CS Santosh to not compete in India Baja

Two-time Dakar Rally finisher CS Santosh will not be competing in the India Baja, to be held in Rajasthan from April 7 to 9 this year.

Due to an injury suffered to his left arm during February's Desert Storm rally, the Hero MotoSports was forced to undergo surgery. The rehabilitation time required will lead to him sitting out the India Baja, which in its second year will be part of the FIM Dakar Challenge Series, the winner of the Moto class being given a qualifying spot for the Merzouga Rally.

"I need the arm to heal fully after surgery," Santosh told autoX. "I don't really want to risk it on the India Baja, I would want to be ready for the Merzouga."

This year's Merzouga Rally in Morocco will be held from May 7 to 12, and will form a part of the Dakar Series.

While Santosh won't be taking part in the two-day India Baja event, Hero MotoSport and its Hero-Speedbrain 450 Rally bike will still be represented with Joaquim Rodrigues taking part.

Rodrigues, a newcomer to cross-country rallying and a Dakar Rally rookie this year, finished tenth overall in the Moto class to give the Indo-German partnership a dream debut at the fabled motorsport event.