New Delhi: India’s rising motorcycle prodigy Kavin Samaar Quintal has blazed a new trail for Indian motorsport. The 19-year-old from Chennai stunned the Spanish racing fraternity by finishing fourth in his debut at the Copa de España de Velocidad Superbike, held at the legendary Circuito de Jerez–Ángel Nieto, one of the most iconic race circuits in Europe.
Riding a BMW M1000RR as a wildcard entry for the EasyRace Team, with support from Gaman Racing Global Service, Kavin went head-to-head against a fiercely competitive field of 29 riders representing premier manufacturers including Ducati, Honda, Suzuki, and Kawasaki.
After qualifying P4, Kavin fought through intense race conditions and even recovered from a fall to finish fourth with an impressive time of 14:20.782 — a performance that marked a historic first for an Indian rider in the Spanish Superbike championship.
In the second race, Kavin continued to display maturity beyond his years, securing seventh place in a field dominated by seasoned European racers. Spanish rider Daniel Saez clinched victory on his Yamaha, but the young Indian’s performance stood out as one of the most talked-about moments of the weekend.
The Jerez circuit, named in honor of Spain’s legendary racer Ángel Nieto, regularly hosts MotoGP and Formula One events. To perform so strongly on this global stage underscores Kavin’s growing status as one of India’s most promising international riders.
Kavin, born May 11, 2005, currently competes in the Asia Road Racing Championship (AP250 class) with Honda Racing India. His resume already includes several firsts for Indian motorsport: he became the first Indian to compete in the World Supersport 300 Championship in the Czech Republic in 2024 and has also raced in the FIM JuniorGP series.
A graduate of India’s Honda Talent Cup NSF 250R — which he won in 2021 — Kavin’s journey has been defined by relentless progress through Asia’s most competitive two-wheeler circuits. Racing, in fact, runs in the family — his grandfather Pratap Kumar once raced at Chennai’s historic Sholavaram track.
“Competing in Spain has been a dream come true,” said an elated Kavin after the race. “Racing at Jerez sharpened my skills and gave me invaluable experience. I owe this opportunity to EasyRace and Gaman Racing for believing in me.”
His father, Calvin Quintal, called it a “turning point” in Indian motorsport: “Racing in Spain gives Kavin a true international platform to showcase Indian talent at the highest level. This is the beginning of something big.”
BMW EasyRace Team Manager Eduardo Salvador echoed that sentiment: “Kavin’s debut performance speaks volumes. He has the temperament, speed, and discipline for a long and successful international career.”
From Chennai’s racetracks to Spain’s elite Superbike grid, Kavin Quintal’s journey signals a new era for Indian racing — one defined not by potential, but by performance.
Discussion about this post