The engines have finally cooled down at Coimbatore’s KARI Motor Speedway, and we have our champions! On 30 March 2026, KTM wrapped up the third season of its massive ‘One Make Race’ championship, the KTM CUP. This wasn’t just any local track day; it was a nationwide search for speed that saw over 800 riders battle it out for the top spot.
From an initial pool of 800, 600 racers made it through the qualifiers across four cities, with 230 finalists eventually descending on Coimbatore for the grand finale. The stakes? An all-expenses-paid trip to the Austrian Grand Prix, exclusive pit access, and a VIP tour of the KTM Motohall in Mattighofen.
The Champions’ Podium
After some seriously intense wheel-to-wheel action, three riders stood above the rest in their respective classes:
- Pro Category: Johann Emmanuel took the overall win, followed by Mohammed Mikail in 2nd and Jagadeesh in 3rd.
- Women’s Category: Lani Zena Fernandez grabbed the gold, with Saimah Ajaz Baig and Jagathishree Kumaresan rounding out the podium.
- Amateur Category: Karthik R emerged victorious, while Jobin Kharmalki and Aravind S took home 2nd and 3rd place trophies.
Training with a MotoGP Legend
What made Season 3 truly legendary was the mentorship. Finalists didn’t just race; they were schooled by the best in the business. MotoGP icon Dani Pedrosa flew in to provide exclusive on-ground training sessions.
Working alongside seven-time INMRC champ Emmanuel Jebaraj at the KTM Race Academy, Pedrosa shared the kind of “pro-level” secrets on racecraft and consistency that you just can’t find in a manual. It’s a massive step for India’s motorsport ecosystem, especially with heavyweights like Motul and Reise Moto backing the mission.
The Weapon of Choice: KTM 390 Duke
Every racer on the grid was handed a factory-prepped KTM 390 Duke. It’s the perfect tool for the job, featuring:
- A lightweight trellis frame and aluminium subframe.
- High-spec WP APEX suspension.
- The signature “banana” swingarm and cornering ABS.
Combined with KTM’s famous power-to-weight ratio, these bikes proved they are “Born and Bred” for the racetrack, giving even the amateur riders the confidence to push their limits.
A Growing Community
Manik Nangia, President (Probiking) at Bajaj Auto Ltd, noted that the energy this year was off the charts. The goal is to make racing mainstream in India, and with the FMSCI recognizing the KTM CUP as an official championship, they are well on their way.
Even the media got in on the fun! India’s top auto experts lined up for a friendly media race, adding a bit of extra spice to the atmosphere before the pros took to the track.
Dani Pedrosa summed it up perfectly, saying it was “exciting to see the level of passion” in India. With KTM’s legacy of over 340+ world championship titles, these lucky winners are about to see exactly what it takes to be “Ready to Race” on the world stage.
