The 11-time national champion Jagan Kumar has called an end to his illustrious career. The Chennai motorcycle champion came from a decent upbringing to achieve his ambition of speed on the race track. He is set to roll his bike into the garage for good after dominating Indian circuits for around 15 years. He won his 11th national motorcycle racing title last month.
The Chennai racer took a little break, to consider his future career before opting to retire, with fulfillment being the overarching emotion. It has been an unbelievable journey for Jagan. He is the son of an autorickshaw driver who was the main earner for his family of five. Growing up in the bylanes of Chennai’s thriving Mylapore and Triplicane neighbourhoods. Jagan was fascinated by the sound and speed of motorcycles.
However, coming from a poor background, the future 11-time national champion never had the wherewithal to purchase one of those well-tuned bikes for himself. To satisfy his desire to own a bike, he began delivering newspapers and working as a courier boy in the morning, went to college in the afternoon, and visited local garages in the evening to learn about bikes and engines.
Jagan Kumar leaves behind a sport in decline
Jagan Kumar won the Novice Stock 125cc division in his first year in the national championship in 2009, then advanced to the Pro-Stock 165cc category the following year. After struggling for two years, Jagan found his stride and won the 165cc national title for seven consecutive years beginning in 2012, a dominant, record-breaking run that cemented him as the country’s top motorcycle racer.
He subsequently won two consecutive titles in 2020 and 2021 before winning his 11th and last one in October. In 2015, he was the first Indian to win a race in the Asia Road Racing Championship in Indonesia. Jagan said, “This was my last year in racing. I am retiring. I have been doing the same thing every season for so many years. Also, I am 36 now. I feel this is enough. I’ve done everything. I have achieved whatever there is to.”
