FMSCI Grants Exclusive Commercial Rights To Supercross To Promote Racing League

Yokohama Rubber to Build New China Tyre Plant for NEV Growth

Supercross India Pvt Ltd (SXI), under the aegis of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), today, officially announced the handing over of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the exclusive commercial rights to launch the Supercross racing league. The league is titled Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL). The MoU was handed over by Gautam Shantappa, Vice President and Sujith Kumar, Chairman of Supercross Racing Commission of the FMSCI, to the promoters of the league in a press conference held in Pune, India today.

Supercross (SX) is a motorcycle racing sport involving specialised high performance off-road motorcycles, with steep jumps and obstacles held on dirt tracks, while FMSCI is the governing body of motorsports in India, recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.

According to Supercross India, the team’s vision is to have a world-class Supercross sporting league in India, with participation from national and international racers. The team has entered into an exclusive agreement with FMSCI for a brand based SX league in India and has all the backing of the apex body for a pan-India league, with races held across major cities in India. Supercross claims that the main aim is to encourage participation from international and Indian riders, including women riders, and fostering their participation in the near future. The league will look at the development of the sport at a grassroot level, and will endeavor to bring India to the global forefront of motorsports.

Speaking on the occasion, Shantappa said, “The federation fully backs the SXI team and firmly believes that they would take the sport forward and elevate it to a new level. As the Vice President, I am confident that SXI and the FMSCI will work as a team and would make the league a huge success.”

Kumar further added, “I believe that with younger organisers coming into the sport, the future looks bright. I would like to state that it’s a matter of great happiness to see X-Racers coming back to the sport, playing different roles. I am proud to say that we, in India, have the first franchise-based supercross league in the world.”

Sharing his views on the league, Eeshan Lokhande, Director, Supercross India, said, “We are really excited to host the league, and we thank the entire team at the FMSCI for all the support. The league will pave the way for huge development in motorsports, and especially Supercross in India. We are confident that the league will present a major sporting spectacle in India, entertaining the Indian audience. We plan to put India on the Supercross map of the world, with the vision that Indian riders be on the podium of the global Supercross races in the future.”

Lokhande further threw light on his and his team’s journey in the domain of motorsports. He cited, “We three (Lokhande; Veer Patel, Director, Supercross India; and Aashwin Lokhande, Co-founder and Director, Supercross India) go a long way back. As kids, we started racing with a passion, which turned into winning championships and proving people wrong down the journey. We want to transform Supercross.”

“Covid-19 proved to be a bit on the positive side for us when we approached the federation, and had all their support,” Lokhande further averred, “The Indian Supercross Racing League will set a new benchmark. The league also envisions to open doors for a lot of international participation. While doing that, we will never forget our own talent here.”

Hero MotoCorp Introduces XPulse 200 Series In The United Kingdom

Hero Xpulse 200

Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has launched its XPulse 200 4V and XPulse 200 Pro motorcycles in the United Kingdom, expanding its international adventure motorcycle line-up.

The rollout represents the next phase of the manufacturer's European expansion, following its initial entry into the UK market last year through a distribution partnership with MotoGB.

The motorcycles were introduced at the Inch Perfect Trials in the Ribble Valley, marking the brand's latest European expansion following recent market entries in Italy and Spain. Distribution and aftersales service will be managed via MotoGB’s network of 36 sales and service outlets across the UK, with all models backed by a two-year warranty.

Both models are powered by a 199.6cc, four-stroke, four-valve, single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine paired with a five-speed constant-mesh transmission. The engine produces 18.9 BHP at 8,500 RPM and 17.35 Nm of torque at 6,500 RPM. The motorcycles feature an LCD instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation, a Class-D LED projector headlamp and three anti-lock braking system (ABS) modes (Road, Off-Road and Rally).

Harshavardhan Chitale, CEO, Hero MotoCorp, said, “The launch of the XPulse 200 series marks an important step in strengthening Hero MotoCorp’s global adventure motorcycling portfolio in the UK. The XPulse has created a strong identity globally as an accessible yet highly capable adventure motorcycle that appeals to both - everyday riders and off-road enthusiasts. With its proven performance, versatility and adventure-focused DNA, we are confident that the XPulse range will strongly resonate with the riders. As we continue to expand across international markets, our focus remains on bringing globally benchmarked products and building deeper customer engagement worldwide.”

The XPulse 200 Pro includes hardware adaptations for off-road use, featuring handlebar risers to assist with standing positions and an extended gear shift lever designed to accommodate off-road riding boots. Both variants are equipped with protective bash plates, handguards, and a rear luggage plate with integrated cargo hooks as standard equipment.

TVS Motor Company Appoints Ravindran Shanmugam As Independent Director

Ravindran Shanmugam

Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company, a part of TVS Group, has appointed Ravindran Shanmugam as an independent director for a 5-year term, effective 13 May 2026, pending shareholder approval.

Shanmugam is a technology entrepreneur and business leader with experience in digital transformation and AI platforms. He currently serves as the Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Mablle, an AI-based interior design platform in Singapore. He has previously worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company and is an alumnus of the University of Oxford.

Sudarshan Venu, Chairman, TVS Motor Company, said, “Ravindran Shanmugam brings deep expertise in digital & consumer-focused businesses, and AI-led transformation, along with strong experience in strategy, entrepreneurship and scaling businesses across global markets. His perspectives will add valuable depth to the TVS Motor board as we continue to strengthen our future-ready growth ambitions. We are delighted to welcome him and look forward to benefiting from his insights and guidance.”

Ravindran Shanmugam, said, “I am honoured to join the board of TVS Motor Company, an institution with a strong legacy of engineering excellence, customer trust and global ambition. Mobility is being reshaped by technology, digital ecosystems, AI and evolving consumer expectations, and TVS Motor is well positioned to play a meaningful role in this transformation. I look forward to contributing to the board’s deliberations and supporting the company’s long-term growth journey with perspectives from technology-led transformation, platform businesses and consumer-focused innovation.”

TVS Motor Company Reports INR 49.75 Billion In Profit Before Tax For FY2026

TVS Motor Co

Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company has reported revenue of INR 472.70 billion for FY2025-26, up 30 percent YoY, as compared to INR 362.51 billion last year.

The company reported its operating EBITDA for the year stood at 12.9 percent, while operating profit before tax reached INR 49.75 billion, up 40 percent YoY.

For FY2026, combined sales of two and three-wheelers increased by 24 percent to 5.88 million units. Within this total, motorcycle sales rose by 24 percent to 2.71 million units, while scooter sales grew by 27 percent to 2.41 million units.

Three-wheeler sales reached 219,000 units, an increase of 63 percent, while electric vehicle sales grew by 33 percent to 371,000 units, bringing the total customer base for this segment to more than 900,000.

For Q4 FY2026, the company recorded revenue of INR 128.08 billion, the operating EBITDA margin for the quarter was 13.1 percent. Normalised revenue for the quarter grew by 36 percent when excluding benefits from government incentive schemes recorded in the prior year.

Honda Launches NX500 With E-Clutch Technology In India At INR 743,900

Honda NX500

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers, has officially launched the NX500 E-Clutch at a price of INR 743,900 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The new variant introduces Honda's globally proven clutch automation technology to the mid-size adventure touring segment, priced approximately INR 111,000 higher than the standard manual version.

The E-Clutch system manages clutch engagement and disengagement during starting, gear shifting and stopping, effectively eliminating the need for the rider to pull the clutch lever. However, the system allows for manual override at any time and the motorcycle retains a traditional clutch lever for riders who prefer hands-on control.

The NX500 E-Clutch features a 471cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine producing 47 bhp and 43 Nm of torque. It gets a 6-speed gearbox with the automated E-Clutch system; the mechanism adds only 3 kg to the bike's kerb weight (now 199 kg). The motorcycle gets steel diamond frame with Showa 41mm SFF-BP USD front forks and a preload-adjustable rear monoshock.

In terms of stopping, it gets dual 296mm front discs and a 240mm rear disc with dual-channel ABS as standard.  

The NX500 features a 5-inch full-colour TFT display with Honda RoadSync (navigation, calls, music), Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) and all-LED lighting.

Tsutsu Otani,  President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said, “The Honda NX500 equipped with E Clutch technology enhances comfort and control across both urban and touring environments in India, by reducing rider fatigue, while retaining the engaging, hands-on riding experience that defines Honda motorcycles.”

The NX500 E-Clutch is available in two colour options – Mat Gunpowder Black Metallic and Pearl Horizon White.