The Honda India Talent Hunt is back, with its first round completed in Chennai. Since launching in 2018, the series has proved to be a key stepping stone for budding two-wheeler racers in the country. Through this, Honda 2Wheelers India is aiming to identify some of best young Indian riders and develop them for a racing career spanning national and international road racing and endurance championships.

• Winners will receive racing training from Honda 2Wheelers India
• They’ll also join the grid for the 2021 Honda India Talent Cup CBR150R

2021 Honda India Talent Hunt Round 1 in Chennai

The first round saw participation from 14 amateur riders, aged between 9 and 17 years old, from across the country. They were put through three different levels of tests covering physical fitness, as well as their riding skills and manoeuvrability on the racetrack.

Speaking about the initiative, Prabhu Nagaraj, senior vice president – brand and communications, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd., said, “2020 was a tough year globally. While we conducted one round of IDEMITSU Honda India Talent Hunt in January last year, we couldn’t continue it further due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Now that all the activities are slowly resuming, Honda has reignited the platform of IDEMITSU Honda India Talent Cup.”

He added that Honda is looking to train young Indian talent for a variety of international championships like the Asia Road Racing Championship and someday, even MotoGP - “Our quest to identify the next-gen rider has begun from the mecca of racing – Chennai – and we are delighted to see the overwhelming passion of the young boys. IDEMITSU Honda India Talent Hunt is just the start of their professional racing career. In long term, Honda’s focus is to put young Indian talent on multiple world-class platforms, from endurance racing to road racing like CEV, Asian Talent Cup, Asia Road Racing Championship, going up to premier class MotoGP. We are looking forward to great participation and enthusiasm for 2021 racing season.”

Winners to race in Honda India Talent Cup CBR150R 

The shortlisted candidates will receive training and move on to the second level, following which Honda will select the riders it wants to go ahead and work with. The finalists will then get the chance to join the grid for the Honda India Talent Cup CBR150R category in the 2021 Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (INMRC).