Slice of Life: ‘Bike racing is risky, but safety measures will prevent harm’

Chennai

Iam a biker and can tell that bike racing is a sport that requires a lot of mental concentration that many people do not know it at first. When you are riding on the track and there is another racer behind you who is as good as you, the difference between first and second place is how you can keep your cool and focus until the end. To ensure we are prepared for this, we do a lot of mental training exercises like meditation and yoga. We need to be physically and mentally at our best to perform well. All thanks to my dedication and training, I am currently one among the top ten in the list of most demanded bikers in India. The community here is very supportive. On the track, we are opponents, but the second we are off the track, we are all good friends. We commend each other’s good work and motivate each other when we perform poorly. It is like a small family. However, the problem is that, not many people know about bike racing. There is very little media attention to it. Due to this, many parents are hesitant in sending their children to race, because they think it is a dangerous sport. It is as dangerous as any other sport. As long as the riders are careful, no harm will come to them. Sponsorships are also difficult to obtain. Many companies support their factory teams, and not independent bikers. Equipment, especially the best bikes, are very expensive, and without the best equipment, we cannot hope to challenge and win against international players.