap after lap, I leaned further, inching toward the limit until I could feel either my footpeg or knee touch down. That’s when trust took over, and I began getting more comfortable hanging off the bike.
15 minutes to make it count
The qualifying session was the final chapter of the day and possibly the most nerve-wracking. Split into three batches, I found myself in one of the quicker groups, surrounded by riders who were not messing about. The strategy was simple: get to the front, create a gap, and ride clean. As soon as the session began, adrenaline took over. I focused on putting everything I’d learnt into practice, like nailing entry speeds, finding clean exits and braking late but smoothly.
Fifteen minutes went by in a blur. I had no idea what my lap times were, and I was quite uncertain if I qualified. When I eventually learned I’d qualified 5th out of 42 participants with a best lap time of 2:25, I was exhilarated but also a little pensive. I knew I was quicker back in 2018, and the competitive side of me couldn’t help but notice that gap.
However, this wasn’t about the past but about progress, and I was happy to be back in the race by the end of it. This qualifier was just the beginning. My first race in this ninth edition of the YMRP is slated for the second week of June, and I already find myself counting down the days. I look forward to extracting the most from this programme and inching closer to the rider I know I can be.
