Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Fifteen-time national champion Hemanth Muddappa of Mantra Racing upset 13-time world champion Ricky Gadson at The Aamby Valley Run 2025, clocking a blistering 9.477 seconds astride a BMW S1000rr on April 14.
The stunning feature race for Superbikes at the Summer Edition of the FMSCI-approved Aamby Valley run between Bengaluru ace Muddappa and Gadson, saw the Indian clock the fastest time, 9.477 seconds.
The African-American drag racing icon laid down a strong run at 9.756 seconds on a Gen3 Hayabusa, but it wasn’t enough to dethrone the reigning Indian king of the strip. The head-to-head showdown saw Muddappa emerge triumphantly and will go down in history as a defining moment in Indian drag racing.
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause as Muddappa crossed the finish line with a flawless launch and clean top-end pull, securing not only the bragging rights but also making a global statement.
Speaking after the historic race, Muddappa said, “There’s a lot to learn from a 13-time world champion. Ricky is a legend of the sport. But it’s a very happy and humbling moment for me and my team Mantra Racing as we beat him. And yes, these are our home tracks and we know them inside out. The infrastructure in the U.S. and here is very different but that’s racing. Today’s a happy day for India.”
The Superbike category was packed with over 1,000 participants this weekend but it was Muddappa who stole the spotlight with both precision and power. His performance reaffirmed his dominance on Indian soil, even against world-class challengers.
