Santosh ahead of Austrian legend Frauwallner at Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm

A rally vehicle in action at The 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm

Bikaner, February 25, 2014: Bangalore's champion biker CS Santosh is fighting to retain his title as India’s top biker, and is leading on Day One of the 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, which was flagged off from New Delhi on Monday.

Following Santosh is 55-year-old Helmut Frauwallner of Austria, first at The Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya 2013 in October last year. Both Santosh and Helmut, popularly known as Helly, are riding foreign bikes at the Desert Storm. Santosh is riding a Suzuki RMX 450, and Helly a Yamaha WR450F, giving each other tough competition in Rally Moto (Motorcycles). 

Third in Rally Moto is defending champion Mohit Verma of Chandigarh.

The 12thMaruti Suzuki Desert Storm is running with the highest number of competitors ever, at 250. The six-day rally will end at Jaipur on March 1, covering about 2,200 kilometers. The 2014 edition of the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm was flagged off with 55 teams in Rally Xtreme (4X4) and 35 teams in Rally Moto. In addition, there were 35 teams in Rally Ndure and 25 teams in Rally Xplore.

Kolkata’s Somdev Chanda with navigator Nirav Mehta, defending champions at The 12th Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, is leading Rally Endure at the motorsport marathon. Chanda-Mehta are driving a Maruti Gypsy for Team Maruti Suzuki.

In Rally Xplore, Sanjay Takale and Mustafa of Team Maruti Suzuki are leading their category, driving an SX4. Second in this category are Rajesh Chalana and Yogesh Gupta, again driving an SX4 for Team Maruti Suzuki. Third in Rally Xplore is Nitin Yadav with navigator Ravi Bansal, driving a Tata Aria.

The results of the Xtreme category were not ready at the time of going to the press.

During the night stage which opened the rally, competitors in Rally Xtreme and Rally Ndure drove through 96 kms of deep sand and light gravel.

Jayesh Desai, president of Northern Motorsport, which organizes the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm, said the opening night’s challenge was highly exciting for all competitors. “There is the psychological pressure of the first night, and people tend to over reach. The need is to sit back and work out the right strategy,” said Desai. Of the 55 teams which took a start in Rally Xtreme, only 34 teams managed to finish the night stage successfully. The rest can opt for a re-start on the next stage with penalties.

Press release