DEFYING ALL ODDS

For the first time since its inception in 1978, the Dakar Rally has been held within a single country, Peru. The 2019 edition has been touted as one of the toughest in the history of the rally. Only 55 per cent of racers all across the world were able to complete the race – a testimony to the level of difficulty. The 11-day rally saw riders battle with fesh fesh, sand dunes, beach and rocks amid complex navigation and extreme weather conditions.

After a steady start in the early stages, Aravind KP picked his pace in the second-half and kept climbing up the rankings. Despite crashes during the intermediate stages, he fought hard to reach the finish line at 37th position – becoming the second Indian at the global event.

In an exclusive interview with Millennium Post, Aravind talks about the sport being played only in the margins, what needs to be done to produce an Indian world champion, his team Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team and much more.

Many congratulations on successfully completing the rally. Can you tell our readers about the journey you undertook – when did it start and how did you pave your way, especially in a third-world country?

I had a love for adventure right from my childhood and would play all forms of sports in my school and college days. I started racing as a privateer and TVS Racing spotted me at one of these racing events. They took me into their team 12 years back. It was then that my career took off and I got immense opportunities to prove my mettle. I have won 17 National Championships in Dirt track, Rallies and Motocross race formats till date. The team also extended an opportunity to represent them at the Dakar Rally three times in a row, which is a dream come true for any racer. There is very little awareness about motorsports in India and that is the primary reason why you don't see many Indians in the world motorsports arena, not because we come from the third-world.

What do you think are the main reasons behind the lack of awareness around motorsports in India?

We need to educate people on motorsports and let them know that it is not a rich man's sport. This will need a lot of support from the media as well as manufacturers. We need to spread information about Indian racers and racing events which, in turn, will encourage more people to come forward and take up racing professionally. There will be an increase in competitiveness and it will help evolve the sport as well.

India has been rising steadily in the realm of motorsports and the number of two-wheel enthusiasts has always been impressive. What else can we as a nation do to produce more world-class racers?

Talent needs to be identified at an early age and training should begin immediately after that. Around the world, racers begin training at a very early age and, by the time they are in their teens, they are already champions; whereas, we start training in motorsports either in our late-teens or early-twenties.

The practice tracks are concentrated mostly in South India, ruling out the exception of Buddh International Circuit. What are your views on the available state of infrastructure for the sport in the country?

The availability of infrastructure is interlinked to the interest in the sport. I feel that as there is an increase in awareness about motorsports, there will be a demand for more training schools and infrastructure. If there is infrastructure, more people would also get to know about motorsports and get involved in it. There are new race tracks being planned in different parts of the country and that should expand the reach of the sport.

Indian manufacturers have been elevating their standards in recent times. Do you feel manufacturers have been able to deliver top-notch machines?

Definitely yes. Manufacturers across the globe participate in such events to get inputs for developing their machines for extreme conditions.

TVS Racing has been participating in Dakar since the past five years and it has definitely helped our R&D get many useful inputs.

There is a notion across the country where biking is often regarded as hooliganism. There are many who ride recklessly on public roads to test their limits and showcase their skills. Your advice to upcoming, enthusiastic racers.

I would say that racing should be on the tracks and not on roads. If you're keen on racing, get into a racing school, learn the basics and then try your luck at the race track. Roads are meant for commuting and not racing. I did the same and have been able to channelise my energy in the right direction.

There are many programmes for budding racers. For instance, we at TVS Racing, organise One Make Championship, where budding racers are given an opportunity to race on the track. TVS Racing is the first manufacturer to begin this programme in India. Then, there are various racing events where one can try their luck and prove themselves.

Details of all racing events are mentioned in the FMSCI calendar (FMSCI is the only National Sports Federation for the promotion and governance of motorsports in India).