TVS Motor Company has taken its TVS Racing International Championship (TRIC) beyond Asia for the first time, hosting a round at Italy’s Misano World Circuit from October 2 to 4. The event featured 14 riders from 12 countries across four continents, all competing on the race-tuned TVS Apache RR 310.
The championship, which launched in 2022, initially drew riders from nine nations in Asia. According to Vimal Sumbly, the company’s Head of Premium Business, participation has since grown to 16 countries, with the Italian outing being part of a larger strategy that ties racing to engineering development.
Before the Misano round, the championship had visited Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia, making up five rounds across four countries. Italy becomes the fifth country on that list and the first in Europe, marking a significant expansion of the series.
TVS Motor is widening its overseas footprint, with sales now in over 90 international markets. The company also reports that the Apache family has surpassed 7 million customers globally, while its Apache Owners Group counts over 500,000 members.
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Ron Hogg, Promotions Director at Two Wheels Motor Racing (TWMR), notes that the European leg of the championship puts riders from varied racing backgrounds in direct competition, exposing them to unfamiliar techniques and styles. This experience could prove useful for those who go on to contest the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship.
The Misano grid featured riders from diverse countries, including Malaysia’s Mohd Ramdan Bin Mohd Rosli and three Indian riders: Sarthak Chavan, Chiranth Vishwanath, and Rakhsith Srihari Dave. Other entrants came from Spain, Colombia, South Africa, Portugal, Thailand, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Mexico, Italy, and Korea.
The race-spec Apache RR 310 used in TRIC boasts a revised aerodynamic package, extra power, and changes to its handling characteristics, according to TVS Motor. The bike has already posted notable numbers on Asian tracks, reaching 215.9kph and lapping in 1:49:74 at Thailand’s Chang International Circuit in 2023.