MUMBAI: With robust interest in motorcycle racing across Asia, ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has boosted its coverage of the sport by introducing a new motorsports racing programme 2 Wheels, targeted at motor-cycle racing enthusiasts.

Launched in conjunction with the current MotoGP season, this latest programme offering from ESS cements its role as the home of motorsports in Asia. The show is scheduled every Thursday at 8 pm on Star Sports in India.

The programme focuses on premier motorcycle racing series - covering MotoGP and SuperBike World Championships - as well as a variety of bike racing genres including as SuperEnduro endurance racing and off road racing such as X-Trial World Championships.

Hosted by Paula Malai Ali, viewers can enjoy 30 minutes of features news updates from around the world, race previews and analysis, and interviews with motorsports biggest names such as Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Nicky Hayden and Jorge Lorenzo.

Besides adrenalin-pumping races, the programme injects light-hearted segments such as ‘Inside the Helmet‘ with personality driven interviews with the riders on and off the tracks, and games in ‘Clutch Time‘. It also throws spotlight on motorcycle enthusiasts across Southeast Asia to showcase their customised two wheelers in ‘Me and My Bike‘.

ESS EVP, Programming and Production Craig Dobbs said, "We have witnessed a growth in traction for the moto-racing genre, and the new programme aims to tap into the robust viewership across Asia for premier motorcycle races. While we continue to build on our growing portfolio of motorsports content, we see the need to present shows that appeal to motorcycle racing fans. This firmly demonstrates our continuous effort to serve our sports fans, while offering an excellent promotional platform for potential advertisers."

Last year, ESPN Star Sports continued its partnership with Dorna Sports to broadcast the MotoGP World Championship on multiple distribution platforms across 24 countries in Asia, continuing its coverage of the premier motorcycle road racing Championship to 2016.

In addition, ESS also showcases the SuperBike World Championship, and a host of FIM moto racing World Championships such as FIM Ice Racing World Championship, FIM Trial World Championship, FIM X-Trial World Championship, Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championships and FIM Sidecar World Championship.

MUMBAI: Mahindra Racing, the first team from India to participate in the MotoGP has announced that it will be entering the Italian Motor Racing Championship in the 125cc class with Indian rider Sarath Kumar. The second rider in the team is Italian Riccardo Moretti, who was also the 2009 champion in the 125cc class.

19-year-old Kumar is the first Indian to participate in the MotoGP 125CC World Championship. He was the 2010 National Champion of India in the 165CC Expert class and the 2008 National Champion in the130cc 4-stroke novice class.

Mahindra Racing team principal Mufaddal Choonia said, "We are proud to announce our entry into the Italian Motor Racing Championship with Sarath Kumar. This is a conscious step being taken by Mahindra Racing to nurture and grow riding talent in India. Some of the best names in the World MotoGP championship like Valentino Rossi, Giacomo Agostini, Marco Melandri have been Italian Championship winners. Riding in a championship with such high standards of competition would be a great opportunity for Sarath. This will provide him with the right opportunity to hone his skills and compete at the international level with some of the finest emerging talent in motorcycle racing."

26-year-old Riccardo Moretti started his racing career in cross motorcycle racing but had to give it up owing to a serious accident at the age of 16. Bouncing back after a 3-year break, Riccardo restarted a career in road racing at the age of 19. In 2007, he finished 5th in the Italian Championship and then went on to finish 2nd in 2008, with just 2 points separating him from the winner. In 2009, he won the Italian Championship with an amazing 5 wins and 5 pole positions in 6 races.

The Italian Road-Racing Championship is the leading national track competition in Italy and a launch pad for Italy?s best young motorcyclists as they head towards the international arena. It is staged on the country?s best racetracks from March to October over six weekends and 8 rounds. The event is organized by FMI- Federazione Motociclistica Italiana and CIV -Campionato Italiano Velocit?.