Riders target Dakar spot at India Baja

JAISALMER: Covering some of the toughest off-road terrains, the third edition of extreme motorsport competition India Baja will be held from August 17-19 in the dunes here with the rally comprising 400km of gruelling Special Stages and 150km of Transport Stages.

Significantly, the top Indian contender will get a direct gratis entry to the pinnacle of off-road races in the world – the Dakar Rally in 2020. The India Baja 2018 winner will also be entitled to a complimentary entry to the Afriquia Merzouga Rally 2019. The winnings amount to a whopping 20,000 euros which also covers registration fee for one motorcycle in both the above mentioned events. Also, the topplaced contestants of all categories will get a direct entry to the 2019 Desert Storm.

Established in 2016 by Northern Motorsport, the rally follows the Baja format used around the world. The success of the inaugural edition inspired the organisers to associate with the Dakar Rally.

Portugal’s Joaquim Rodrigues won the 2017 Moto event from KP Aravind but it was Abdul Wahid Tanveer who got a direct entry in the 2018 Afriquia Merzouga Rally and also the 41st edition of Dakar to be held in 2019. Tanveer got the ticket as the first two are Dakar regulars.

SIX-RIDER SQUAD

Meanwhile, TVS Racing will field a six-rider squad for the rally, including Lorenzo Santolino of Spain, R Nataraj, Abdul Wahid Tanveer, Harith Noah, Imran Pasha and RE Rajendra from India.

Spanish racer Santolino comes on board with vast experience in the international racing circuit. Santolino participated in the Desert Storm earlier this year and bagged a podium finish in the rally.