CS Santosh completes another stage, takes 42nd overall ranking: Dakar 2020
Al Ula (Saudi Arabia), 8 Jan 2020: The 36-year-old ace Indian rally-raid specialist CS Santosh of Hero MotoSports Team Rally had another successful day at Dakar 2020 finishing Stage 4 and Day 4 in 44th position to gain an overall ranking of 42 in the Bike category on Wednesday.
Sanoths, India’s most accomplished supercross and rally-raid champion, fought the day with determination and exhibited his skill to conquer another stage but still Dakar has much to be dealt with in the days to come. “I made one mistake but but happy to finish the day. The dust was not much and the pain in the hand reduced,’’ said the Bengaluru-based rider at the end of the day in a video message. Taking part in the Dakar Rally for the sixth consecutive year, Santosh became the first Indian to finish Dakar in 2015 finishing a creditable 36th for a rookie rider.
CS Santosh (Comp No: 50) continued: “It was a really long and cold day. For me the stage was pretty good overall. In the beginning, there was a lot of dust so I waited to push ahead. The stage was quite difficult but I had a lot of fun today, made considerable time except for a small mistake I made before the refuelling point where I lost my way a bit. Overall my hand is feeling better and stronger, and I am looking forward to the next couple of days at the Dakar.”
The winner of three National Championship titles in Supercross is a Red Bull athlete representing Hero MotoSports Team Rally and is supported by Red Bull, Hero, Sidvin, Fast Indian, Scott, Track&Trail and Cannondale. Santosh also won the Raid de Himalaya in 2012, the toughest rally-raid event in India on the foothills of Himalayas.
The caravan of bikes, quads, cars, trucks and SSVs departed Neom for Al Ula, which meant leaving behind the city of the future, to discover the ancient wonders of the master builders of the Nabatean civilisation, who knew how to cut out temples in rocks two millennia ago. The sites peppered with a hundred temples are, of course, out of the reach of the Dakar competitors. However, even getting close to this area has taken a titanic effort. Riding at altitude in the early morning, bikers had to overcome the mountain chill, but especially the rocky terrain and a crossing of the Harrat al ‘Uwayrid volcanic region, where any navigation mistakes take a heavy toll. Pictures of the tombs will have to wait.
The other Indian in Dakar 2020, Harith Noah representing Sherco TVS Factory Rally team pulled out on the third day when his bike did not start. He took part the next day in the Dakar Experience, a new class which started this year allowing riders to experience the thrill of Dakar but they will not be eligible for ranking.
