“After my crash, I did not keep in mind two-three years of my life; I could not even stability. However I used to be fascinated about the Dakar (Rally) on a regular basis.”
Lots has modified for CS Santosh since his near-fatal crash within the 2021 Dakar Rally, which left him with some vital neurological harm. However what did not change was his love for motorcycling and that starvation to beat Dakar as soon as once more. Now, over three years after the incident, he is returned to aggressive rallying. It was a monumental first step for the Indian, not simply due to all of the work he needed to put in to succeed in this stage but in addition as a result of it was his very first rally outing with Royal Enfield.
First steps again to rallying
The 2021 Dakar Rally noticed Santosh come again from the brink of dying – fairly actually. Within the months since, he is needed to work on regaining his motor features and reminiscence. Whereas racing needed to take a again seat as he centered on restoration, he explored different sides of motorsport because the proprietor of the Indian Supercross Racing League-winning workforce, BigRock Motorsports.
And though he was again on a motorcycle simply eight months after his crash, there was nonetheless a protracted street forward earlier than he may even think about returning to rallying. “You seem like a standard man, however the factor is that you have harm your CPU,” says Santosh.
As a part of his restoration journey, Santosh has made a number of visits to the Pink Bull Athlete Efficiency Heart in Austria and even labored with Michael Schumacher and Marc Marquez’s docs. He lastly feels able to take these first steps again into the world of rallying.
The occasion picked for his rally return was the comparatively unknown Rallye TT Cuenca – a 400km Baja format rally in Spain spanning simply two days. “That is the format that we selected to compete in as a result of it is the smallest format in this sort of cross-country rally,” explains Santosh. “I wanted to first validate if I may have an aspiration for the Dakar. And it is just about underneath the radar, so it was simply me and my bike.”
After all, just a few primary modifications have been made to the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 to make it rally-ready – primarily a unique suspension, rally-spec tyres, a full-system Akrapovic exhaust, and the addition of the navigation tower. “It wasn’t a rally bike in any respect. However it is a bike you can purchase out of the showroom and take off-road, and that is what we did,” says Santosh. “So, it is not that I’ll go and win races on this bike, however it permits me to be who I’m and at a price that I can afford. A rally bike prices (anyplace close to) 30,000 euros, so it is an costly bike, and this, you should purchase out of the showroom.”
A complete of 38 racers competed within the bikes class, and Santosh ended up ending thirtieth total. It is price noting that this was merely a shakedown take a look at, and the venture continues to be in its infancy. So, whereas on paper, this ending place won’t look like probably the most spectacular, the outing achieved its predominant objectives.
“With the bike, I am glad that we accomplished this primary race. That was lovely,” says Santosh. “By way of me, I used to be a bit of shocked that it took every little thing from me to compete; I used to be exhausted. I am the man that races on the Dakar, and this is sort of a actually brief format of racing, and it took its toll on my physique. (However) sure, I do know what I have to work on now. You’ll be able to prepare all you need, however until you race, you’d by no means know what’s required.”
Working with Royal Enfield
Again in 2015, Santosh turned the primary Indian to take part within the Dakar Rally, and over time, he performed a key position in Hero MotoSports’ Dakar programme. Nonetheless, after six years of racing collectively, this partnership concluded in late 2022.
Santosh stays all reward for his former workforce however admits that after his crash, they envisioned having him on board occupying a unique position. “They have been like my household; it was onerous for me to go away them. (However) I am the man who desires to compete and be on the market, and I nonetheless have to satisfy my very own potential, no matter that is perhaps,” he provides.
Since then, he is been working with Royal EnfieldFew know this, however his reference to the producer goes again a number of years, when he examined the primary Himalayan again in 2012-2013. Santosh provides that his partnership with Royal Enfield is not simply restricted to racing, and, in reality, this is likely one of the main explanation why he needed to workforce up with the model.
“Royal Enfield was the primary partnership we had at BigRock Dust Park (the off-road motorcycling coaching facility Santosh arrange close to Bengaluru) with Slide Faculty. They noticed the relevance when it comes to the experience that we usher in, they usually additionally spent loads of time testing with us. So, it is not simply me going on the market and racing bikes. It is just about why I introduced Royal Enfield on board on this method for this race in Cuenca as a result of it is not simply me however even my individuals testing and collaborating with them.”
Dakar Rally objectives
Santosh says he’ll have a look at competing in different Baja rallies within the close to future. However that is simply the beginning, and he has his goal locked on Dakar, albeit with a brand new aim. “I keep in mind bits and items of eager to be a top-20 rider, and I feel I used to be within the place to do it, however life had different plans as such. Competitively, I do not suppose I am that man anymore. That man died with my crash.”
As a substitute, Santosh desires to discover the very roots of the Dakar Rally, referring to the early days within the ’70s and ’80s when beginner racers would compete on manufacturing bikes, equipping them as they noticed match to deal with among the harshest circumstances on this planet. “Now it (the Dakar Rally) is aggressive with prototype bikes and all that type of stuff. However that is me going again to the roots – having a bike that I should purchase out of a showroom at a worth I can afford after which having the aspiration to do the Dakar on this method,” he says.
“I am simply going to go on the market and endorse the journey facet of motorcycling, and that is lovely in its personal sense,” he provides.
Royal Enfield hasn’t formally confirmed any plans to race at Dakar, however the brand new Rally 3 class – for manufacturing enduro machines tailored for rally use – definitely offers them the right alternative to discover this method that Santosh outlined.
Additionally see:
CS Santosh makes rally return with Royal Enfield
Royal Enfield Himalayan rally racer seen for the primary time
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