INDIAN MOTORCYCLE LEAGUE Launched in Chennai!!

January 10th, 2014: INDIAN MOTORCYCLE LEAGUE (IML), a multi city frachisee based endurance racing format launched here in Chennai, a first of its kind in India.  The event was launched by the well known Indian and international motorcycle riders; K.Rajini, Sarath Kumar, K.Jagan and Harry Sylvester along with IML Founder & Chairman, Rasheed Khan and TVS Factory Racing´s Pradeep.  

As a new league, the IML will provide a platform and an opportunity to Indian riders to develop their riding skills in the Endurance Racing in three rounds. The inaugural round will be held in February in Coimbatore, followed by two rounds in Chennai and the Buddh International Circuit in Noida. The IML Class has been approved by FMSCI.

IML being an one make series is supported by TVS Racing providing their factory tuned Apache RTR180 to the riders. 

8 City based franchisees have been invited to own the teams with 2 bikes per team and 2 rider per bike. A pool of 32 riders will be selected and trained along with 8 top seeded riders. The 90minute endurance format  will have a compulsory rider swap. 

The riders will be trained by an expert coach from Malaysia. The pool of 40 riders will be grouped into 3 class A, B & C and all riders will be renumerated by IML based on their performance in their respective class. 

The teams can have their own tuner besides factory provided mechanics and the final technical classification of the series will be released in the coming week. The top riders will be allocated to the teams by a special draw to provide a levelled oppurtunity for all teams rather than the richest team buying the top rider.

The IML is basically conceived to develop the riders and give a fair oppurtunity to all involved including the teams, technicians and sponsor and this new league is also expected to be feeder series to the National Championship. 

IML has ambitious plans to take the Series forward. First year, it will include Indian riders and second year with Indian and Asian riders and its third year both Indian and International riders taking part in the series.

The technical regulations, franchisees, teams and riders detail will be revealed in the next few weeks.

“It gives us immense pleasure to announce the arrival of the Indian Motorcycle League (IML), a trendsetter and the first of its kind in Two Wheeler Racing in Indian motorsports with a new format”, said at the launch in Chennai by the Chairman, Mr. Rasheed Khan.

Mr. Khan who has been in the field of motorsports for more than a decade has further added that “We have many talented young riders in India, but unfortunately the opportunities for them to perform are very limited. Keeping this in mind, IML has drawn up a plan to provide an opportunity to all the potential riders in India. In its unique structure, IML Class is similar to IPL format where 40 riders from eight cities will be selected under the Franchise Team across the country to take part in the Endurance Racing Format. IML will be providing all the necessary riding equipment and the bikes to each of the Franchise Team. Each team will also be provided its own and dedicated coach to train riders. Very simply put, all that the riders have to do is to come to the track and IML will make sure that everything is arranged for them to take part in the race, that they are, ‘Ready to Race’".