The 2017 Suzuki Gixxer Cup Championship gets underway this weekend at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore, India with a new line-up of enthusiastic young riders ready to make their mark aboard the Suzuki Gixxer SF motorcycle in this popular one-make, single platform series.
This season, the continued evolution of the Gixxer Cup sees Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited (SMIPL) join forces with JK Tyre Motorsport – the trendsetters for Indian Motorsport - as the organisers for the Suzuki Gixxer Cup 2017. After playing a pioneering role in identifying and nurturing India’s top racers for over two decades, JK Motorsport is ready to nurture potential world-class motorcycle racers in partnership with Suzuki Motorcycle India.
And, like last year, the Red Bull Road to Rookies Cup is back with the Suzuki Gixxer Cup to give a chance to the young and aspiring riders from India to get a foothold into the international racing arena. This is still the only platform of its kind in India, which provides the selected riders with a chance to participate in the Red Bull Rookies Cup Qualifiers in Spain later this year.
Last season’s Suzuki Gixxer Cup witnessed the first edition of the Red Bull Road to Rookies Cup; and after six races, spread across two rounds, Sachin Chaudhary from Ahmedabad was crowned the winner from seven talented, young Indian riders. He went on to represent India in Spain at the qualifiers of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.
Said Mr. Satoshi Uchida, Managing Director, SMIPL: “We are extremely pleased to announce our tie-up with JK Tyre to conduct the Suzuki Gixxer Cup 2017. This partnership between two pioneers can only lead to great things for Indian Motorsport. We are also equally happy to announce our continued partnership with Red Bull for the Road to Rookies Cup for a second year running. We look forward to another exciting year of racing and we are confident that we will raise the bar even higher this time.”
Both the Suzuki Gixxer Cup and the Red Bull Road to Rookies Cup will be run as a part of the prestigious 20th JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship 2017. While the Road to Rookies Cup will cater to riders between the ages of 12 and 16 years-old, the Suzuki Gixxer Cup will be for riders of 17 years and older.
A new addition this year has been the Rider Selection Program which has enabled Suzuki Gixxer Cup to get the best competitors from all corners of India to come and participate. The program has been held across all four zones of the country to scout for the best riding talent.
The 2017 Suzuki Gixxer Cup Championship will comprise three rounds at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore from July-to-September and the fourth and final round will be at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida in November.
2017 Gixxer Cup Championship Dates:
Round 1: July 7-9th (Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore)
Round 2: August 4-6th (Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore)
Round 3: September 1-3rd (Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore)
Round 4: November 17-19th (Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida)
The second edition of Red Bull Road to Rookies Cup will culminate at the third round at Kari Motor Speedway, as the selected rider will need to head to Spain to participate in the Red Bull Rookies Cup Qualifiers. The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, since its inception in 2007, has grown into one of the most thrilling two-wheel spectacles in the world. Every year, the level of competition has climbed and this year's intake is set to raise the bar yet again for the 11th running of the Cup.
