Shamim Khan wins Monsoon Scooter Rally for fourth time

Experienced rider Shamim Khan of Nashik, atop a Mahindra Rodeo, overcame a strong field that included a host of former champions and tough conditions, to emerge triumphant in the Gulf Monsoon Scooter Rally, organised by Sportscraft for the fourth time here on Sunday. In a field of 40 riders, the Team Mahindra rider, who was champion in 2003, 2004 and 2010, rode judiciously over the dirt <g data-gr-id="18">tracts</g> of Navi Mumbai to win the gruelling 35-km race, clocking 31 minutes and 59 seconds in penalties. 

Defending champion R Natraj of TVS Racing, who pipped Khan in a close finish last year, was forced to pull out immediately at the first Time Control itself due to mechanical failure of his scooter. He was among four who failed to finish. Pune’s <g data-gr-id="19">Pinkesh</g> Thakkar of Team <g data-gr-id="20">Ceat</g>, astride a Kinetic Honda, was second in 33 minutes and 45 seconds, while Bhopal?s Syed Asif Ali of TVS Racing, astride a TVS Wego, third in 33:54 seconds. How good Khan was can be gauged from the 2.26 seconds that separated him and second-paced rider Thakkar.