31-year-old Bengalurean proves his resilience by finishing 36th in the gruelling rally despite suffering a fractured toe and an injured left shoulder

It’s just getting to be crazy. Even in the best physical shape of my life I am so tired that I can hardly stand. The Dakar is excruciating,” CS Santosh wrote on his official Facebook page, mid-way through his 14-day-long Dakar Rally. Considered the world’s deadliest rallies, a Dakar participant needs to find his way through a jungle of rocks, rivers, slush, rain, sand and sweltering heat and freezing cold to survive the 13-stage 9,000 kilometres race traversing through three South American countries – Argentina, Chile and Bolivia

And Santosh conquered that, earning tremendous respect from the biking community in India. This 31-year-old, six foot, Bengalurean finished at an overall 36th position.It is his resilience and hunger to earn respect among his own that makes him a unique sportsperson.

Out of the 160 riders, Santosh, the lone and first-ever representative from India, started the race in the 85th position. By the end of stage two he had climbed up to the 50th position. In the following stages, he jumped up the order despite suffering multiple falls injuring his left shoulder and a bleeding nose due to harsh weather conditions.

Scores of sporting enthusiasts in the country following the Rally posted their best wishes on social networking sites when he had a major fall while overtaking. He was only 15 kilometres into stage six and ended up with a fractured toe on his left foot. But that didn’t stop Santosh from pursuing his dream challenge.Three injections and tight strapping later, he went on to complete the 318 kms treacherous stretch at an unbelievable 64th position.
“I am on some really good medication and feel no pain,” he told Bangalore Mirror, a day after the race concluded in Buenos Aires late on Saturday.

Injuries are not new to this rider.In 2013, Santosh suffered life-threatening third degree burns when his bike caught fire following fuel overflow in the sweltering desert in Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. This incident took him months to recover physically and mentally. “I fell about 10 times in all that slush,” he said.

Through the 784 kms challenging terrain in stage eight, which required him to service and repair his bike without any support, Santosh recorded his best finish yet, ending at 32nd position after starting from the 65th position. In the following stages he had to jump start his bike, nearly got swept away by a freak river, injured his shoulder, spent 30 minutes draining the air box and changing the filter. Once he made it to the destination, he had no energy left, even to get off his bike. “Shivering and unable to speak, I was warmed up with a good shower and some traditional Bolivian clothes. I struggled and fought every day and in this epic race I managed to carve out a name for myself like all the heroes I have read about in history books,” Santosh said via an interview on WhatsApp.

“What is life if not for the possibility of a seemingly impossible challenge and it was great to see that hundreds were behind me 100 per cent. I’m so overwhelmed by all the support,” he added. Santosh arrives in Bengaluru on Wednesday and is expected to get a roaring welcome from the biking community in the city.

Who is CS Santosh? 

Chunchunguppe Shivashankar Santosh has been a pioneer in the Indian adventure biking scene for the past decade. He started participating in international events from 2010, winning India’s toughest rally, the Raid De Himalaya, in an incredible first attempt.

He then went on to bag the 9th position in the World Cross Country Championship, which is like a proving ground for future Dakar participants.

Riding a number 59 KTM 450 rally bike and supported by Red Bull, CS Santosh became the first Indian to participate in the history of Dakar, which is going on as you read this, through Argentina, Chile and Bolivia on a looping 9,000 km route, to end on January 17.

Why is the Darkar Rally deadly?

Since its inception in 1978, over 60 people have died during the course of this rally-raid. Competitors have to cross anywhere from 200 to 900 kms in a day, on difficult terrains. In this race, Fabrizio Meoni, who won the race in 2001 and 2002, crashed and died during the 2005 event.

In the 2015 edition, KTM Factory rider and one of the upcoming stars of Dakar Sam Sunderland crashed out of the rally in the fourth stage.The British rider suffered collarbone and shoulder injuries while 39-yearold Polish competitor Michal Hernik died while racing the third stage of the course. His body was found roughly 300 meters off the course’s path. Tests performed later by doctors suggest that Hernik succumbed to dehydration and hypothermia. He was an experienced rider, but this was his first Dakar outing.

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Bangalore> Others / by Nandini Kumar, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / January 20th, 2015