The Stuntmen

The basic circuit designed for the event may not have had the flash and panache of nitro circus events or even the X-games,but the adrenalin rush was the same. Clinton Moore,a Moto Cross rider and a X-games finalist,who finished in the top four last year,said,“It is smaller circuits like these that really test our mental strength and endurance. Back home even in Australia,the small circuits are just like these. In fact,on smaller circuits,you need to check a lot of things. Right from tuning the suspensions on the bike,to ensuring that the jetting (firing of the engine) sounds right,everything must be planned. Safety harnesses have to be put in place. You cannot just go on to the circuit and make leaps and jumps. The first thing that one has to do is walk around the circuit,get a feel of the place,the atmosphere,the people screaming and let it all sink in. Then we go in for the stunts.”

Can sports like these find a firm foothold in India,considering that Freestyle Motocross and BMX sports in the country have yet to find the right kind of exposure? “It is a gradual process,” said Moore. “I mean,you go down to Australia and you know that the enthusiasm about sports has taken a fall there. It is a different story in North America as that is where FMX was born. But India needs to get more exposure and events like these will actually go a long way to do so.”

Eeshan Lokhande,one of the organisers of the event,mentioned that India is still a long way away from achieving the kind of fame that these riders and performers have. “But all is not that bad. We have a group of riders from Pune who will be demonstrating street stunts too. All these will eventually get the ball rolling in the grander scheme of things,” says Lokhande

As bikers like Russell suited up and revved their 250cc Honda CRFs and other bikes,three chirpy girls geared up at the other end for a performance of their own. Calling themselves ‘The Fuel Girls’,they bill themselves as cheerleaders for a rock show. Cherylo Rourke,Susie Ward and and Tetamaria Stone from the UK come from varied backgrounds,but are united by a common passion — entertaining through fire stunts. “It could be breathing fire,or getting pulled around the circuit in a dune buggy,we would do it all. No questions asked,” declared Ward.

While a lot of work goes into getting the bikes right for these events,what kind of preparations do the girls make? “Not much really. Probably have a couple of drinks before you go out with the fire sticks and the Paraffin oil. It just helps us get into the groove. We like to think of ourselves as cheerleaders,sans the pompoms and the girly make-up. But the hazards that we encounter,are as scary as the ones the guys have while performing their stunts. I managed to break my skull,when an biker landed his bike on my head,” says Ward.