Bhubaneswar, July 29: Motor racing, which already enjoys the status of a sport at the national level, has failed to carve a niche for itself in the state.
However, in a rare phenomenon, a 23-year-old lad from Bhubaneswar is battling it out at the ongoing Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship in Chennai.
Udipta Kumar Rath is the sole participant from the state at the much-touted racing event held every year under the aegis of the FMSCI, the sports ministry-backed national sports federation for motor sports in India.
The motorist is taking part in the Honda One Make Championship category. There are a total of four rounds in the championship, and points will be added in each session. The one with the maximum points will the champion.
The first round was played in June where the motorist finished 20. At present, he is preparing for the next round to be held in August. Udipta will also make entry to the novice category of the National Championship next month.
But, Udipta is in no hurry for the champion's title. "This is my first experience in a national-level racing, and I am competing with some of the best racers in the country. I took part in the championship to understand the course of things and get an exposure, so that I can come better prepared next year," said the engineering graduate.
Back in Odisha, Udipta and his group of four friends run a stunting group called Club Motoheadz. From fire-line acts to wheelies and from stoppies to drifting, the riders perform a number of daring acts. The group, apart from practising street stunts, promote use of safety gears while riding.
With motor sports at a very nascent stage in the state, he feels a change in the mindset is the need of the hour. "In many parts of the country and the world, racing is considered a serious profession, but in our state, people feel it is dangerous and unimportant. Parents are also quite apprehensive about their kids getting into the field. But, a number of youths these days are attempting the sport," said Udipta.
He said the major problem that skaters in the state faced was the lack of proper space. "To be adept in it, one requires proper infrastructure and that basic thing is not there in our state. We need a professional racing track where experts could be invited to impart proper training. Government and private bodies should also recognise us any other sportsperson," says Udipta.