Bangalore rider CS Santhosh is in celebratory mode.After having set the national tracks ablaze,the Bangalorean sizzled with creditable shows in Iran,Dubai,Philippines and Sri Lanka,winning several titles.But the best of Santhoshs major victories came when he clinched his maiden Raid De Himalaya,the most grueling after the Dakar Rally.
Making his maiden appearance at the Raid a week ago,Santhosh,riding a Honda CFR 450,clinched the Moto Xtreme open class title outclassing experienced international rider Helly Frauwallner.The Austrian was the winner of the 2011 Raid de Himalaya and an accomplished rider having finished second in the Paris Dakar.
This was my first Raid and I won on my very first attempt,something that has not been done, said the 28-year-old champion,who holds as many as 50 podiums including 40 victories.
It was a remarkable moment for Santhosh as he became the first biker from south India to win a Raid.He clocked the fastest time as against the eight-time Raid champion Suresh Rana (four-wheeler ).
The Xtreme motorbikes and quads category is considered the ultimate adventure in rallying,pitting competitor and machine against the most gruelling terrains.The Raid is the only Indian motorsport event listed on the off-road rallies calendar of FIM (Federation Internationale Motorcyclisme ),Geneva,Switzerland.Only 12 international motoring events world-wide are listed in this calendar.This is by far the most cherished memory of mine because not many people believed that a rider like me would be able to finish,let alone win the Raid in the first attempt.My biggest challenge was last years Raid winner Frauwallner who was riding a Yamaha, said Santhosh.
The stories of crashes and casualties at the Raid did not deter Santhosh.It only made him more determined to scale the summit.I have limited rally experience.This is the first time I have completed a rally.Prior to this,I took part in K-1000 in 2003 where I crashed out in the first stage.I decided to do the Raid this year not knowing what to expect other than the drops and ice and snow on the rally stages which I had heard about, said Santhosh,who is backed by Pro Bikes from Dubai.
The 14th edition of Raid De Himalaya took off from Shimla on October 7 and ended in Leh on October 12,covering over 1,800 km.
Santosh,who is a fourtime national champion and three-time supercross champion,is currently the lead rider of the TVS Racing team,having won several titles in the Foreign Open categories for the last nine years.
His career almost came to an end in 2011.During practice rounds,Santhosh crashed while clearing a wall jump and was almost paralysed,hampering his hopes of return to bikes.However,a tough rider that he is,Santhosh came out flying colours,winning the Sri Lankan championship,three months after his recovery from back injury.
Even though I was winning races,I wasnt getting anything out of it.I had hurt my back and come close to paralysis;my parents were very scared.I almost gave up rallying,but my team urged me to go to Sri Lanka and I won there, he said.
Having won the Raid,Santhosh has set his sights on the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm and will be aiming to impress at the World Cross Country Rally Championship in Abu Dhabi.
If everything goes according to plan,I will take part in the World Cross Country Rally championship in March in Abu Dhabi.Before that I will be riding in the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm in February 2013 on the Honda CRF 450, said Santhosh.
