New Delhi: Ace biker C.S. Santosh is gearing up for his fifth Dakar Rally and third with the Hero Motosports Team. But the Bengaluru boy is not putting “extra pressure” on himself and remains focused.
“My aim at Dakar this year is to do better than what I have been doing. Last year I had two good stages. I was in the top-50. It is a dream to finish in 20s this time. But I don’t put pressure on myself… I just want to complete my race every day and give my 100 per cent. I want to minimise my mistakes,” Santosh said.
He along with Portugal’s Joaquim Rodrigues and Oriol Mena from Spain are in the Hero MotoSports Team for the 41st edition of the Dakar Rally set to begin January 6. All three will ride on Hero 450RR rally bikes. “We three are different from each other. Mena is a beast for me. He is like the hulk while Joaquim is a professional and very experienced. There is a contrast between these two guys. I try to learn as much from my team-mates. They are the top riders in the world and having them as my team-mates is a big thing. They help me achieve my goal. I learn a lot from them. They have been very helpful,” Santosh said.
The gruelling endurance rally will take place entirely in Peru for the first time. The route is a 5,000 km coil, beginning and ending in Lima. The race will take place over 3,000 km in 10 special stages, and 70 percent of the event will be on the sand. “Toughest thing in Dakar is unpredictability. We never know how the conditions will be like. You can’t prepare for Dakar as you prepare for close circuit motorsport,” said the 35 year old.
