The first edition of the Ceat Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) put on a spectacular grand finale in Bengaluru, with CS Santosh’s Big Rock team taking home the overall victory, with nine-time Australian champion Matt Moss taking the 450cc international category win.
The event saw the participation of riders from across the world, competing in various categories, with Big Rock taking the victories in the 250cc India Asia Mix class, the 250cc International class, and the 450 class as mentioned earlier.
The final round of the ISRL saw competitors battle it out on a very technical track, better suited for 250cc motorcycles than the larger 450cc machines, however, with experienced riders onboard, the 450cc dirtbikes managed to outpace the 250cc ones during the mixed class category.
Apart from the dirt and high-flying athletes, the event also saw freestyle stunts performed by professionals at the end of the event, giving fans a show that’s usually seen only on TV. However, all this was overshadowed by 13-year-old Brian Gyles from Thailand, who already has multiple wins internationally.
Gyles has been racing since he was 5 and is keen on taking his skill set to the next level, wanting to be the world MX-SX champion. “I grew up looking at my dad and older brother riding, so one day, I asked them if I could ride and they said yes,” says Gyles. The young Thai national has been competing professionally for the last five years, coached by Steve from Europe.
As Brian’s dad adds, “Steve is one of the best coaches out there and he’s in Thailand for 6 months and back in Europe for the remaining months. Unlike Europe, Thailand has a suitable motorcycling climate throughout the year, giving riders more time to practice.”
Being the first event of its kind in India, the pressure was on for the riders and teams, as they battled with the heat, food, and an extremely technical track in Bangalore. Team owners are keen on making this event even bigger, as they say, it’s not about the money involved, but it’s about signing up the right riders and nurturing their talents.