A family’s unbearable loss, a new generation’s racing dream

Hareesh Parandhaman and his family experienced a profound loss when their son, Shreyas, died in a motorcycle racing crash in 2023. Shreyas, who grew up with a passion for racing, had dreamt of bringing a medal home for India in MotoGP. He had competed in several national and international tournaments, including winning the inaugural MiniGP India series in 2022.

Shreyas was on the spectrum, but he excelled in bike racing, becoming a champion at a young age. His father, Hareesh, was driven by the desire to see his son achieve his dreams, dedicating himself fully to Shreyas' racing career after Shreyas left his job at Resil Chemicals in 2017. Tragically, Shreyas died on August 5, 2023, in a crash during the Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship at the Madras International Circuit in Chennai.

The accident left Hareesh devastated, struggling to cope with the loss. He moved Shreyas' trophies and memorabilia into a memorial museum to honor his son's legacy. Despite the pain, Hareesh continues to draw strength from Shreyas' fighting spirit.