Indian off-road racing legend CS Santosh, after a three-year-long gap after a very close, terrible crash in the 2021 Dakar Rally, returned to the competitive circuit with absolute confidence. This weekend's success in the Rallye TT Cuenca of Spain, where he hitched a ride on a rally-spec Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, marked a significant milestone on the road to recovery for him as he continues his pursuit in motorsport.
Indeed, it has been a really inspiring comeback by Santosh. The crash back in 2021 left him with very bad neurological damage, leaving him to recreate basic motor functions and rebuild his memory. Yet, he kept himself intent on getting back to the sport he loved. His indomitable spirit and resilience have been inspirations not only to millions of his fans but also to all other fellow athletes.
Under the bonnet, he raced in Rallye TT Cuenca and proved it's back to the game with a huge message signifying a new age for Indian motorsport. His alliance with Royal Enfield, a synonym for adventure and exploration, added an interesting dimension to Santosh's return story.
The rally-spec Himalayan 450 looks like the aggressive push from Royal Enfield to get back in the off-road racing game. For long, the manufacturer had been dropping hints about their intentions of competing at the storied Dakar Rally and Santosh's outing in Cuenca is a big step in that direction.
The 2024 Rallye TT Cuenca was a well-capable test event that would allow the riders to cover over 400 varied kilometers spread over two days. Santosh could end up 30th overall, and pretty good in itself since it was still in the early stages of product development for the Himalayan 450. Though the finishing position was not the top-most priority, the rally turned out to be an important shake-down test both for Santosh as well as the motorcycle.
This would be his third progressive attempt, and naturally, competitively, it is great to see him back. However, above all, lies something much greater: a thing more dear than perhaps anything else- the interest of all motorsport enthusiasts in India. His passage reminds us of an upsurge in the human spirit, the eternal allure of adventure sports. And that he continues to push his skills and the capability of the Himalayan 450 makes enough reasons for Santosh and Indian Motorsport to relish thrilling times.
When he is ready for the Dakar Rally in the future, his comeback is going to be nothing but an inspiration for fans from all across the globe. Santosh's indomitable spirit along with the spirit of innovation at Royal Enfield is going to further new pages in the history book of Indian motorsport.
