C.S. Santosh, who last week became the first Indian to compete in and complete the Dakar Rally, believes his performance, in arguably the world’s toughest motor-racing event, could open the doors for more aspiring riders from the country.
“I think it has fuelled a lot of people’s imaginations. Dakar as a race does this. It inspires people,” he said on his return home to Bengaluru on Wednesday.
“This was a dream that I had. I think a lot of people will see this now and go and follow their heart.”
Santosh finished the 9,203-km cross-country race in the 36th position on his KTM 450 motorcycle. It is a staggering achievement for a first-timer, considering that more than half the vehicles that entered the event did not complete it. “The rally is not just about endurance. The speeds that we do — 150 km to 160 km an hour — through forests, wooded areas, and deserts took me by surprise at first. Physically, it is very demanding. If you don’t pay attention to the road or the road-book even for one second, the terrain is waiting to catch you out,” he said.
Along the way, Santosh suffered multiple injuries: a bloody nose, a broken toe, and a badly-hurt shoulder, and crashed numerous times but pulled through.
“For three or four days we had to cross the Andes. It was the most excruciating experience I have had: to do 400 km in sub-zero temperatures. In Chile (stage 6), I smashed my toe and rode the next 300 km in so much pain,” he said, bleary-eyed after a 30-hour transcontinental journey.
‘Never doubted myself’
Santosh stated that he never doubted finishing the race. “I always believed I was destined to do this,” he said. “Just thinking about it brought tears to my eyes. How far we’ve come just to make the Dakar. I’ve already started thinking about Dakar 2016. I know a lot of things I could have done better and in the next three years I think I can be a top 10 guy.”
The 30-year-old’s parents, Shivashankar and Chandrakala, expressed their delight at their son’s achievement. Ms. Chandrakala, whose watch Santosh wore as a lucky charm, said she was never worried despite the fatalities the event is notorious for. Michal Hernik, a Polish rider, died this year. “There is nothing to be gained by crying. You have to see what action can be taken,” she said.
