2024-01-31 13:19:37
# Ummer Balail
31 January 2024, 06:49 PM IST Photo | www.instagram.com/harithnoah8
Palakkad: Harit Nova, a Malayalee player, made history in the Dakar Rally, which is an extremely tough off-road racing competition. Harit Nova won first place in the Bike Rally 2 category in the Saudi Arabian desert. This is the first time an Indian has won the Dakar Rally. Harry also finished 11th in the overall bike race category (Rally GP + Rally Class 2). This is also the best achievement of an Indian.
TVS Sherco’s rider Harith has participated in the Dakar Rally before but this is his first time winning the championship. Harith’s victory came after two weeks of fierce competition through the desert. Harith became the champion by finishing four minutes ahead of Romain Dumontier, who won the second position in the Rally Two category. He missed out on a top ten finish by just six minutes in the overall category.
This is Nova’s fifth Dakar Rally. It is a 12-stage competition. Harith continued his journey despite his physical handicaps during the first week. Then, by the end of the second week, Harith had come a long way and reached the top spot. Harith’s best performance was 20th place in the previous Dakar rallies. This was also the best ever rank by an Indian. Harith Nova’s progress is to correct his own record.
Meanwhile, India’s Hero Motor Sports team was also proud to finish second in the bike rally category. Rider Rose Branch competed for Hero Motor Sports. This made Hero the first Indian manufacturer to finish on the podium in the Dakar Rally.
Class and overalls
The ranking of Dakar Rally Racing will be determined by considering the Rally GP and Rally Class 2 categories. Raleigh GP However, this category includes only those who have demonstrated proficiency in this field. FIM based on competence in the field. Must obtain permission from the Championship Committee to compete. Harry was ranked 11th in this category. Meanwhile, Harith won the Class Two category, the Rally GP. Those who are not registered in the riders list can also compete.
Her mother is German and her father is from Shornur
Harit Nova is a native of Shornur in Palakkad district. Mother Susanna is German. Harith’s father Shornoor Kulapulli met Mohammad Rafi at Kunnath Kalam when he came to study at Kerala Kalamandalam. Then both got married. Harith was born in Germany. Later returned to Shornur. Studied till 7th standard in Nadu and then in Kodaikanal. He started liking bike racing while studying in Kodaikanal. My father Rafi was the biggest encouragement.
Participated in the National Championship in 2011. Next year TVS Joined the group and won the National Group Championship. In 2014, the National SX One champion, three-time national champion, national supercross champion in 2018 and 20th place in the Dakar Rally in 2021. The actor has participated in many international competitions. Harith Nova was injured during the Dakar Rally in 2023 and was admitted to a Riyadh hospital.
Dakar rally is not so easy
The Dakar Rally can be said to be Balikeramala. Completing the game itself is a big challenge. It is a 15,000 km long race through the desert. Racing will be on rocky, grassy, dune and hilly roads. A journey that requires extreme adventure and extreme forethought. The competition started in Paris in 1978 as the Paris Dakar Rally. The competition is being held in Saudi Arabia from 2020. Seven categories of vehicles such as cars, bikes and trucks are to be used for the competition.
Many will stop at the first stage due to accident or otherwise. It is an extremely difficult journey of about 15,000 km. Just to be able to finish the race is something to be proud of. One has to travel about 600-700 km in a day through rough roads.
More than a year of preparation
This is a competitive category that requires a lot of preparation. It takes more than a year of hard work. In addition to cycling practice, physical exertion is also required. Both breathing and body exercise practices are necessary. Competitors are allowed only a certain amount of water during the journey. Therefore efforts should be made to avoid dehydration.
Only Harith from India has successfully completed the Dakar Rally. Many others have tried but none have been able to complete it. Harith finished in 2021 and won the championship this year. Apart from Harry, 11 other people had completed racing in class two.
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