India’s rising motorsports star Shreyas Hareesh dies in crash

INDIA’S teenage motorsports star Copparam Shreyas Hareesh died following a crash during the FMSCI-Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship on Saturday (5).

Shreyas (13), from Bengaluru, was hailed as a rising star, as he had won several races at the national level, including four in a row competing in the rookie category of the Petronas TVS One-Make Championship this season.

Indian National Motorcycle Racing said he died in the third round of the Madras International Circuit of the FMSCI championship.

"The incident occurred soon after the start of the Rookie race for which he had qualified for pole position this morning. Exiting Turn-1, Shreyas fell following a crash and suffered a grievous head injury. The race was red-flagged immediately and he was rushed to a nearby hospital in a trauma care ambulance stationed at the track. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. His father, Copparam Hareesh was at his bedside," the statement read.

MMSC president Ajit Thomas said, "It is tragic to have lost a rider so young and talented. Shreyas, who was making waves with his prodigious racing talent, was provided medical assistance on the spot immediately after the incident and taken to the hospital. Under the circumstances, we have decided to cancel the rest of this weekend’s programme. The MMSC offers heartfelt condolences and our thoughts are with his family.”

Shreyas, who had participated in the MiniGP races in Spain, was scheduled to compete in the MSBK Championship 2023 at Sepang Circuit, Malaysia, in August, representing team CRA Motorsports in the 250cc category (Group B).