Sports
Red Bull Moto Jam 2026 headlined by F1 star Arvid Lindblad
18-year-old drives 2012 RB8 in Greater Noida on 1 March, FMX, stunts and big partners join the party.
MUMBAI: The Red Bull Moto Jam is revving up to turn Greater Noida into a roar zone because when an F1 youngster pilots a championship-winning RB8, even the asphalt might ask for an autograph. The second edition of Red Bull Moto Jam is set for 1 March 2026 at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, and it’s already shaping up as one of the most electric motorsport-fan spectacles of the year. Headlining the show is Formula 1 rising star Arvid Lindblad, the 18-year-old British-Swedish talent, who will take the wheel of Sebastian Vettel’s 2012 RB8 freshly liveried in Visa Cash App Racing Bulls colours. That very car clinched the F1 Indian Grand Prix in Delhi NCR back in 2012 en route to a historic double World Championship. After 14 years, the naturally aspirated 2.4-litre V8 is returning to shake the ground and melt hearts in the same region.
Lindblad, on his third trip to India, will be joined by a stacked lineup of motorsport legends, Guinness record-holding drift king Abdo Feghali (Lebanon), iconic stunt biker Aras Gibieza, UAE drift and stunt driver Abdulrahman Alraeesi, freestyle motocross rider Sebastian Westberg, Russian Supercross champion Roman Karymov, and UK-Spain based FMX star Greg Rowbottom. The machines rounding out the spectacle include a BMW M3 E92, Triumph Street Triple, Land Cruiser 100, Kawasaki KX 450, and KTM 450SX.
The event fuses high-octane FMX competitions, jaw-dropping trick sessions, precision stunt riding, immersive fan zones, and a solid dose of F1 nostalgia. Adding fuel to the fire is a strong partner lineup, Oneplus, Duolingo English Test, Fastrack, Zepto, Confluent, Bisleri, Bookmyshow, Dream Set Go, ExpoInn, and Laqshya Media Group.
Oneplus India marketing director Ishita Grover said the partnership aligns with the brand’s boundary-pushing ethos, with the Oneplus 15R ready to capture every high-speed moment. Duolingo English Test market head Tara Kapur highlighted how motorsport inspires students chasing global careers. Fastrack’s Danny Jacob noted the racing-inspired Overdrive collection launch fits perfectly into youth culture. Confluent AVP Rubal Sahni drew parallels between split-second racing decisions and data-driven business velocity.
With fans, creators, and legends converging under one roof, Red Bull Moto Jam 2026 isn’t just an event, it’s where adrenaline, heritage, and tomorrow’s stars collide in a weekend that’s bound to leave tyre marks on memories.
Sports
SMK becomes first Indian helmet brand in Road to MotoGP championship
Partnership with Moto4 Latin Cup puts the brand on the international racing grid for the first time
NEW DELHI: An Indian helmet maker is stepping onto the global racing grid.
SMK Helmets has partnered the Moto4 Latin Cup as the official technical helmet sponsor, marking the company’s entry into international motorsport. The deal places the brand inside the prestigious Road to MotoGP ecosystem, a global ladder designed to groom young riders for professional circuit racing.
The move makes SMK the first global Indian helmet brand to enter a Road to MotoGP championship, a significant milestone for a company that has built its reputation on helmet engineering and manufacturing.
Riders in the championship will compete wearing SMK’s Titan Carbon Racing helmet, a race-spec model designed specifically for high-speed circuit competition.
The Moto4 Latin Cup forms part of the wider Road to MotoGP programme, which serves as a stepping stone for emerging riders aiming to climb the professional racing ranks. The 2026 season will feature 12 rounds across circuits in Brazil and Argentina, with young riders from across the Americas competing on identical Honda NSF250R race machines.
The championship begins from March 20 to 22 in Goiânia, Brazil, coinciding with the return of the MotoGP Brazilian Grand Prix. The series provides a professional platform for young racers to gain experience on international circuits and pursue what organisers call the “road to the dream”.
Backed by more than five decades of helmet manufacturing expertise, SMK is now extending its focus on safety and performance to the demands of the racing grid, where speed and precision leave little room for compromise.
Under the partnership, competing riders will be equipped with the Titan Carbon Racing helmet, built around a lightweight carbon-fibre shell and a race-oriented interior configuration. The helmet is ECE 22.06 certified and engineered to deliver protection, aerodynamic stability and comfort at racing speeds.
The design reflects modern racing priorities, combining lightweight construction, aerodynamic efficiency and rider-focused ergonomics.
The collaboration is also part of SMK’s longer-term strategy to expand its presence in international motorsport while advancing helmet technology through real-world racing insights.
Racing environments generate valuable data on aerodynamics, ventilation, stability and rider comfort at extreme speeds. Feedback from riders competing in the championship will feed directly into SMK’s ongoing helmet development programme.
“Motorsport represents the highest expression of performance, precision and human ambition,” said Shilpa Arora, head of global sales at SMK Helmets.
“For SMK, supporting the Moto4 Latin Cup is more than a sponsorship. It reflects our long-term commitment to rider safety and innovation,” Arora said.
Sidhartha Khurana, managing director and chief executive at SMK, said the company views racing as a crucial testbed for technology.
“As one of the world’s largest helmet manufacturers by volume, with over five decades of expertise, we believe racing plays an important role in advancing helmet technology,” Khurana said.
“These young athletes represent the future of the sport, and we are proud to stand beside them as they pursue their dreams. The insights gained through racing environments will continue to strengthen the technology that ultimately protects riders on roads across the world.”
Manufactured in India and sold across global markets, SMK’s entry into competitive racing also highlights the rising international recognition of Indian helmet engineering.
From factory floors in India to high-speed racing circuits in Latin America, the company is betting that the road to MotoGP can also become a road to global credibility.
