Gulf Dirt Track National Championship 2005 Finals :: Nasik :: 3-4 December 2005 C.S. Santosh - Indian National Dirt Track Champion 2005

C. S Santosh displayed precision balance and skill to emerge champion in the final leg of the 2005 Gulf Dirt Track National Championship for motorcycles in Nashik on December 4.

The event was flagged off by Mr . Bejan Desai & Dr. Rao Sr. G.M. Gulf Oil Corporation.

By aggregating an overall tally of 165 points C.S. Santosh edged past his TVS team mate C. Vijay Kumar and bagged the title of Champion Rider of the Year. C. Vijaj Kumar placed second with an overall tally of 163 points, while Syed Eathasham took third place in the championship.

Coming into the final round, after the previous four rounds in Pune, Bangalore, Jodhpur and Hyderabad, Bangalore riders Santosh and Vijaykumar had 128 points and Vijaykumar 126 points respectively and thus a keen showdown was expected. The duo did not disappoint the good turnout of motorsport fans from Nasik as they went through the motions.

It was unfortunate that Syed Eathasham was not around to challenge them, which could have made the battle even more closer. Eathasham, who also missed the fourth round at Hyderabad could not participate again as his sponsors Yamaha Racing decided to withdraw the team.

With the sun blazing down on the riders, despite a cool breeze, it was not easy riding. The track by time had broken up and loose gravel and slush at several bends made riding a difficult proposition. To come good one had to exercise supreme control and judicious acceleration. Both Santosh and Vijaykumar had those little better skills to stand out among the riders.

Mumbai's Rustom Patel won the Private Experts Championship for motorcycles above 80cc to 150cc. Coming into the final leg he had a tally of 152 points while his nearest rival Pinkesh Thakker of Pune had 122 points. All he needed to do was ride properly to emerge champion. He did to claim the honours. Pinkesh Thakker finished second in the category while Badal Doshi was third.

This event was held on December 3 and 4, at the Golf Club Ground, Trimbak Road, opposite New CBS, Nasik. Though the championship has reached the final leg, it is open to all riders.

The championship, organized by Sportscraft in association with Nasik Automotive Sports Association under the aegis of the Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India, was sponsored by Gulf Oil Corporation Ltd, the second largest Lubricant Manufactures amongst the private sector lube Companies in India.

In conclusion, the final leg of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India-sanctioned championship was a feast for two-wheeler riders what with top class competition and top class bikes on view.

And the manner in which it was conducted left no room for complain from any quarter. Sportscraft’s usual competence in running events with clock-like precision ensured that.

The Championship award was given away by Shree B.P. Bam Rtd. I.G police

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