The name Sarath Kumar may not strike a chord yet. However, he is the new kid on the block. Sarath Kumar is all set to race at Italian Championships for Mahindra Racing. He is a young racer from India for whom driving, in fact racing, is a passion. He is on the international scene with one and only one ambition – to become India’s first MotoGP champion.

In fact, Sarath Kumar has already become the first Indian to race in a MotoGP. He will be a part of Italian Championship that will kick off next year. Before this, Sarath Kumar had taken part in WTR – Ten10 races. This race was held at the Portuguese GP. He had participated in the 125cc class.

Sarath Kumar did not have a very memorable experience at the Portuguese GP. He finished way back – at the 24th position. However, that was good enough to bring him notice for the acclaimed Mahindra Racing. He will now represent MR at the Italian GP in 2012. Sarath Kumar will team up with the local Riccardo Moretti. Without doubt, Sarath Kumar has expressed confidence about his success.

The rider is taking all the possible help that he can to prepare himself for the Italian Championship. The next MotoGP is in two year’s time from now – in 2013. So the next year’s championships matter a lot to Sarath Kumar, as this will give him enough time to not only prepare for the 2013 event, but also improve his performance.

As they say, behind every successful man, there is his mother. The same adage goes true for Sarath Kumar as well. The journey that Sarath Kumar has completed until now is due to this young man’s mother. Sarath Kumar has set two destinations for himself. The first is of becoming the first Indian MotoGP Champion and the second is to ride at the Indian GP.

The five people got into history books on last Friday when they were honored for their contribution in the motorcycle field for various reasons. They were honored during the 2011 AMA Visa Card from Capital One Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which took place in the United States.

The names of them are as follows: Phil Schilling, who is a magazine editor, the pioneer in the field of motorcycling Norbert Schickel, Stu Peters the motocross promoter, roadracing champion Doug Polen and industry leader Fred Fox. These five legends were included in the Hall of Fame Class of 2011.

Perry King, who is an actor, played the host of the glittering ceremony. Kenny Roberts and Roger DeCoster were also honored during the induction ceremony.  Both of them are icons in the world champion racing. It was one of its kinds of ceremony that had a crowd to its full capacity.

Jeff Heininger, who is the chairman of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, expressed his gratitude to the crowd that was present there in big numbers. It was due to them that money could be raised to support the Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

Phil Schilling

Phil Schilling was a teacher before devoting himself in the world of motorbike. Actually, it was Cook Neilson another Hall of Famer who suggested Phil Schilling be the managing editor of a magazine called Cycle Magazine. It was a well-accepted periodical that started in the 1970s.

Norbert Schickel

Norbert Schickel is known for his creative work in the designing and building of autos in the United States of America. Norbert Schickel went on to found the highly successful Schickel Motor Co. Norbert Schickel was responsible for designing many bikes during the boom of the industry in the US from around 1905 to 1915. The designs by Norbert Schickel were not only innovative but it also gave him the tag of an innovative designer.

Stu Peters

Stu Peters is easily the one and only motorcycle promoters since the olden times of the sport industry. The Continental Motosport Club is a company owned by Peters’ company. The company has been into promoting various kinds of motocross races for more than four decades now. Since then Stu Peters and his company has been an important part of the American motocross.

Doug Polen

Doug Polen has donned the titles of national and world road racing from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Doug Polen was one man show when it came to motorcycle road racing in the US and other important locations. He had won 45 out of the 51 events held under the Suzuki Championship Series tag in the year 1991.

Fred Fox

Fred Fox is the founder of Parts Unlimited that is one of the largest businesses in the world that deals in spare parts and accessories. The company has more than one thousand members of staff. Mr. Fox spoke very kindly about the industry and said that the industry has given a lot to him. He did not forget to acknowledge the hard work put in by the employees.

James Stewart – the AMA SX Racer, could not get away with the drama of impersonation and had to face arrest at the hands of the Orlando Police. James was arrested at the Orlando International Airport. He was arrested on March 28 and was released in the wee hours of March 29.

Actually, James Stewart, who is a two-time AMA Supercross Champion, tried to stop one other vehicle, with his 2008 Toyota Tundra pickup truck. For this he used the official red and blue lights – which are mostly used by the police. And as luck would have it, the people in that other vehicle turned out to be highway patrol officers who were off-duty then.

James was lost for words and thoughts when he came to know who the people inside that other vehicle were. What else could James Stewart do but to take to his heels? All the drama took place on the Florida State Route 417 just outside Orlando.

The off-duty officers instantly dialed 911 and called for help. It was only then that an Orange County deputy sheriff along with one Orlando police officer made sure James did not go at large. It was then that James Stewart was arrested for impersonating a police officer. There was one, Thames Jehrrod Quinault, from California who was also arrested. This person was arrested because he had messed about with the proof – hiding the red and blue lights.

If you want to know what the likes and dislikes of girls are, then turn to Chris Pfeiffer. Chris Pfeiffer, who is a well known biker, has disclosed what the girls like when speaking in an interview. Chris Pfeiffer is currently on a 10-city India tour. The cities where he will show off his stunt biking skills are Kolkata, Jaipur, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Cochin.

The India tour is organized in association with Red Bull. It will be held from March 21, 2011. The tour will conclude April 6. This is the second such tour. The previous tour was limited only to five cities. However, yet it was a roaring success. Keeping that in mind, this time, the tour was extended to 10 cities.

Some Questions Answered By Chris Pfeiffer:

When did you ride your first bike?
When I was just five! The moment is unforgettable.

Who gave you your first bike?
My father gave me my first bike, he had modified it to suit my age and, of course, the safety. I own 15 bikes now.

Did you take lessons for stunt biking?
I am a self-taught professional. I had intended on becoming a professor…I have studied till university level in physical training and Biology. Then I decided to take a break for a month and started riding. It’s been 16 years and that one month is yet to get over!

Stunt biking is often considered dangerous in some countries… do you think that’s about to change?
Riding is a passion for me and professional freestyle biking is something I enjoy. I have tried to give it a status of a sport and I’m glad the world is opening up to it and how!

Are Indian roads biking friendly?
Indian roads have a lot of pot holes but the garage areas, huge grounds etc are ideal. Having said that, even in Europe, it is very difficult to find a good space to practice.

What is it about India that you love most?
I love the warmth of people here. People across classes have a smile on their faces; they show so much enthusiasm and happiness.

What made you do a 10-city India tour?
I’ve come here for the second time in a row and, last year too, the trip had been phenomenal. India is extremely colourful and I was very excited to visit the other cities as well. People here are avidly passionate about bikes and sports, so all the more reason to try and give them a feel of freestyle biking.

Would you like to race with our biker boys here — actor John Abraham, cricketer Dhoni or VJ Rannvijay?
I did meet Dino Morea, John Abraham and Rannvijay last time. It was great to share and discuss the passion for bikes. I’d love to show them a couple of my stunts and do something together perhaps!

Where do you usually go biking?
To a motorsport and driving school area 10 minutes from my home in Germany.

Would you agree that girls love biker boys?
(Going visibly red) Girls do like biker boys but I am safely married and have three children. I do get some very embarrassing emails at times and, a lot of times, answer them with my wife around. But yes, the sport is such that both men and women like you (winks)!

Q/A::source

Something great to be called as a news for Chris Pfeiffer fans in India. The world freestyle motorcycle legend is set to revisit India in upcoming month.

The tour shall once again be organized by Red Bull and will be held between 21st March, 11 to 6th April, 11.

The last year Street Tour was a huge success although it was a short one and concise to some 5 cities. But this time the promise is large and extended to 10 cities. Chris is supposed to perform some Guerrilla shows too at some selected places.

The cities that shall witness Chris Pfeiffer performing some freestyle stunts are Kolkata, Jaipur, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Cochin. The champion will be riding his all time favourite, custom made BMW F800R and Beta Evo 300 4T.

Michael Schumacher – The Legend from F1 racing! Heard about him? I guess every Motorsport fan does. But have you seen him on two wheels? I don’t think every one has. Last year he participated in many rounds in IDM German SuperBike Championship but did not continue his racing career after the unfortunate incident that happened in Spain when he was on a test race at Cartegena Racetrack.

And the news rumor is that the German Racer has once again shown some interest in bike racing. It can be credited to the fact that Michael Schumacher recently flied to Sachsenring to test two latest super bikes from Honda and KTM.

Nevertheless, a career in motorcycle racing is not a good idea at all when you have already spent 4decades of your life on four wheels. Same was an advice conveyed to Michael Schumacher from Mick Doohan (World Champion in 500cc) and Mark Webber (F1 Racer).

Maybe he doesn’t fear speed but he should fear his age now!

A good news for Rossi fans who support Ducati team on tracks. Valentino Rossi has signed an agreement of 2yrs with Ducati Marlboro team and he will be seen riding Ducati from year 2011.It was a rumour since very past times and indeed a big project for Ducati which has finally overcome with a success.

Quote By Gabriele Del Torchio (President, Ducati Motor Holding)
“We are delighted to announce that Valentino Rossi will be with us from 2011. He is a paragon of excellence in the world of motorcycling, coherent with our Italian company which is a standard-bearer for “made in Italy” excellence. These are key values for success in technology, design and sportsmanship. In addition to the strong and passionate intent of both parties, this agreement has been made possible by the committed support of our shareholder Investindustrial and all the sponsors associated with the Ducati Marlboro Team, sponsors which have believed in this opportunity and share and support our choices.”

Quote By Filippo Preziosi (General Director, Ducati Corse)
“Firstly, Valentino is a great fan of motorcycles and so it has always been a pleasure for me to listen his opinions. Until the Valencia GP he will remain a competitor, one so great that he has always given a special value to our victories, but as soon as he rides the Ducati for the first time, we will work together on every single detail that will develop a bike capable of showing his huge talent. Working with Valentino is one of the most exciting things for every Engineer and it’s good to know we will have this great opportunity next season.”

Chris Pfeiffer, the world stunt champion quoted about RedBull Tour To India “India is going to be a bumpy ride, but I am looking forward to it”. The champ is impressing the spectators and gaining a huge fan club from India.

A journalist made it possible to have a chat with the champ to make him retort about the most inquisitive question about him that every Indian citizen is probing these days. And gathering the stuff, i thought to share with my readers is a good idea. Just have a look!

What is it with boys and toys?
Boys need toys and that’s true. And the older the boys, the bigger the toys! (laughs)
Which was your first bike that you rode?
KX 100
How old were you?
I was five and the bike was 50 years old, my dad modified and made it into a kids’ bike for me.
You started riding bikes at five. Didn’t you take any professional training?
I never took any training, I always practice by myself. My mechanic and my wife always keep filming me and I get feedback from them. I like to practice with young guys and they have lots of new ideas for me.
Which bike do you ride now?
BMW F800R, that’s my main love and I don’t change it. I have five identical BMW F800R bikes. Sometimes I don’t find even these five to be sufficient for my tour needs.
Why five identical bikes?
I always carry two bikes where I go. One acts as a spare bike because I don’t travel with a mechanic. So, if at times I have technical problems, I switch to the other. I always want to have exactly the same setup on all my bikes so that I can switch in between the bikes even during the show if something happens. My bike is my tool and you always need the same tool to be really good with it.
How can you travel without a mechanic?
My mechanic needs to work on my bikes at home. He can’t help me on the roads when I’m riding.
Do you subscribe to modification of bikes?
You need modification of bikes for our sport. I can’t ride for my shows on a stock bike. It isn’t possible. I need an additional hand break and other similar stuff.
How many bikes do you have in all?
Even I don’t even know! I think I have 12, and that includes five of my stunt bikes.
What draws you to biking and trying all these stunts?
Passion. It is all the doggedness. You need to work very hard and practice, and only if you have a passion to do it, will it happen.
Do you ride for fun?
Yes. After so many years, I still jump on the bike and try to improve and find new things. You forget what all is around you when you are on the bike. My bike is the best thing ever for me.
Where do you practice your stunts?
I have a motor sport area near my house in Germany which is just ten minutes away from where I live.
Which is that one stunt you can’t do?
360 stoppie. That means turn 360 degrees on the front wheel. And I can’t do it; honestly, I think my bike is not meant for it. Other bikers can do it, but I can’t. I can do a 270 easily but I think this 360 stunt is impossible on my bike. My bike is good in other things though.
You performed a skyscraper stunt on the roof of the BMW tower which was over three minutes in duration. How long can you hold the clutch in your next stunt?
Forever. I am strong with my fingers; my index finger can hold it for a long time.
And what about the bunny hop record where you jumped over 33 people lying next to each other?
I would not repeat that act again. It was stupid. I would not want to endanger other people ever again.
Do you get tired while performing?
After 10 minutes, I’m really exhausted. But when I’m practicing, I can go for two hours because you can take breaks.
What about your family, are they scared for you?
No. My wife knows me only like this; she met me when I was a stunt rider. She loves that I am living my dream but she is like me. She is also a very fast motorcyclist and a skier.
How long can you carry on with this daredevilry?
Forever! I’m kidding, I love what I do, my motivation is really high to continue but of course, the young guys are are very good. If my experience is good, my physical shape is good, I can continue for a couple of years.
Jean Pierre Goy has performed stunts in so many films, like The Dark Knight, Tomorrow Never Dies etc; are you going to do the same?
Not really. No plans. I see stunting as a sport and I don’t want to become a film stuntman. Maybe for the future, when I stop competing, maybe there could be a plan. But for now, I see it as a freestyle sport where I want to create new tricks and push the limit.
Who is the best stunt biker according to you?
There are several, but there is this Polish guy, who is the most talented. He is known by the nick name, Stunter 13. He may not be the best in everything but he’s the most complete. I don’t claim that I am the best in everything, but I can say that I am good in everything. The combination is good, maybe the best show rider, but I won’t claim I am technically the best rider.
You are known as the Godfather of stunt biking. Will you ever train people?
I will never do that. I never do workshops for beginners, I don’t like it. Imagine if there are eight people who want to learn a wheelie, out of those, two can do it easily, they don’t need a teacher; two are not talented and will never learn; and in between those, four guys are okay, who crash, so these people are not going happy from this experience. I think if you want to become a stunt rider, you need to have the confidence to try by yourself and get advice from the stunt riding community. Only if you are strong, you are okay, for the sport a dangerous and a difficult thing. I can’t imagine teaching beginners, but I can teach talented riders on a good level.
What do you know about India?
It’s another world and will be a big adventure for me. I am very interested in getting to know India, not as a tourist but by riding. And there will be so much of improvisation with so many people around, maybe bad roads, maybe problems with the food, and I know all the things that can happen to a European when they come to India. Still, I’m looking forward to it.
Is there any person who you would like to meet in India?
I will be very happy to meet Rannvijay, as he is also a bike enthusiast.
What have you heard about Indian roads?
They are very bumpy. Ride quality is not going to be the best but I’m sure we will find some nice venues.
Any plans of trying Motorsports GP?
I am over 40, maybe my next life. I’m not too much into road racing.

Extra Talks:
Most memorable and challenging stunt?
Climbing the Rock Wall in Italy.
Are you scared of heights?
No, not at all.
So you can climb anything?
Yes, even the Eiffel tower is no problem for me. I was a free climber, so hanging in the walls – it’s no problem for me
What are you scared of then?
I am scared of snakes, and trains. When a train crosses the road, I am always scared.

• 4-times World Champion Stunt Riding, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009
• 4-times European Champion Stunt Riding 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Winner Stuntwars 2006
• 4-times Winner Erzberg Red Bull Harescramble, Extreme Enduro Race, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2004
• German Youth Champion Trial 1985

INDIA TOUR SCHEDULE:

From April 29 Till May 07

Delhi: April 29: Amity University, Noida 11 AM DLF Place, Saket 5 PM.

Mumbai: May 01: In orbit Mall, Malad 5 PM.

Hyderabad: May 04: Prasads 5 PM.

Bengaluru: May 06: Kanteerava Stadium 5 PM.

Chennai: May 07: Besant Nabar Beach 5.30 PM.

The world’s MotoGP Champion and Fiat Yamaha rider – Valentino Rossi had a fall during a training session, fortunately, was not severely injured in the training fall and hopefully, will participate in the Grand Prix which will be held at Japan in the next weekend.