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Gulf Monsoon Scooter Rally 2005 2nd & 3rd July 2005

July 3, 2005: Manjit Singh Bassan won the Gulf Monsoon Scooter Rally, organized by Sportscraft, on Sunday. His triumph came after Rustom Patel, who clocked the best time, was disqualified for making an illegal modification on his scooter.

After much deliberation by the stewards and technical delegates, it was ruled that Rustom had modified his scooter by replacing the stock piston and bore.

In winning Manjit denied defending champion Shamim Khan (Kinetic Marvel) a third successive title in the event. Khan, who skidded and took a tumble in one of the competitive sectors, placed second.

Afzal Khan (LML Vespa) and Kunal Rao (Kinetic Marvel) placed third and fourth respectively while Avtar Singh was fifth.

Arshad Shaikh, astride a Honda Activa, was the best first timer, placing a creditable eighth overall.

Twenty-one riders took the start from the Gulf Oil Limited headquarters in Andheri after they were flagged off by N C Sekharan, Head Lubricants SBN Gulf Oil Corporation Limited. And despite the rain staying away for most of the five-hour race they had to endure to a torrid time. Indeed, it was not only a test of their riding skills but also of the machines they were astride.

As usual, the 85 kms course that comprised 35 kms of competitive stages, and the rest transport, was dicey. Heavy rains over the last week made the gravel-laden and dirt tracts simply unconducive for riding. Added to that there was water logged at many places. Riders had to exercise utmost caution around the bends and slushy areas; one slip-up meant a nasty fall and end of the race.

Manjit used all his experience to come good in this exercise. His riding over the straight gravel-laden stretches was a treat to watch as he generated tremendous speed before crossing the flying finish. It was in this area he was able to gain precious seconds over his opponents.

“I knew I had to go at break-neck speed in the run-up to the finish to clock a good time. But I, like many other riders, was slowed down by the water-logging at some areas, which got into my bike,” said the daredevil rider who won the rally in 2002.

Describing the course as “tough but good” he admitted that had it rained heavily during the race it would have been difficult.

Ditto was the opinion of all riders as they looked back on the rally during lunch later.

While praising Sportscraft’s organization of the event, they had one request: that they be given a less demanding course the next time.

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