Hero’s JRod wins India Baja, Tanveer of TVS bags Merzouga ticket

Two riders — both lead competitors for their respective teams — had contrasting takes on their experience at India Baja, the two-day Dakar Challenge rally which concluded on the dunes near Jaisalmer on Sunday.

Their words on the Baja and how they tackled the dunes speak volumes about the huge gulf even elite Indian riders have to bridge to get to the level of Dakar exponents — if at all we needed further evidence for the fact glaring at us from the timing sheets, that is. For the record, Joaquim “J-Rod” Rodrigues of Hero Motosport, won the moto segment of the India Baja, beating KP Aravind of TVS Racing, while Abdul Wahid Tanveer finished third.

Tanveer and TVS, however, have a lot to cheer about and look forward to as he has won the big prize of Baja, and is on his way to Dakar, albeit after a “big test in Morocco”. Tanveer, who finished third, has qualified for the Merzouga Rally in Morocco next month, and if he manages to finish that event, he would earn a ticket for the Dakar Rally next year. Winner J-Rod and secondplaced Aravind have already participated in the Dakar and were not eligible for the free Dakar entry from India Baja.

J-Rod from Portugal and Aravind, who were the Hero and TVS’ lead riders in the rally, showcased their best in the twoday event but the Indian’s best was a good 20 minutes behind. Rodrigues had virtually no challenge at all, especially after TVS’ Adrien Metge of France pulled out due to mechanical failure on Day 1. Metge might have given J-Rod a fight.

Then again, the Portuguese rider led the rally right from the opening stage, a testament to his quality and to the ease at which he mastered the terrain and dreary weather conditions.