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Rustom Patel wins Gulf autocross
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March 12, 2006 18:50 IST

Rustom Patel was the toast of the day in the Gulf Autocross for two-wheelers, sponsored by Gulf Oil Corporation Ltd [Get Quote]. and organised by Sportscraft, at the Godrej [Get Quote] grounds in Vikhroli, Mumbai, on Sunday.

The diminutive champion rider from Mumbai won five classes, including one for scooters, to ride away with the title of 'Gulf Fastest Rider of the day' beating the Pune rider Pinkesh Thakkar by a fraction of a second, to be precise 0.79 seconds.

He was given a stiff fight all the way by Badal Doshi, who won three classes, but his carefree riding and control over the many sharp bends along the course won him the day.

Autocross is a time trial exercise in the finer nuances of driving, where the rider is timed to the hundredth of a second. While this branch motor sport tests one's skills in competition on a specially laid out course, the idea behind the event is to educate the rider in the safety aspect of driving.

Rustom kick-started the day's proceedings, winning the 80cc to 110cc class (4-stroke) for motorcycles. Riding a TVS [Get Quote] Victor, he was home in 2 minutes, 21.06 seconds, well ahead of Sudesh Parkar and Gyani Shukla, both on TVS Victors, who finished second and third in 2:27.67 and 2:31.44 seconds respectively.

Then, after Badal Doshi won the 110cc to 125cc class (4 stroke) for motorcycles, on a Yamaha YBX, Rustom, riding a Suzuki Fiero, was back in the limelight as he breezed around the serpentine track to win the 125cc upto 160cc (4-stroke) class in 2:15.44 seconds. Pune riders Pinklesh Thakker and Snehal Chauhan placed second and third respectively.

Two victories to the good, there was no stopping Mumbai's best known two-wheeler champion as he went on to win the 100c upto 160 class for scooters (riding a LML Vespa), and above 160 upto 250cc (4-stroke) and 80cc upto 150cc (2-stroke) classes for motorcycles. Riding a TVS Shaolin in 80cc upto 150cc class Rustom came up with the best time of the day - 2:13.17 seconds.

But the race of the day was the 160 upto 250cc class. It saw Rustom and Badal in a close contest that had the good compliment of spectators at the edge of their seats till the finish. Rustom, riding a Karizma, generated calculated bursts of speed and exercised precision control as he went around the gravel laden, dusty course to clock 2:13.75 seconds. Badal, riding a Bajaj Pulsar, was home in only 2:28. 85.

Though it is not easy to effect sharp turns on a scooter, particularly in muddy conditions, it must be said that most scooterists came through the exercise admirably.

Among the ladies, Shernaz Patel, riding a Kinetic [Get Quote] Honda, was the best. She showed she was as competent as some of the men riders while winning the 80cc upto 110cc scooters class for women.

In sum, it was an event to remember for two-wheeler riders. Most of the riders experienced driving in competition for the first time, yet they had nothing to complain about, despite no prize-money at stake. If anything, there was only appreciation from them.

Now, having learnt that they are capable of giving some of the best a good run for their money, some of them are planning to enter the Gulf Dirt Track Championship, which will be held in five stages at various places in the country, with the first coming up in Managalore.

Final results:

POSITIONPRIZENAME OF THE RIDERORIGINMAKETIME
MOTORCYCLES ABOVE 80CC UPTO 110CC GROUP D � 4 STROKE
1STTROPHY Rustom Patel MumbaiTVS Victor2:21:06
2NDTROPHY Sudesh ParkarMumbaiTVS Victor2:27:67
3RDTROPHY Gyani ShuklaMumbaiTVS Victor2:31:44
MOTORCYCLES ABOVE 110CC UPTO 125CC GROUP D � 4 STROKE
1STTROPHY Badal DoshiMumbaiYamaha YBX2:18:65
2NDTROPHY Sarosh MullaMumbaiYamaha YBX2:20:00
3RDTROPHY Tummi NanavareMumbaiYamaha YBX2:22:96
MOTORCYCLES ABOVE 125CC UPTO 160CC GROUP D � 4 STROKE
1STTROPHY Rustom Patel MumbaiSuzuki Fiero2:15:44
2NDTROPHY Pinkesh ThakkerPuneSuzuki Fiero2:16:93
3RDTROPHY Snehal ChauhanPuneSuzuki Fiero2:23:75
SCOOTERS ABOVE 80CC UPTO 110CC - GROUP D - LADIES CLASS
1STTROPHY Shernaz PatelMumbaiKinetic Honda 3:18:94
SCOOTER ABOVE 110CC UPTO 160CC - GROUP D
1STTROPHY Rustom Patel MumbaiLML Vespa2:30:65
2NDTROPHY Manjeet BasanMumbaiLML Vespa2:33:84
3RDTROPHY Freddy ElaviaMumbaiLML Vespa2:39:84
SCOOTERS ABOVE 80CC UPTO 110CC - GROUP D
1STTROPHY Badal DoshiMumbaiKinetic Marvel2:27:15
2NDTROPHY Rustom Patel MumbaiKinetic Honda 2:30:77
3RDTROPHY Kunal RaoMumbaiKinetic Marvel2:37:04
MOTORCYCLES ABOVE 80CC UPTO 150CC GROUP D � 2 STROKE
1STTROPHY Badal DoshiMumbaiYamaha RX2:15:00
2NDTROPHY Pinkesh ThakkerPuneSuzuki Shogun2;16:56
3RDTROPHY Rustom Patel MumbaiSuzuki Shogun2;19:18
MOTORCYCLES ABOVE 160CC UPTO 250CC GROUP D � 4 STROKE
1STTROPHY Rustom Patel MumbaiKarizma 2:13:75
2NDTROPHY Badal DoshiMumbaiBajaj Pulsar2:20:85
3RDTROPHY Ravinder SinghMumbaiBajaj Pulsar2:22:73
MOTORCYCLES ABOVE 80CC UPTO 150CC - GROUP B � 2 STROKE
1STTROPHY Rustom Patel MumbaiTVS Shaolin2:13:17
2NDTROPHY Pinkesh ThakkarPuneYamaha RX2:13:96
3RDTROPHY Ganesh LokhandeNashikYamaha RX2:20:59
MOTORCYCLES UPTO 250CC - GROUP A � 2 & 4 STROKE
1STTROPHY Abhijit JadhavPuneHonda CR2:14:06
2NDTROPHY Badal DoshiMumbaiHonda CR2:15:64
3RDTROPHY Sarosh MullaMumbaiHonda CR2:15:84
THE GULF FASTEST RIDER OF THE DAY
TROPHY Rustom Patel MumbaiTVS Shaolin2:13:17
WILLY - OPEN
LONGEST WILLYSheruMumbaiYamaha YBXTROPHY
2nd LONGEST WILLYAbhijit JadhavPuneHonda CRTROPHY


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