Thrissur's K.C. Grishin celebrated the most satisfying victory of his career when he took the glamorous Indian Open title in the Kingfisher Dirt Bike Race 2010 at the Synthite Ground, Panangad, on Sunday evening.
Former five-time National champion C.D. Jinan, who now races in Dubai, began as the favourite for the Indian Open honours but he was forced to retire when his engine went dead in the last lap of the five-lapper.
“Beating Jinan makes this victory very special…I've won many races but this is my best,” said 24-year-old Grishin, who rode under the banner of Workshop13. He collected Rs. 20,000 for his victory.
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Jinan, however, walked away with the ‘time race' title, a one-lap sprint which threw up the fastest rider.
Mysore's Shahbaz Khan lifted the Indian Expert class title while Ernakulam's Sinam (novices, non-medallists) and P.G. Tinu (beginners) won the other titles.
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Indian Open class: 1. K.C. Grishin (Workshop13, Thrissur), 2. Kamala Kannan (SRS, Coimbatore), 3. P.D. Shaprea (Red Line, Ernakulam).
Indian Expert class: 1. Shahbaz Khan (Xtreme Motors, Mysore), 2. K.C. Grishin (Workshop13, Thrissur), 3. Kamala Kannan (SRS, Coimbatore).
Novices (non-medallists): 1. Sinam (Motor World, Ernakulam), 2. Jeeva (Gallop Racing, Thrissur), 3. P.G. Tinu (Red Line, Ernakulam).
Beginners: 1. P.G. Tinu (Red Line, Ernakulam), 2. Sajeesh (Quilon Motorsports, Kollam), 3. Murali (Modern Guard, Ernakulam).
Time racing: C.D. Jinan (ORM, Thrissur, 1:59.05s).