Muzaffar Ali, Prakash & Pradeep rule the roost in Gulf Cup Dirt Track Racing

By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,

Bhopal: R. Prakash of Coimbatore, C. S. Santosh and H. K. Pradeep of TVS Racing team (both of Bangalore), along with local lad Muzaffar Ali ruled the track in their respective classes during the Gulf Cup Dirt Track Racking at the BHEL Dussehra Ground in Bhopal here on Saturday.

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C.S. Santosh, like in the previous rounds, did TVS Racing proud by sweeping the Indian Expert Class Group A Foreign Motorcycles up to 260 cc. He finished first in two races and second & third in two other events.

Muzaffar Ali of Bhopal with his three trophies.

However, H. K. Pradeep stole the show and honors from C.S. Santosh and Arvind KP in the Indian Expert Class Group B up to 260cc 2 & 4 stroke classes. Pradeep in both the races one and two of Indian Expert Classes emerged first while CS Santosh and Arvind also of Bangalore finished second and third alternatively in the two events. Both Pradeep and Santosh of the TVS Racing team, who each remained winner in two races and runner-up and third in two others, earned equal sum of prize money of Rs. 11,000/- each. While Arvind pocketed total Rs. 8,000/- from the four races he took part with being runners-up in two and third in two other events.

The goodly crowd that turned up on a chilly morning was left in awe as riders went through the motions in the event, organized by Sportscraft and sponsored by Gulf Oil Corporation Limited.

If C. S. Santosh stole the honors in the Indian Expert class, it was R. Prakash of Coimbatore who excelled in the other glamour event, the Private Expert Class for foreign motorcycles 260cc 2 & 4 stroke. Prakash was first in three of the four races he participated and stood second in the other in the Private Expert class categories.

Muzaffar Ali of Bhopal receiving one of his trophy from Mr. B. Paul, Deputy General Manager (Marketing) of Gulf Oil.

In the Private Expert Class Group A Prakash was, ahead of Vineeth Kurup and Jatin Jain who were placed second & third respectively. While in Private Expert class Group B he was challenged by Grishan KC of Kerala & Murthy R of Bangalore who were placed 2nd & third respectively. Prakash received the loudest applause at the prize distribution function. He received glittering trophies and earned total Rs. 12,800/- as prize money.

Muzaffar Ali, displaying his spectacular skills and stamina he finished on top in all the three races he participated, was the toast of the home crowd and cheered by the locals vociferously as he won both the local classes and the Scooter class. He was way ahead of other local heroes Mohammad Ansar, Mohammad Yousuf and Shuja’at Khan who challenged him in various classes. A motorcycle mechanic by profession having studied up till Std. XII only, he was richer by Rs. 8,500/-.

The winners standing in a group.

Muzaffar told this Correspondent that he had passion for motorcycle racing since childhood and his ideal has been Syed Ehtesham, an international motorcycle racing champion who has now settled in Dubai. He was champion in the Novice Class in 2007.

Gulf Oil has over the years spared no effort in giving two-wheeler riders an opportunity to test their skills under a safe environment with events like Dirt Track Racing and the Monsoon Scooter Rally. Saturday’s event in Bhopal was no less challenging, as the course laid out by Sportscraft was really tough. In addition to the sharp bends there was also loose gravel and water-logged areas to negotiate, which made riding a dicey proposition. However, all riders, first timers included, displayed excellent skills to come through this test of man and machine in flying colors.

There was huge cheering when the Novice class was run. Naresh V.S. of TVS Racing Team gave home fans lots to shout about as he challenged Varun CV of Kerala and Yasir Ishaq of Bhopal in the Novice Class Group C Motorcycle 131 cc up to 165cc class.

In Group C Motorcycles up to 165cc 2 stroke it was Santosh Kumar of Coimbatore was ultimately the winner, who was challenged by Mohammad Ali of Bhopal and Sarath K. P. of Calicut. The duo stood second and third respectively in the race.

While the crowd that turned up was appreciative of the event and thoroughly enjoyed as riders from all over India were participating and the local riders did challenge them well. The riders too were all praise for Sportscraft’s conduct of the event, which saw the races being gone through with precision efficiency.

The detailed results in various categories are as follows:-