MARGAO
Nearly top 50 Indian riders, including five women for the first time ever will prove their mettle in what promises to be a dazzling display of daredevilry at the first Cheryl Sequeira Memorial Supercross event under the FMSCI (Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India), organised by SAG's recognised Sirvodem Racing Clube de Goa, Navelim on January 1.
Addressing a press conference, Yogiraj Kamat, Patron of Sirvodem Racing Clube de Goa, stated that for the first time in Goa, an 800-metre dirt track with exquisite lay-out, has been designed for races in nine categories - SX I, II, III; Indian Expert, Novice, Women, Goan local, Kids U-14 and U-10. It consists of double jumps, steep jumps, obstacles, one big and nine small table tops, whoops and berms for smooth turns which will test the skills of the riders driving at breakneck speeds, added Yogiraj.
"It is a great honour and historic too that for the first time ever, five young, upcoming girls, including three from Goa, are geared up to display their skills and technique in one of the most intense and grueling sports which requires a great deal of physical and mental strength," disclosed Yogiraj. They are Aleena Mansur Shaikh, Rita Fernandes, Aashna Shaikh, Olesya Dias and Rehana. They will display their talents riding foreign KTM 85 bikes.
It will be the SX I class that will be the centre of attraction as 10 riders will go the full throttle demanding superb fitness, stamina, strength, coordination, concentration in their high-powered foreign dirt-bikes upto 450cc. The highly trained, experienced drivers with many of them with exposure at National MRF events are Shlok Ghorpade, Manikadan K, Alec Squeira, Sagar Shantinath, Zabi Mulla, Suhail Ahmed, Manikadan K, Sagar Shantinath, Peter Sequeira, Faiz Sayyed. The racers will begin by lining against the start gate that guarantees everyone leaves at the same time.
The youngest rider, 6-year-old Rithin Sai of Coimbatore, will participate in Junior U-10 class alongwith four others. The junior Under-14 Class 8 will feature five riders.
"A special feature in between the races will be the free-style show by world-class stunt riders Thomas Osterrich from Austria and Sebastian Kurt-Johan from Finland. The two riders will surely raise the adrenalin flow of the spectators," stated former National Supercross and Motocross champion, Alan Sequeira, Secretary of Sirvodem.
The event will be supervised by FMSCI officials with Sunil Nigam being appointed as Chief Steward. He will be assisted by Sujit Kumar (Commissioner for Supercross and Motocross), Riyaz Shaikh (scrutineer). The track has been designed by Alan and member of the club, Javed Shaikh. The event is being held in memory of Alan's wife, Cheryl, a former qualified FMSCI Marshal, who passed away in London.
