In full swing: Rider Anand Dharesan recalls his GS Trophy 2024 memories, his love for horse riding and more

Anand International GS Trophy 2024 in Namibia on Day 2 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

For Anand, it all started in August 2016 when Adventure Souls, a WhatsApp group of eight Bengaluru-based techies, decided to embark on a journey from Kanyakumari to Leh and back on three bikes and a car. The trip lasting about 20 days left a lifelong impact as Anand’s employer rejected his leave request despite having sufficient funds in his account. Despite working in this firm for two and a half years, Anand decided to leave it.

33-year-old Anand Dharasen is now an entrepreneur, but more importantly, he is one of the three riders who will be on the team at the International GS Trophy 2024, an international biennial adventure motorcycle event organized by BMW Motorrad for owners of GS motorcycles. Were part of India. Anand is probably the first person from Kerala to participate in this tournament.

The 2024 edition of the tournament, which started in Tunisia in 2008, will be held in Namibia. The GS Trophy runs for a week as teams compete in offroad riding and non-riding related challenges and are awarded points based on various criteria based on tasks called special stages. The six-day journey was over 1,350 kilometers long and included using ropes to move motorcycles from one shore to another, a treasure hunt with a tire repair task, and even a slow-motion test, where Challenges included riders hoping to finish in last place. Other. The other members of the Indian team, which finished 10th in the tournament that ended in September, were Devraj Venkatesh (31) and Shahan Khan (21). This Indian team was also the first team to make it to the top 10.

(From left) Anand, Devraj and Shahan during the International GS Trophy 2024 in Namibia. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“When the last edition of the GS Trophy took place in 2022, I was not very confident about attempting it as I had just bought my BMW GS bike,” says Anand. To prepare for the tournament this year, Anand decided to partner with Devraj, who also has a motor riding training facility, which became the trio’s practice ground ahead of the regional qualifiers in 2023, as Shahan also trains at the same facility. Had practiced.

Of the 150 people who qualified from the four regional qualifiers, 20 advanced to the next round of competitions held in Delhi. At the two-day national qualifiers held in December 2023, Anand qualified first, followed by Devraj and Shahan.

After the team qualified, BMW sent them to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan to acclimatise in the dunes of the Namibian area. The team then trained in Kabini, Karnataka, where the terrain was rocky. For the final phase of training, the team went to Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh a month before the competition. All these training programs lasted for a week as per the tournament schedule.

Team India at the International GS Trophy 2024 during the Photo Challenge Special Stage. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The Indian team left for Namibia for the event two days later on 13 September. “For six days, it’s pure torture… it’s a constant ride,” says Anand.

“In the end, we were like we have to survive these six days somehow. People leave sometimes. “One of the riders had a collarbone fracture, someone from the women’s team had a torn ACL, and one person from the media had a fracture,” he added.

Anand considers meeting British Superbike racer Mike Booth, who lost his right leg in 2022, as one of the highlights of his tournament. “When we see people like him, whatever issues we face are nothing,” he says.

Anand says, after his participation in the 2024 GS Trophy, his parents’ attitude towards biking has changed. “First, they wanted to know why I couldn’t stay at home with my wife, Janaki, and my children instead of going on these trips. But now I see my father sending my GS Trophy videos in WhatsApp groups and saying, ‘This is my son.’

“Before leaving for Namibia last month, I received a letter from my elder daughter, one of which read, ‘Dad, make us proud. Bring the trophy. Love you, Vedha”, recalls Anand.