TVS Racing backed Harith Noah has made Dakar history by becoming the first-ever Indian to have finished the gruesome race in top 20. Every Indian’s heart swelled with pride when Harith crossed the finish line in the race's 2021 edition. In this interview, the young Keralite shares his thrilling Dakar experience with us, recounting how he came back from a dangerous crash and persevered to create history.
What was the feeling like when you realised that you have finished the Dakar in the highest position ever for an Indian? How does it feel today when you look back at the achievement?
When I came to know I finished 20th, at first, I was surprised, but deep within I knew I rode reasonably well to claim a decent position, so I was happy. It felt like all the hard work I had put in over the past years had eventually paid off. Looking back at the result, it feels good, but at the end of it I am a racer, and I know that it can always be better. There is a lot of room for improvement, and I will ensure that I get better. I am happy and satisfied, but I want to be even more competitive and am keenly looking forward to the future.
Before you set off for the Dakar, what was your mindset like? What were you aiming for? Did you imagine you'd achieve what you did?
My goal was to finish the race and my mindset was to take it one day, one kilometre at a time. I tried to live in the present, and even if I made a mistake, the plan was to forget about it as fast as possible so I could live in the moment. I didn’t have any finish positions in my mind, as my goal was to ride my best every kilometre, and It will get me wherever it will get me - that was the mindset.
What role did TVS Racing play in your success?
I cannot credit anyone more than TVS Racing for my success. I started racing with TVS way back in 2012, and it’s with this same team that I have learned everything I know about racing, honing my skills, getting better. They have supported me for almost a decade until I could finish the Dakar respectably, and it feels great!
What went wrong during Stage 4 leading to the crash? What was going on in your mind after you got up and recollected yourself?Even before the crash, it wasn’t turning out to be a good day for me. I wasn’t feeling too good in the saddle during the stage, so I was riding cautiously. As the stage progressed, I hit a big rock and flew some distance before landing. Compared to last year where I crashed because I didn’t read a note in the roadbook, this time it was more of an unfortunate incident. After the crash, I got back up and checked the bike, only to realise that I had managed to break it. I tore my pants and broke the brace of my protective knee cap as well. I checked myself to see if I was alright. I could feel something wet on my suit, and at first, I wondered if it was blood, but was relieved to know that it was the hydration bag, so I turned it off, as it has an on / off button. Thereafter I continued to ride, which was all a reflex as I didn’t think of anything during that time. I actually realised later that the rear tank of the motorcycle was damaged and I ran out of fuel in sometime, I had to get fuel twice from other riders 40km and 20km before the finish. Once I started riding, I thought about the crash and why I crashed, but then I tried hard to live in the present, forget about the crash and check what’s next in the roadbook.
What have been the biggest learnings for you from this year's race?
The most significant learning from this Dakar is that I know better where to improve: dunes, and rocky sections, and I will be working on that. As of now, I am recovering from surgery. I recently had the hardware removed from the clavicles, and I am looking forward to riding soon. I take away from this experience that navigation is more important now than ever before. There is a lot of room for improvement there, and I will be working on it.
Looking back at the event, what are the things you think you probably could have easily done better?
Looking back at the event, many things probably could have gone better. For example, my bike time before the race was very minimal. Excluding the race, I had only three days on the bike, which is next to nothing. It’s crazy and really unfortunate but sometimes that’s the way it is. I believe more time with the machine could have improved my performance, especially in the first 3-4 days because I would have been more comfortable with the bike. I say this because it was only towards the end of the first week when I started getting used to the bike and started enjoying my ride and having fun, which is the most critical state to be in, while racing. Other than that, I guess the crash could have been avoided. I mean that’s always the wish, but sometimes it happens, so you have to take it in stride, and of course the navigation could have been better as well. But it is hard in a race like Dakar to say, had that been better, I would have done better because it’s such a long race and there’s almost a 100% chance that some things will go wrong during those weeks. Going in with a mindset of minimising mistakes, and recovering from the mistakes as fast as possible is the right way, at least for me, to move forward
After this fantastic success, what do you wish to achieve with the next edition of Dakar?
Next edition would be the same as this edition, and I will go in with the same attitude of going in kilometre by kilometre, work on my mistakes and see where it takes me.
Who would you like to thank / give credit to for your success, specifically for the Dakar result?
I would like to thank TVS Racing. They have been with me since the very beginning and have always believed in me. They believed in me even when things were not going well, like when I had injuries and stuff. It is a good feeling to be with the team and finish together. It is a great feeling finishing 20th at a race like the Dakar.
Having achieved the best result for any Indian in the Dakar Rally, what advice / words of wisdom do you have for the aspiring Dakar rally participants from India?
For all Indians who want to race the Dakar, I would say it is possible and that any of you can do it. It is easier said than done, but there’s a path in front of you so work hard, stay positive, stay motivated and see where it takes you.