CS Santosh Conquers 2012 Raid de Himalaya

CS Santosh's Victory is remarkable, as this was the first time the ‘Indian Flyin Monkee' participated in the Raid. The Raid de Himalaya is the only Indian motorsport event listed on the off-road rallies calendar of FIM (Federation Internationale Motorcyclisme), Geneva, Switzerland. Only 12 international motoring events world-wide are listed in this calendar.

CS Santosh is a veteran in this sport. He has been crowned Indian National Supercross Champion (In Group A&B combined) in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010. This South Indian lad, has represented Indian on the international map by scorching the racing tracks in the Dubai National Championship as part of Team Suzuki.

"Even though I was winning races, I wasn't getting anything out of it. I had hurt my back and come close to paralysis; my parents were very scared. I almost gave up rallying, but my team urged me to go to Sri Lanka. I won there, I won at the Raid, and now there is no turning back. Biking is my passion. I am going to participate early next year in the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm. I am looking forward to the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge staring March 2013, and want to be the first Indian to win the Asian Motocross Championship," said Santosh.

"The Raid is a life-changing experience; it gives you a whole new perspective. Completing it is a joy by itself. It reminds you of life. There is uncertainty, there is fear, but you keep going and never stop. You keep going till you finish," said Santosh about the Raid.

The Raid De Himalaya is organized by Maruti Suzuki in collaboration with Himalayan Motorsport Association (HMA), the premier Shimla-based motorsport club. President HMA Mr Vijay Parmar, who has been a champion biker at top motorsport rallies, called Santosh an "extremely talented" biker. "He has a fantastic riding style, backed by the right training. Santosh has been the podium finishers in the international motocross, and has the potential to achieve more," said Mr Parmar.

The Raid went through some of the highest motorable passes and human settlements in the world. These included Darcha (3360 m), Keylong (3440 m), Leh (3524 m), Kaza (3650 m), Dhanka (3894 m), Losar (4079 m), Rumtse (4300 m), Kunzum La (4551 m), Komik (4587 m) and Pang (4600 m)

The 14th Maruti Suzuki Raid De Himalaya took off from Shimla on October 7 and ended in Leh on October 12, covering over 1,800 kilometers approximately. As many as 150 teams with more than 300 participants in four wheelers and 35 bikers braved the inhospitable terrains and weather conditions of the Western Himalayas to compete for the top honours.

CS Santosh conquered the Mighty Himalayas on a Honda 450. He beat last year's Raid winner "Helly Frauwallner" from Austria, who was on a factory Yamaha. Helly is a very accomplished rider having finished 2nd in the Paris Dakar " Dakar Hero Legends" category in 2009. He also has won the motocross championship in Austria six times.

I'm just glad that I have survived this battle and I'm happy to be back home in the warm sunshine. As I sit back and think about the Raid, I know that everyone who finishes the Raid deserves a mention, Hats off! - Winning isn't everything.

I went there not knowing what I was getting into, NOW THERE IS NO TURNING BACK - CS Santosh