Vasant Kurup

Vasant Kurup 

When I was in 8th grade, I commuted to school on a bicycle. One day, I stumbled upon a thrilling motorcycle race from Nashik to Saputhara, and I was instantly hooked. As I watched Sharad Mandalay and Rajan expertly maneuver their Jawa(Yazdi) motorcycles, I knew that I had to become a part of this exhilarating sport.

Soon after, I joined my friends Viju Deshpande, Raju Deshpande, and Raju Waghchoure in practicing for our first motocross event at the golf club in Nashik. My passion for motocross only grew stronger after attending the first Motocross organized by PARA in Pune where we saw all the international riders flying over the jumps, and I have since made it a tradition to attend races regularly. 

In 1988, I had the opportunity to participate in motocross training held in Pune, where I received expert training from Kazutoshi Iwao from Japan. This experience fueled my love for the sport even further, and I participated in my first bike rally in 1992 at the age of 32 after my father died as he did not support me for obvious reasons the sport was very dangerous and risky, but I secured 4th place riding a KB100 in my 1st race on my expenses without any sponsors Two years later, in 1994, I participated in the NASA rally too. It was tuff being a privateer with limited resources to race on our expenses.

In addition to participating in motocross events, I also actively volunteered and marshaled many races throughout my career. It was important for me to give back to the sport that has given me so much joy and fulfillment.

I took pride in ensuring the safety of the riders and spectators during the events. As a marshal, I was responsible for directing riders, communicating with other marshals, and keeping track of the race's progress. It was a challenging and rewarding experience that allowed me to be an integral part of the Motorsport community.

Through my participation, coaching, and volunteer work, I have gained a deep appreciation for the sport. It has been an incredible journey filled with unforgettable memories, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it.

However, one of my proudest accomplishments in my motocross career was coaching and training my son to become a multiple-time national level dirt champion and won many national races. Seeing him achieve success in the sport that I am so passionate about brings me immense joy and fulfillment.