The project report by the Department of Sports Psychology highlights the alarming rise of illegal motorbike racing among youth, driven by a love for speed, social media attention, and a lack of infrastructure for legal racing activities. The study identifies key causes such as 'speedaholism' and calls for the construction of motor racing tracks, creation of local motorsports clubs, and regular racing events to provide safe and recognized avenues for youth. It emphasizes collaboration with organizations to manage the youth's passion for speed responsibly and prevent accidents related to illegal racing.

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PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED BY
DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY

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Speed thrills our youth to be part of illegal motor racing (street racing). The
attention they get and the likes they get on their social media handles make
them addicted to racing. But unfortunately, the speed kills them and other
innocents.
Sports & Management Research Institute (SMRI), premier sports management,
sports engineering and sports psychology research and training institute recently
conducted a study to find the causes and solutions to the rising number of deaths
and severe injuries due to illegal motorbike races and stunts. The study conducted by
the Sports Psychology Department of SMRI under the leadership of sports
psychologists Mrdhula B Pai and Nimra Zakir Hussain interviewed 70 plus superbike
owners and found what lead to illegal bike racing and bike stunts.

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CAUSES
1. Youth love speed
“Speed provides the one genuinely modern pleasure.”- Aldous Huxley
Everyone likes SPEED. Speedy checkout, speedy banking, speedy recovery,
Vande bharat express etc. Youth like SPEED. The fan base of the world’s top
motorsports competitions like Formula1, NASCAR and MotoGP, the variety of
motorsports competitions (truck racing, tractor racing, lawn mower racing,
sidecar racing) and the users of speed-based computer/ mobile games show
the influence of SPEED in our lives.

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2. Speedaholism
“If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough.”- Mario
Andretti
René Diekstra (Clinical psychologist) and Martin Kroon (Senior policy advisor
on Transport and Environment) asserted that: “The car—and the motorbike—
allow the individual to expose himself to exactly the level of danger he wants.
At these times, drivers are experiencing a kind of narcotic effect, which can
produce the same addictive response as more conventional drugs. It is
‘speedaholism.'
3. Youth loves attention and recognition
“Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying, 'Make me
feel important.'” - Mary Kay Ash

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Everyone loves the attention of others and recognition. Today’s youth consider
motorbike racing and motorbike stunts as the best way to get the attention of
others. They consider getting more social media likes as a sign of recognition.
They engage in illegal racing and stunts to win bets and attention.
4. Lack of infrastructure and opportunity
“Ability is nothing without opportunity.”- Napoleon Bonaparte
SPEED is a SKILL. Globally, speedsters have a great demand in the
motorsports, automobile and film industries. But, we have very few purpose-
built motorsports tracks. Popular motorsports tournaments are also fewer.
Youth creates their own contests and uses the public roads as their playground
due to a lack of opportunities and infrastructure.
5. Don’t know how to pursue a career in motorsports
“Direction is more important than speed. You can go fast in the wrong
direction.”- Redfoo
Everyone knows well about motorsports. But, most don’t know how to pursue
it. Some do feel it very difficult to enter the motorsports sector due to various
problems such as accessibility and expenses.

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SOLUTIONS
"Effective people are not problem-minded; they're opportunity-minded. They
feed opportunities and starve problems." — Stephen Covey
Banning superbikes will not prevent or reduce illegal bike racing and bike stunts.
Youth will alter the bikes for more speed. It will cause more crimes and casualties.
Illegal autorickshaw racing with tampered engines and carburetter is common in
Chennai. Sports Management, Sports Engineering and Sports Psychology experts of
the Sports & Management Research Institute (SMRI) recommends the following to
prevent or reduce all kinds of illegal motor racing and motor stunts.
1. SPEED is a SKILL
• Moreover, SPEED is a SKILL, which has a huge demand in the
motorsports, automobile and film industries across the globe.
• We need to create opportunities for our speed-loving youth to exhibit,
enhance and effectively use their SPEED SKILLS.
2. Create motor racing tracks in every district
• Government has to construct motor racing tracks in every district with
private support based on the standards of the FIM (International
Motorcycling Federation), the global governing body of motorcycle
racing, FIA (International Automobile Federation), the global governing
body of Motorsports and FMSCI (Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of
India), the governing body for motorsports in India
• It will give youth the maximum opportunity to practice and perform in
a secure environment.
3. Regular Motorcycle Racing Tournaments
• Organize weekend motorcycle racing competitions in purpose-built
tracks and closed public roads to give the youth maximum opportunity
to perform in front of their family, friends and the public. It will give
them attention, appreciation and recognition.
• Speedway motorcycle racing, road racing, motorcycle gymkhana,
motocross etc shall be promoted initially.

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• Regular competitions will help the youth to earn money and fame
(celebrity status, endorsement).
• It will help youth to adopt motorsports as a career.
• Regular Motorcycle Racing Tournaments will create employment and
revenue.
• The governments will get tax revenue such as entertainment tax, income
tax and GST.
4. Promote local Motorsports Clubs and college motorsports clubs
• Local Motorsports clubs and college motorsports clubs shall be
established and promoted to give training to the youth to pursue a
career in motorsports.
• Free training shall be given to the speed-loving youth from privileged
families. (Many youths force their poor parents to buy expensive
superbikes and ride to death)
• Local Motorsports clubs can conduct regular local tournaments
5. Promote Racing at the school level
• Pedal Car Racing and tricycle racing shall be promoted at the school
level to educate students on the basics of road safety, riding/driving
etiquette etc before they start riding/driving motor vehicles.
6. Use SPEED SKILLS for law enforcement
• Law enforcement agencies like Police, Excise and Customs can employ
these professionally trained and talented drivers and riders

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The SPARK
“Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution.” - Norman Vincent Peale
Stock Car racing in the United States has its origins in bootlegging (also known as the rum-
running – the illegal business of transporting liquor) during the prohibition era (1920-1933).
Bootleggers used small and fast vehicles to better escape the police to distribute the illicit
liquor. The cars were modified for speed and control. During bootlegging, some drivers started
challenging one another and that ultimately evolved into prearranged races at the beginning
of the 1930s.
The cars continued to be improved even after the bootlegging era and the races featuring
these modified cars were being run for pride and profit. On 8 March 1936, the first stock car
race was held on the Daytona Beach Road Course. During that time many dishonest promoters
used to leave the tournament venues without paying the drivers. Bill France Sr, a local racing
driver started talks with drivers, mechanics and car owners on 14 December 1947 at the Ebony
Bar at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, Florida, which ended with the formation of
NASCAR on 21 February 1948. It introduced uniform rules, insurance coverage and
guaranteed purses.
Today NASCAR’s annual revenue is $100 million and gives employment and opportunities
to thousands of speedsters.

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PROJECT ‘SPEED SKILLS’
"Problems can become opportunities when the right people come together." —
Robert Redford
Sports & Management Research Institute (SMRI) plans to do the following with the
support of good-hearted people and organizations.
1. Design and develop low-cost motor racing facilities with private and public
support (sports engineering)
2. Encourage, support and handhold the youth to start local motorsports clubs
(sports management)
3. Design and organize regular motorsports tournaments with the support of
FMSCI, local clubs, the automobile industry and the local community (sports
management)
4. Conduct offline and online campaigns to educate youth on road safety and
career in Motorsports (sports psychology)
5. Promote motorsports clubs and tournaments at the college level in association
with the support of the College Sports Association, an association of colleges
to promote the American model college sports industry in India (sports
management, sports engineering)
6. Promote 3Wheeler racing to legalize and standardise illegal autorickshaw
racing (sports management, sports engineering)
7. Promote Pedal car racing at schools to educate children on road safety,
riding/driving etiquette etc (sports management, sports engineering)
THE APPEAL
“When a team takes ownership of its problems, the problem gets solved. It is
true on the battlefield, it is true in business, and it is true in life.” Jocko Willink
We request all good-hearted organizations and people to work with us to help the
speed-loving youth of India to track their talents on the right track to prevent and
reduce illegal motor racing and motor stunts.

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Please contact us for more details
• Mrdhula B Pai, Project Guide- +91 8138883220
• Shiva V, Project Manager
• Sam Ceasar, Project Manager
a| 39/186B, Mahakavi G Road, Karikkamuri, Ernakulam 682011
b| Water Sports Research Centre, Kanjippadom, Alappuzha 6880055
Contact No: +91 8891675259 Email: dean@smri.in