CS Santosh out of Dakar; Noah, Ashish keep the Indian flag flying

Wadi Ad Dasar (Saudi Arabia) 6 Jan 2021: Ace Indian Rider #50 CS Santosh of Hero MotoSports Factory Rally Team crashed out of Dakar Rally 2021 in 813-km Stage 4 here on Wednesday, which saw over 8 riders crash out. Santosh fell and hit his head after crossing the third Waypoint, said initial reports, but was also conscious when he was taken to the Riyadh hospital. Initial reports said that the Bengaluru-based rider is out of `danger’ and stable.

Santosh who started in 36th position made good times in the  first three waypoints making up places but unfortunately crashed out and and is said to have hit his head. Initial reports said that he was rushed to the hospital and is out of danger. Starting at 10.10 on Wednesday, and gained timeand placesin the first threeway points but crashed out at PK172, the fourth waypoint. He crossed first Waypoint PK43 in a time of 2:36 in 36th place and clocked 5:19 at PK80 to move up six places into 30 and made up another place timing 7:40 in waypoint PK125 to gain another place into 29 before the tragedy arrived as he fell and hit his head.

That leaves the other two Indians #33 Harith Noah, a product of TVS Racing, riding as a privateer here with the support of Sherco Factory team and TVS, in his second Dakar. The German-born Keralite, who is a former multiple Indian Supercross Champion, completed the day with aplomb, nevertheless losing places, in a time of 4 hours, 11minuts and 41seconds, in 68th place in Stage 4 that saw him slip to 36th from overnight 27th place on Tuesday.

Harith Noah began on a slow note today as he began in 27th position at 10:04 am. He clocked 00:02:07 in the first way point to lose three positions into 30th place and regained his 27th clocking 4min: 44sec and 7min 12sec in the next two to be back at 27th. Thereafter, he lost time before crossing the next two waypoints and issues in at the fag end to slid to 55th place and further went down to 68th clocking a timing of 4:11:41 with a 1hour 24minutes and 53seconds difference to the first placed Joan Barreda Bort of Monster Energy Honda Team 2021. After 17hours 27minutes 31seconds of riding on four days and completing four stages, Noah, is placed 36th overall. Noah is supported by TVS, Sherco, Scott India and Camelbak India.

The other Indian Ashish Raorane finished seven places later, in 75th, although in a lesser Marathon class, where he is on his own without any assistance. The Mumbai Mariner, who had to stay late on Tuesday after he had to set right a leak, did a good job to finish the course today and keep in hunt for to achieve his dream of a Dakar debut finish. Ashish clocked 4:30:46 overall and is adrift of the top riders by  1hour 43minutes and 56seconds. Ashish is sponsored by Klim, Slipstream Performance, Dosmoto, Leatt, EBC Brakes, Gaerne, Hellraiser motorwear, Goodwill Enterprises. He is in overall 80th position after four tough days. But he is place 19th of 25 riders in Original Motul Malle class. Malle a French word for Box, reminds us that Ashish can carry only a box which has a tent and other necessary equipment that is allowed as per rules including a set of tyres and has only three service volunteers and has to do all the repairs himself after a tough day. So usually a comraderie is seen between riders who all help each other so that they can complete the rally and live their Dakar Dream. Ashish is also one of the 7 rookies in his class, G2.1 Super Production class and will be carrying the Indian flag in the absence of torch-bearer CS Santosh. Noah is astride a Sherco TVS Rally Factory prepared bike 450RTR Sherco.