CS Santosh

CS Santosh (born 1 December 1983) is an Indian off-road racer. He is a multiple National Supercross and Dirt Track champion. CS Santosh has spent more than a decade racing motorbikes across challenging terrains and multiple nations.

While growing up, Santosh was always fascinated by adventure. At the age of 17, he watched his first Supercross race in Bangalore and read about the champion, Vijay Kumar, in the next day’s newspapers. Since then, he was motivated to become the best off-road racer that the country has ever had.

Santosh has already been bestowed with the title of ‘India’s Most Accomplished Off-Road Racer’ by many. His humble demeanour might not state it, but the trophy cabinet at this home speaks volumes about his accomplishments. There is barely a title or an accolade in the Indian motorsport scene that he hasn’t won. CS, with his persistence, courage and determination has moulded himself perfectly in the sport of motocross.

2005

CS Santosh won the MRF National Supercross champion and the Gulf National Dirt Track championship in 2005 at the age of 22.

2006

In 2006, he won the Al-Ain Motocross in Dubai & finished 5th overall in Dubai National MX championship.

2007

He became the National Supercross champion after a successful year.

2008

Thereafter in 2008, he became the first Indian in the Asian Motocross championship, to have qualified with the fastest time in Moto II in Iran, where he finished fourth, the highest ever by an Indian rider on the international circuit. He also became the MRF Supercross Challenge champion and won the Gulf Dirt Track championship for the second time.

2009

Santosh won the 2009 Maharagama Motocross in Sri Lanka.

2010

2010 was a successful year for Santosh as he won MRF National Supercross championship, the Rolon National Dirt Track championship as well as finishing 6th overall in the Asian MX championship. He also secured a Foxhill Supercross win in Sri Lanka later that year.

2011

He won the Gajaba Supercross as well as the Gunner’s Supercross, both held in Sri Lanka. He also won the Sigiri Rally Supercross and finished an impressive 2nd in the Fox Hill Supercross of 2011.

2012

In 2012, he participated in the Raid-de-Himalaya which is the only Indian motorsport event listed on the off-road rallies calendar of FIM (Federation Internationale Motorcyclisme), Geneva, Switzerland. He won it in his maiden attempt in record time. It ranks among the top ten toughest motorsport rallies of the world and was a milestone in his racing career. He also finished 2nd in the Cavalry Supercross.

2013

He became the first Indian to debut at the World Cross Country Rally Championship in 2013 but an unfortunate fire accident injured him badly during the 3rd Stage. He was running in the top 10 in his class. With third degree burns, he had a long recovery period that lasted till the end of the year.

2014

He took 2014 by storm and started it off by winning the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm in India. Again, in his maiden attempt. This was a 2200 km long rally spread over six days, making it India’s longest off-road motorsport annual event that traversed through the scorching deserts of Rajasthan. Also, he finished 9th in the 2014 World Cross Country Championship.

2015

The Dakar Rally being the world's toughest off-road motorsport event, is very selective about their participants. One has to earn an invite to get an opportunity to take the challenge. CS Santosh became the first Indian to compete in the history of this magnanimous motorsport event. He finished the Dakar at 36th position, the two weeks at the Dakar were the hardest two weeks of his life physically, mentally and emotionally. He also won the 2015 Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm and finished 13th in the Baja Aragon.

2016

He returned to the Dakar in 2016 with Team Suzuki Rally, Spain & was determined to improve drastically but things didn't really go as per plan and he had to retire from the race due to mechanical difficulties. He won the 2016 India Baja later that year and headed for the Desert Storm which he won for the third time in a row.

2017

Santosh started off the year as the only Indian rider to finish the 2017 Dakar, while racing for Hero Speedbrain. He completed the race clocking a time of 41:20:37 at 47th position.

Motorsport Man of the Year - 2015FMSCI's Motor port Man of the Year award - 2016