Photography: Siddhant Gadekar
What separates our racers from the ones overseas? I believe it is the lack of exposure at a younger age due to the lack of proper infrastructure, and the tools to hone your racing skills at a young age. Being able to get into racing at a nascent age has been giving global racers an edge over us. That has slowly been changing with the introduction of grassroots-level racing. We are getting there and one such step is the Atom GP1. The brainchild of Tharunkumar S from CRA Motorsport, the Atom GP1 is a mini racebike kit intended for young kids wanting to get into two-wheeler racing.
Given their size, minibikes are apt for kids and the Atom GP1 is styled in a way as to not overwhelm them. In fact, it’s not too small either as even I was able comfortably ride it. That way, the kids will not overgrow the bikes anytime soon. While the Ducati Panigale-inspired design might not look evocative, it seems to be styled with ergonomics on top of the list. Swinging a leg over the bike had me realise that it offers a lot of space for even a fully-grown 177.8cm (5ft 10in) individual such as myself. The riding position surprisingly did not feel as cramped as I imagined it to be. Of course, I could not tuck into a proper race position but I see no issues with the motorcycle accommodating kids upto 15 years. While the finish levels could’ve been better, the Atom GP1 is well put together and the fibreglass panels feel sturdy enough to survive a spill. After all, this is a learning tool, not something to blow up your Instagram feed with. Given its racing roots, the Atom GP1 will get a digital screen with a lap timer though the green motorcycle we rode wasn’t fitted with one at the time.
More importantly, the Atom GP1 weighs just 85 kilos which not only makes it easy to manage for kids, it does not need a powerful motor for quick acceleration.
The Atom GP1 features a 159.3cc single-cylinder four-stroke two-valve air-cooled motor that pushes out 15.05PS and 13.85Nm. While these numbers might feel modest for a race bike, remember it weighs just 85 kilos. Acceleration is peppy with good low and mid-range response that offers a good drive out of corners, even around the tight corners at Meco Kartopia. Claimed top speed is 105kmph which might seem modest, but it’s good enough for kids. It even gets a GP-style gearbox with a 1-up 4-down shift pattern making it easier for kids to get used to when they switch to larger race machines.
What’s more impressive is the chassis setup. The motorcycle sits on a custom-built frame with upside-down forks and a monoshock. Given its mini-moto focus, the motorcycle runs on 12-inch TVS Remora tyres which, CRA claims, features a racing rubber compound. The motorcycle feels light on its feet and eager to turn into corners but never sharp enough to intimidate first-time learners. We rode it on a soaking wet track after a bout of heavy showers and given the mini pools of water accumulated on every corner, didn’t push the GP1 as much. That said, the GP1 felt stable even in the wet and when leaned over, with seemingly endless grip from the tyres. The disc brakes at both ends offered good bite as well and along with the grippy tyres, helped the motorcycle shed speed quickly and safely. While the GP1 might look like a prototype machine, it felt quite well-rounded and capable of what it set out to do – be accessible enough for kids to learn the ropes of racing and at the same time offer more so that the kids do not overgrow it fast.
The Atom GP1 is priced at Rs 2.75 lakh and with GST added, goes to around Rs 3.1 lakh. That feels like quite a lot for a mini bike kit, but when you factor in the options that cost almost three times as much, the Atom GP1 feels like a sweet deal. Also, CRA Motorsport is planning a CRA Atom Cup racing series for kids between the age bracket of 10 to 17 years. It offers kids access to proper racing at a young age. Isn’t that what grassroots racing is all about?
