Mostly, stuntmen execute the high-octane, chopper motorbike chases for heroes. Tom Cruise, in Top Gun, exhausted hours to fully comprehend his Ninja’s mechanics. But film director Ramji Bala needn’t seek a hero look-alike stuntman for his new venture Udumban. Neither will the movie’s hero Dilip Rogger be required to practise with the bike before shooting. For Dilip is a biker first and a hero only after that. Before his reel life takes off, he will make his debut in the German National Racing Championship, the first ever Asian to accomplish the feat.
In contrast to his biking career, the film offer came rather easily. It was a case of the director approaching him rather than the other way round. Conversely, his biking career has been bumpy. At 13, he discovered his love for bikes, when 200m-sprint performances no longer excited him. The possibilities of a four-wheeler were wider. It was a track sport nevertheless, but on an Rx135, he could exceed the limits of his limbs.
In 1999, on the Sriperumbudur track, he notched his first win. After winning almost every other tournament on the junior national circuit, he felt he had stagnated. He wanted more competitive environs. So, at 16, he enrolled for professional training at the Silverstone Circuit in London, a shift that altered his perspective on super biking in particular and life in general. Though it drained his wallet, the experience was a learning curve. “I realised that you need as much money as skill for international biking. The work ethics there were at a superior level, but people were helpful and genial. Test riding a Ducatti (999s) was most satisfying,” recollects Dilip about his two-month Silverstone sojourn. But his subsequent campaigns in Europe were not fruitful.
Competing internationally as a bike rider costs a fortune. Add travelling and lodging expenses to that. Lack of sponsorship forced Dilip to return home. At that juncture, some of his friends and relatives even pursued him to quit the sport for good. But by that time, superbiking, had been deeply entrenched in his heart. “I thought my future in biking was over. I couldn’t raise the money single-handedly. Then I thought that having worked hard for so many years, I could not give it up just like that,” he recollects.
What followed were months of frantic scampering to raise finances. When he eventually found resources, he moved his base to Malaysia, which instantly bore fruit. Participating in the ‘novice’ category of the Malaysian Super Sport class on his CBR600F4i, he won the overall championship. The following year, he finished third overall in the open category. The next year, he finished fourth — quite an achievement considering that his rivals included nine riders from the Asian GP.
In 2007, he progressed to the FIM Asian GP and participated as a privateer. With a best finish of sixth, he was 10th in the rankings. His team was adjudged the best privateer maintenance team of 2007. The year that followed though was rather monotonous, as lack of sponsors confined him to the Sriperumbudur track.
However, 2009 has proved to be a breakthrough year for the 25-year-old. Dilip been invited for two rounds of Boerdesprint 2009, the eight-round German national racing championship, under the colours of Schittko Motorradsport (KTM). Though he has never driven an RC8R 1190cc version of LC 8, Dilip is confident that he will make the transition to the next league. “Hopefully, my experience at the Asian GP will stand me in good stead. I am working hard and confident of a good show,” he says. In between came the Kollywood offer. And Dilip didn’t hesitate for a moment. Not that he was lured by the glam factor, but he requires lots of money to keep his passion going. He plays the protagonist, a thief a la Robin Hood. Rest assured that the film is full of bikes chases and acrobatics.
sandipgopal@gmail.com
