The Indian Riders On Dakar Rally

1; C S Santhosh

CS Santosh (siːɛs sʌnðəʊsh) (born 1 December 1983) is an Indian off-road and enduro motorcycle racer. His full name is Chunchunguppe Shivashankar Santosh. He is a multiple National Supercross and Motocross champion. CS Santosh has spent more than a decade racing motorbikes across challenging terrains and multiple nations.[1] He is a rider who is under the banner of Hero MotoSports, and has spearheaded a rally revolution of sorts in India and has given fresh hope to fellow talented riders that they too can make the step up to the global rally level.[2]

CS Santhosh in action on Dakar Rally

Santosh is India’s most-accomplished rally-raid rider as he has taken part in Dakar Rally for six straight years and completed it thrice.[4][1] His humble demeanour might not state it, but the trophy cabinet at this home speaks volumes about his accomplishments. There is barely a title or an accolade in the Indian motorsport scene that he hasn’t won. CS, with his persistence, courage and determination has moulded himself perfectly in the sport of motocross.[5]

Few men dream of the enigma that is the Dakar, few find the gall to take it up, and fewer still manage to complete it and still look like they’ve just come out of the library after an hour-long reading session. As for CS himself, things come full circle.[6]


2 ; Arvind K P

Following unsuccessful attempts in 2017 and ‘18, KP returned to Dakar this year for a third assault and gradually upped his pace, breaking inside the top 50 when the action resumed after a mid-rally break on Sunday.

He set the 42nd quickest time in the final 86 km special that ran from Lima to Pisco in Peru to eventually finish 37th in the overall classifications. However, that ranking remains provisional at present as organiser ASO applies potential post-rally penalties to different riders.

With that result, KP successfully followed in the footstep of CS Santosh, who finished the Dakar on his first attempt in 2015 astride a customer KTM bike.

Santosh was also competing in the 2018 edition of the event as a factory rider for Hero MotoSports team, but was forced to retire in stage 5 after suffering a crash that left him briefly unconscious.

Sherco TVS rider Aravind KP became only the second Indian to finish the Dakar Rally after crossing the finishing line

That’s It these are the 2 Indian Riders who are in Words Deadliest Motorsport

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