Reliability atop Santosh’s mind ahead of moment of reckoning
BUENOS AIRES: It took a set of humble cutting pliers to get CS Santosh out of the trancelike state he has been in for the last two days. The check list of the mandatory tools that moto-riders need to carry got him back to the reality of his second Dakar adventure.
Unlike last year, when he made history with the Austria-based KTM factory rally team, which is by far the biggest operation in the Dakar Rally, Team Suzuki Spain is like a young adult trying to make elbow space in the world of big boys.
“Compared to KTM, this team (Team Suzuki Spain) is a different world. It’s a small team but with big intentions and big heart. A lot of things that I took for granted last year isn’t the case for this Dakar,” said Santosh.
Apart from the differences in the scale of operation, the Suzuki RMX 450 Rally that Santosh will be piloting in the 38th edition of the planet’s toughest race is a different beast.
“The Suzuki rides very differently compared to last year’s bike. It might lack at the top end compared to the KTM, but it handles very well. So it evens out in the long run, at least in theory,” said Santosh. So, what’s the worry playing in our man’s head?
The answer lies in one word — reliability. This resonates loudly across the Dakar paddock. It’s not just him who chews on this word. The brutal terrain on which the Dakar is run in South America puts a heavy premium on the reliability of all machines, irrespective of the reputation of the brand.
The other key ingredient for success is the extent to which the team backs its driv ers and riders. In this respect Team Suzuki Spain, led by Jord Garu, has lent its full weight behind Santosh.
At 11.45 am on Saturday, it will be a moment of reckoning for Santosh when he rides up the start podium for the 11km spe cial timed section of the prelude to Rosario.
It will determine the start order for the first stage of the Dakar, which will set this gigantic caravan rolling across Argentina and Bolivia on a more than 9,000km epic race.