20 April 2008: Mysore, India.

H.K.Pradeep of Team TVS Racing won the Apache RTR Rally of Mysore 2008, the with a minute and 8 seconds to spare, astride an Apache RTR. He logged 42.01 penalties.  The 25 year old Executive from Bangalore, who placed overall first in the first rally of the FMSCI INRC 2008, and in the Group B (modified) category, 130-160 cc, is a well known name in the Motorsport world the past 5 years. "I was a little worried when I entered the rally, because I did not participate in any event the whole of 2007(his family was not for it), and I was on a fresh bike, the Apache.

But when I did the testing at the TVS factory, and did the recee yesterday, I felt more confident. So I was planning for a finish in the top 3. Once the rally was on, and I started getting used to the bike, the confidence level went up and when my main competition made mistakes, I capitalized on that. I am thrilled to have won a rally and thank my team for all their support". Asked whether he would do the full series, Pradeep said, "It all depends on my family. I hope they give me a chance". Pradeep is a Dirt Racer, Motocross Rider, and a Rallyist. He has won the most demanding Raid-de-Himalaya in Group D (un-modified) class and placed 3^rd overall in 2003. He was the Group B 4 stroke upto 250 cc National Champion in 2005 and 2006, in the MRF National Supercross series. In 2006, he also won the Group D 4 stroke National Supercross Championship.  In 2006 he won the Group A (Foreign class) and Group B (Expert class ) National titles in the Gulf Dirt Track National Championship. In the Karnataka 1000 Rally of 2003, he was the Group D top spot winner and 3 rd overall. The motorsport fraternity hopes that a well decorated rider like Pradeep should win more laurels for himself and the Country.

Team TVS Racing recorded a 1-2-3 placing in the Apache RTR Rally of Mysore 2008, with Ravindra.M.S. finishing second (43.09), and Nataraj at third (43.36), both placing in similar positions in the Group B 130-160 cc class. Team High Rollers won the 4^th and 5^th position in the class in the form of Pramod Joshua (43.36) and C.Vijayakumar (46.32). Srinivas.V, placed first in the Group B upto 130 cc class.

Ex-National Rally Champion C.Srinivas finished on top of the Group D (un-modified) 130-160 cc category with a timing of 45.51 mins. Srinivas who has ridden for top teams like TVS and Yamaha in the nineties, proved that he has not rusted. "I am very happy thar two wheeler has been revived in India and am even more happy to have won the first rally", he said. Tanveer of Mysore finished second in the class (46.24), and Sunil third (47.54).

In the Group D upto 130 cc class, Pundrik took the top spot with 48.30 mins, followed by Venu Ramesh (49.42) and Sameer (49,53).

History was recorded as two wheeler rallying re-started in India after a gap of 8 years, when The Apache RTR Rally of Mysore was flagged off today morning at 8.00 a.m. from the Ruchi-The Prince Hotel on Hinekal Road. The rally proceeded to KR Nagar area where they ran 9 Special stages, and finished the rally at around 5 p.m. 28 of the 31 starters finished the event. The event sponsored by TVS Apache and Shilpa Group. Swarna Television was the Media partner and aired the rally through the day. Motorsports Inc., from Bangalore organized the event.

RESULTS:

Overall & Group B 130-160cc class:

1. Team TVS Racing – H.K.Pradeep – 42.01 mins

2. Team TVS Racing – Ravindra.M.S.- 43.09 mins

3. Team TVS Racing – Natraj.R.- 43.36 mins

4. Team High Rollers- Pramod Joshua- 43.36 mins.

Group B  upto 130cc class:

1. Srinivas.V. – 49.31 mins.

Group D 130-160cc class:

1. Srinivas.C.- 45.51 mins

2. Tanveer – 46.24 mins

3. Sunil – 47.54 mins

4. Zain – 48.35 mins

5. Pramod Raman – 49.12 mins

Group D upto 130cc class:

1. Pundrik – 48.30 mins
2. Venu Ramesh – 49.42 mins
3. Sameer – 49.53 mins.