Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Aug 22: A six-year-old boy from Mangaluru has achieved a rare feat by stepping into the world of motocross dirt bike racing at an exceptionally young age.
Surag S Rai, son of Sudharshan B Rai and Sushmitha S Rai from Maroli, Mangaluru, developed a keen interest in dirt bike racing at just six years old. He is currently a first-grade student at Shakthi Residential School.
Surag’s fascination began when he started watching dirt bike races on television. For his sixth birthday, his parents gifted him a toy bike and connected with Kiran Poojary, a seasoned dirt bike racer with five years of experience. Under Kiran's guidance, Surag underwent training and picked up the skills in just 20 days—an impressive achievement for someone so young.
His training sessions took place at the MX Riders Club practice track on KC Road, Mangaluru. Observers were amazed by his natural talent and confidence, with many expressing that he had the potential to achieve great things in the sport.
Recognizing his passion and dedication, Surag's parents later bought him a KTM SX 50cc bike, a powerful machine suitable for budding racers. He went on to participate in his first track rides at Balamanja and Madanthyar on August 16 and 17.
Coach Kiran Poojary describes Surag as a quick learner with remarkable courage and skill. “It is incredible to see how he picked it up in just 20 days. He is a strong and determined boy,” Kiran said. Following the viral success of Surag’s videos on social media, many parents have shown interest in enrolling their children. Kiran notes that children must be at least five years old to begin training, as they need to understand the basics of the sport. After nine years of age, they become eligible for an FMSCI license.
Surag’s father, Sudharshan Rai, shared, “He learned to ride a bicycle without training wheels at the age of two and started watching dirt bike racing soon after. We enrolled him in karate and chess, but he never showed much interest. For his sixth birthday, we bought him a toy bike worth Rs 30,000. Seeing his enthusiasm, I researched more about motocross racing—a relatively unknown sport in Mangaluru—and we approached Kiran Poojary for coaching.”
The family later purchased the KTM SX 50cc bike for Rs 6–7 lac, along with safety gear such as chest, knee, and kidney protectors, which were imported from Dubai. The bike itself was sourced from Coimbatore. “Though he has fallen a few times during practice, the safety gear has protected him. We continue to support and encourage him, with help from friends and well-wishers,” Sudharshan added.
Surag Rai is now gearing up to take part in an upcoming dirt bike racing event scheduled for August 28 near Karinja, Bantwal.