[email protected]
PANJIM: National MRF champion and runner-up Goa’s Alan Sequeira set the Navelim track ablaze winning the Foreign Privateers Class while India’s reigning overall National supercross champ C S Santosh of TVS fame warmed the cockles of nearly15,000 fans with a dazzling display at the first-ever supercross championship successfully organised by Fast Track Association of Goa under the aegis of FMSCI at Navelim, Sunday.
National bronze medalist Javed Shaikh, who came second, also delighted the vast Sunday crowd as he held plenty of promise giving Alan a tough fight in the premier event of the day. Both took turns in ovetrtaking.
This was an event which not only attracted the largest-ever crowd at two-wheeler racing on a dirt track in Goa, but also provided plenty of thrills for a packed house. Alan did exactly what he had to in the main by getting an excellent start and putting in a string of fast laps early on to win the race.
Upcoming Javed proved he is a fighter who never gives up till the end. The way he challenged Alan, earned him a big round of applause. No doubt, Javed is a champion in the making.
Santosh’s stunts were amazing. Such was the impact that the fans were simply dazed with Santosh remarking that he was charged up with the sporting crowd holding their breadth everytime he performed dare-devilish acts on table-top.
The riders and especially C S Santosh congratulated the organisers – Fast Track Association of Goa in general and Alan Sequeira and manager Cheryl Sequeira, in particular, for the organisation which they described as marvelous. “Such a massive crowd speaks volumes about the popularity of the sport in Goa.”
There was reportedly a last-minute attempt by one Ibrahim Thakur to put a spoke in the wheels of success, but he did not succeed since his complaint was found to be of a frivolous nature, looking more to be an act of sheer jealousy.
RESULTS:
Foreign Privateers Class: Alan Sequeira -1 (Goa), Javed Shaikh -2 (Goa), Joaquim D’Silva -3 (Goa), Shamlal Pardesi -4 (Pune), K. Yasaswi -5 (Hyderabad).
Indian Experts Group B: Basher Ahmed (Bangalore),
Pinkesh Thakker (Pune), Shamlal Pardesi (Pune).
Group C 2/4 Stroke Upto 260cc: Basher Ahmed (Bangalore), Pinkesh Thakker (Pune), Sachin Ghorpade (Kholapur).
Local Goa Class+ Rookei Class: Mohm. Shabuddin, Omran Pathan, Jaoquim D’Silva.
Group C/ 4 Stroke upto 260 cc: Basher Ahmed (Bangalore), Pinkesh Thakker (Pune), Sachin Ghorpade (Kholapur).
FMSCI’s chief steward S P Garcha gave away the prizes.
Meanwhile, FMSCI Commissioner for Motor Racing, Shyam Kothari praised the organisers for the excellent organisation. “Motor racing comes next only to football in Goa in terms of fan attraction and the Navelim event proved just that. That’s the way to conduct an event with all permissions, with a spirit of cooperation from one and all.”
