Readying For A Racing Season: 2026 TVS YMRP Qualifying Round

  • Published May 24, 2026
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Rain, inexperience and chaos tried their best. I still overcame the odds

Readying For A Racing Season: 2026 TVS YMRP Qualifying Round

For most motorcycle enthusiasts, riding on a race track is something they dream about for years. Watching professional racers attack corners, scrape knees and fight for every tenth of a second, always looks exciting. But experiencing it yourself, especially in the racing capacity, is a completely different story.

The annual TVS’s Young Media Racer Programme (YMRP) opportunity arrived and it was finally my time. Standing in the pit lane of the Madras International Circuit, surrounded by race bikes and riders preparing for the day ahead, it was hard not to feel a mix of excitement and nerves. After all, this was my first-ever visit to a race track, my first experience riding on a circuit, and my first real-ish step into the world of motorcycle racing.

Learning The Ropes

TVS YMRP Qualifying

Unlike the seasons thus far, the 2026 season marked the introduction of the Apache RTR 310 as the single-make race-bikes for the programme, bidding adieu to the RTR 200 4V. Interestingly, while the road-going Apache RTR 310 is loaded with rider aids and electronic features, the race-bike was as basic as it gets. There was no ABS, no electronic intervention and no safety net to fall back on. It was just me, the motorcycle and a race track. Slightly intimidating? Absolutely. Exciting? Even more so. Before we could even think about setting lap times, there was plenty to learn. The day began with training sessions conducted by professional racers, who walked us through the fundamentals of riding quickly on a race track. Racing lines, body positioning, braking markers and cornering techniques suddenly became far more important than they ever are on the road.

TVS YMRP Qualifying

The best part was putting those lessons into practice immediately. Following the instructors around the circuit helped me understand where to position the bike, when to brake and how to carry speed through corners. Session after session, things slowly started clicking. My lines became cleaner, braking more consistent and moving around on the bike started feeling natural rather than awkward.

Finding Confidence

TVS YMRP Qualifying

Eventually, it was time to head out on track by myself and put everything together. This was where the fun really began. Riding the race-spec Apache RTR 310 around MIC was unlike anything I had experienced before. Lap after lap, I became more comfortable and started pushing a little harder. The confidence kept growing too. During the practice sessions, I managed to overtake a few riders on track, which felt incredibly satisfying for someone riding on a circuit for the very first time. More importantly, it showed that everything I had been learning throughout the day was actually working. By the end of practice, I was feeling confident and looking forward to the final qualifying session.

Rain Spoiled The Party

TVS YMRP Qualifying

Then the weather decided to join the action. Just as we were about to head out for qualifying, the skies opened up and rain quickly soaked the circuit. The difference was immediately obvious. As I tipped into turn 2, I could instantly feel the rear tyre spinning up. I completed three laps, trying to adapt to the conditions, but after witnessing another rider crash on the slippery surface, I decided not to take unnecessary risks and headed back to the pits.

TVS YMRP Qualifying

That’s where we received some unexpected news. Due to the weather conditions, our practice laps had also been officially recorded, and our qualifying times would be taken from those sessions instead. I won’t lie, it was a little disappointing. During practice, my focus had been on learning rather than setting the fastest possible lap.

Mission Accomplished

TVS YMRP

Thankfully, I had done enough. When the final timings were announced, I had posted a best lap time of 2 min 24.6 sec, making me the fifth-fastest rider out of 25 participants. More importantly, I had secured a place among the 14 riders selected to compete in the YMRP Championship.

For my first-ever day on a race track, I couldn’t have asked for much more. The day brought valuable lessons, growing confidence, challenging conditions and a glimpse into the world of racing. Most importantly, it confirmed one thing — I was officially going racing. The qualifying round was only the beginning, but I already couldn’t wait to get back on the grid.

TVS Apache RTR 310 Video Review

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