Shamim Khan from Nashik and riding a Mahindra Rodeo won the 2015 Gulf Monsoon Scooter Rally taking his win tally to four overall. Shamim, driving for Team Mahindra won the demanding 35-km race in a timing of 31 minutes and 59 seconds in penalties. He has earlier won in 2003, 2004 and 2010. The Gulf Monsoon Scooter Rally was sponsored by Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd. and organised by Sportscraft on Sunday. Shrikant Karani, founder member of Sportscraft has organized more than a remarkable 350 events and also entered its name in Limca book of records.
Defending champion R Natraj of TVS Racing was forced to pull out immediately at the first Time Control itself due to mechanical failure of his scooter. He was among four who failed to finish. Pune’s Pinkesh Thakkar of Team Ceat, astride a Kinetic Honda, was second in 33 minutes and 45 seconds, while Bhopal’s Syed Asif Ali of TVS Racing, astride a TVS Wego, third in 33:54 seconds.
"This was the toughest of all the monsoon races I have competed in. It did not rain so heavily during the race, but, as a result, the surface at the finish was sandy and loose. It was difficult to launch that final burst on the home straight at the time controls," said Khan, while nursing his injuries suffered from the bad fall he had.
The two women riders who braved the challenge admirably deserve special mention. Nidhi Shukla of Team Ceat, riding a Suzuki Access, completed the course in 46 minutes.14 seconds, while Vishakha Falsunge, on Honda Activa, was completed in 1 hour, 11.28 seconds penalty points.
The rally was flagged off by from Hotel K Star in Belapur CBD by Nilesh Garg, Channel Sales Head Gulf Oil Lubricants. Riders had to exercise extreme control while negotiating the steep inclines, hairpin bends and water-logged stretches they encountered. 36 out of 40 drivers completed the rally this year. Bhopal’s Mohammed Ali Khan on a Suzuki Swish, reached 4th (34 minutes, 32 seconds) and was adjudged the best and awarded the late Firdosh Vajifdar trophy for his spirited riding. While Shamim Khan won the overall title and topped in the 160 cc 4-stroke class, Thakkar won the 81cc to 110cc class 2-stroke class. Former champion Manjeet Singh Bassan, of team Ceat, astride an LML Vespa, won the 111cc to 160cc class, finishing in 35.37 seconds.
Defending champion R Natraj of TVS Racing was forced to pull out immediately at the first Time Control itself due to mechanical failure of his scooter. He was among four who failed to finish. Pune’s Pinkesh Thakkar of Team Ceat, astride a Kinetic Honda, was second in 33 minutes and 45 seconds, while Bhopal’s Syed Asif Ali of TVS Racing, astride a TVS Wego, third in 33:54 seconds.
"This was the toughest of all the monsoon races I have competed in. It did not rain so heavily during the race, but, as a result, the surface at the finish was sandy and loose. It was difficult to launch that final burst on the home straight at the time controls," said Khan, while nursing his injuries suffered from the bad fall he had.
The two women riders who braved the challenge admirably deserve special mention. Nidhi Shukla of Team Ceat, riding a Suzuki Access, completed the course in 46 minutes.14 seconds, while Vishakha Falsunge, on Honda Activa, was completed in 1 hour, 11.28 seconds penalty points.
The rally was flagged off by from Hotel K Star in Belapur CBD by Nilesh Garg, Channel Sales Head Gulf Oil Lubricants. Riders had to exercise extreme control while negotiating the steep inclines, hairpin bends and water-logged stretches they encountered. 36 out of 40 drivers completed the rally this year. Bhopal’s Mohammed Ali Khan on a Suzuki Swish, reached 4th (34 minutes, 32 seconds) and was adjudged the best and awarded the late Firdosh Vajifdar trophy for his spirited riding. While Shamim Khan won the overall title and topped in the 160 cc 4-stroke class, Thakkar won the 81cc to 110cc class 2-stroke class. Former champion Manjeet Singh Bassan, of team Ceat, astride an LML Vespa, won the 111cc to 160cc class, finishing in 35.37 seconds.
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