Aishwarya Pissay joins Sherco-TVS for Baja Aragon

Aishwarya Pissay will be part of a four-rider contingent representing Sherco-TVS at this year's Baja Aragon, a cross-country rally event held in Spain from 20 to 22 July. 

After representing TVS Racing in cross-country rally events in India - and also competing in TVS' one-make racing series - Pissay will not only be making her international debut but also riding a 450cc rally motorcycle for the first time. 

The Sherco-TVS RTR 450 that was used in the Dakar Rally and also at events like the Merzouga Rally and OiLibya Rally will be ridden by the team comprising of Adrien Metge, Michael Metge, Lorenzo Santolino (who was the runner-up at this year's Desert Storm rally) and Pissay. 

Pissay had finished fourth in the Group B class at last year's Raid de Himalaya and was looking to improve on that performance in this year's Desert Storm but had to retire early from the event after a headlight failure on her bike led to a crash that put her out of the event. 

She will be departing with the team later this week in order to train in Spain before the start of the event. 

Aravind KP had ridden at last year's Baja Aragon but has been out of action this year after a severe ankle injury he sustained at this year's Dakar Rally. The former supercross and Raid de Himalaya winner is still a month away from being fit to ride in rallies again. 

A spokeperson for TVS Racing said that the 450cc rider R Nataraj currently has an elbow injury while visa issues have prevented last year's Raid de Himalaya winner Tanveer Abdul Wahid from competing in the Spanish event.