When it comes to two-wheeler racing in India, Shyam Kothari’s name doesn’t need an introduction. One of the most well-known veterans of the sport, Shyam’s association with TVS Racing dates back to the late eighties. With the distinction of having been crowned national champion in various different disciplines of motorcycle racing, Shyam possesses a treasure trove of experiences and insights about motorsport in India. In this interview with the legend, we try to discover what motorcycle racing was like back in the day, and how it has transformed over the years.
When and how did your association with TVS Racing begin?
It was around 1988-89. I was doing considerably well as a privateer then. Car & Bike magazine was hosting a dirt track race in Pune, and that is where I met Arvind Padgaonkar from TVS Motor Company, who offered me a place to ride for TVS Racing. What began as a small step towards racing for me and TVS, developed into a full-fledged union that lasted over a decade and we won across almost all disciplines of motorcycle racing - motocross, hill-climbs, rallying, and even road-racing.
Your best memory on a TVS race machine?
Well, we have so many stories accumulated over those years of racing with TVS that I will share a few from varying disciplines. Around the early nineties, we had the Sinhagad Hill-climb that was conducted near Pune. TVS was a new name in the sport, and they had just delivered a newly set up motorcycle to me for the hill-climb event. During the first two practice days, the bike kept feeling under-powered, and we were struggling with our speed. It was a small outfit with just one technician and I, trying to get the best output from the engine. On Saturday night, a day before the final run, TVS flew a new engine to Pune. We picked it up from the airport and set it up overnight into the existing frame of the motorcycle. Early in the morning, we did some test runs with it, and I was able to find my form and speed. All that effort and commitment helped me set a record time for the hill climb and take the win. That was a perfect moment for us as a new and upcoming team and helped to put us all in the limelight.
I remember back then, there used to be a six-event dirt championship. Participants had to finish all the events, and depending on the point standings, the champion would be chosen. We had a good position in the standings and looked like we could take the top spot. Unfortunately, towards one of the last stages, a bus approached too aggressively around a turn and I was pushed off the road. The bike and I both went down a cliff, but thankfully a lot of tree cover broke our fall, and the bike got stuck between the trees. Soon enough, the nearby villagers came for help, and we pulled the bike up with ropes and a lot of manpower. I lost considerable time there, but we still managed to finish second in the final championship standings.
Another solid memory is from road-racing championships which were primarily held at various airstrips across the country. The Juhu air-strip in Mumbai was a popular venue for road-racing. TVS was elevating its presence in this particular genre of racing, and Arvind Padgaonkar asked me to come and check out the races. During one of the practice sessions, the leading rider for TVS had a nasty fall and broke his leg. With just a day between practice and final races, there wasn't much time to sign up a new rider. Arvind asked if I would like to give it a try. I had never participated in a road-race before and this was all new for me. But I decided to give it a try anyway. I began the practice and by the end of it, as I rode into the pits, the team said I was in the top two positions consistently. I won that round and then continued to win the remaining championship. It was in 1992, and we as team TVS Racing won the overall championship. For the same year, I was also awarded the Rookie of the Year award.
How was racing motorcycle development back in the day?It was all trial and error. There was no telemetry data or large crew with modern-day machinery. It was a continuous process of learning and development where countless hours were spent on the track to ride and develop a competitive race motorcycle. Every time a new part was designed, we would go ride and come back with our feedback. On some days we would break it beyond repair. But it was always understood that this is part and parcel of the development process and required to master the craft of racing. Back in the factory, the components would be re-made or modified based on rider feedback and inputs. The most tedious task was building a sound suspension system for motocross. Every free practice was timed with date, duration and a detailed description of what happened. Whatever positive outcomes came out of us using that setup and components, TVS would implement it within their R&D for their production models.
Road racing has evolved with advanced electronic riding aids over the last few years. The motocross machinery is still relatively more mechanical. Why is that so?
I believe motocross is more about the durability of the bike and the rider’s skill and endurance. It is less about outright speed and more about the persistence of the man and machine. Road-racing deals with phenomenal speeds which require finer details to be addressed carefully for improvement and safety. In motocross, the bike has to be more durable and has to endure the beating it takes on the rough terrain. Same goes for the rider competing in motocross. Since the speeds are relatively lesser, the need for electronics to alter the bike’s behaviour or character is also minimal. A mechanical modification can yield the required results without having to step into the rich and complex world of electronics. Also, mechanical processes are more reliable and more comfortable to fix than electronics. So when you go racing, anything that eats up time is working against your goal.
You have seen the genesis of TVS Racing and been a part of that history. Where does it lead to from here for the Indian giant?
TVS has always been serious about racing. It has shown commitment from the very onset of their involvement in the sport, and that is why it is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition in Indian two-wheeler racing. The company understands how racing works and also the benefits it draws from all the racing-induced development. When we began our association in 1988, we had a small shed to work in within the company premises. But as we grew and started getting good results, within a span of just 6-7 years, we had a full-fledged facility with all the toys, dynos and equipment at our disposal. TVS was the first to set up a separate racing division, which not many other Indian manufacturers can boast about even today. The whole TVS racing outfit was never an after-thought propelled by marketing but instead a force to drive R&D, to churn out better products for the masses. Now, the company has already ventured into international events like Dakar, and it is only a matter of time that newer and younger talent from the TVS family will be out chasing top spots on the podium at various international events.
Wise words for the beginners who want to get into racing today?
Start early! If you start your racing lessons after you are 18 or 19 years of age, it is way too late to venture and compete at the international level. Back in our day, it was compulsory to have a riding license to compete in a racing event. Today, that is not required. Kids can start early on, as soon as they turn seven, which I think is a great age to start riding and understand the world of motorcycle racing. As you are younger, your body copes better, and you have better grasping power as well as a higher risk-taking ability. By the time you are in your mid-teens, you have covered all the basics and essentials of racing and are at par with international athletes, provided you train and practice with dedication towards your goals.