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Track-blazer: Sarthak Chavan

Sarthak with his father

Racing to the Top 


Imagine zooming down a racetrack at breathtaking speeds -- it's a dream many teenagers share. For Sarthak Chavan, it's not just a dream but his everyday reality. This young racing champion from Pune proves that success in motorsports takes more than just chasing thrills -- it requires dedication, hard work and countless hours of practice.

“Racing isn't just about speed,” says Sarthak, who had an incredible year in 2024. “It's about careful planning, strategy and mastering techniques.” 

His hard work paid off when he became the first Indian rider to finish third in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, (ARCC) TVS One Make category. He also claimed the title of Indian National Motor Racing Champion in two categories – all before turning 18.


Racing runs in Sarthak's family. His father runs a motorcycle racing workshop and his uncle was once a racer too.

“I was only five or six when I knew I wanted to race,” Sarthak explains. “My father was my first teacher.” 

Today, Sarthak trains with coach Amol Talpade on two special tracks: a half kilometre dirt track for off-road racing and one kilometre racing track called Pune Kartdrome in Kharadi. 

He practices twice a week on a TVS bike and another bike used for off-roading, spending about three hours each time, with 20 minutes sessions.

Being a successful racer means taking care of your body. Standing 179 metres tall and weighing 58 kg, Sarthak works hard to stay fit. He trains daily with fitness coach Mihir Teranikar, focusing on building strength and stamina.  

“Tall riders actually face some challenges because racing bikes are small,” he explains. “We need to crouch down to cut through the wind better. The weight also matters because the lighter a rider is, the faster he rides.”

Sarthak has come a long way from when Indian racing began. “In my uncle's time, they had to modify regular street bikes for racing,” he says. “My father imported racing bikes for me, which has made a difference. Now, I ride specialised racing bikes from TVS Motor Company, and I've even trained in Japan and USA.”

However, becoming a racer in India, comes with its set of challenges. “We only have two good racing tracks in the whole country -- one in Chennai and another in Delhi,” Sarthak points out. “That makes it hard to practise as much as I'd like.”

Despite these obstacles, Sarthak competes successfully in three different racing categories, each requiring its unique riding style. His next big challenge? Preparing for a MotoGP event in Thailand. 

But Sarthak's ultimate dream is even bigger.  “I want to reach the MotoGP World Championship,” he says. “Some riders have become world champion in Moto3 at the age of 18. I am just getting started in Asian Championship, so I have a long way to go -- but I'm ready for the challenge!”


(This interview was first written for Amritabharati)


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