ISSUE 01 | JANUARY 2020
BC: Any worst comments have you
encountered on you and your riding?
AH: I have a long list of worst comments -
people comment on my religion, they
comment on the skills, they say I'm riding for
fame, and the latest was I switched from stunt
riding to Cross-Country Rally Racing because
I cannot be a stunt athlete only. It's hilarious
hearing what other people negatively think
about you. Because someone once told me
that "What you think yourself is what you
think of others." I pretty much feel pity for
these guys. They could have made it where I
am if they were riding and doing things
genuinely than sitting on social media and
posting negative comments about other
people.
BC: You did Spiti-Ladakh on TVS Scooty? Tell
us about your experience?
AH: The TVS Scooty trip was a life-changing
ride for me. It came to me at a perfect time
where I was mentally harassed and bullied by
Pune local riders, and I lost self-confidence. I
just wanted to leave the city and go
somewhere. So I grabbed the opportunity and
rode 18 days alone in the Himalayas with the
challenge of riding a 110cc scooter. When I
was going on the trip, I was a different person,
but when I came back, I was completely
changed.
BC: What are your fears, weaknesses, and
strengths?
AH: For stunt riding, my weaknesses and
strengths are different, and I think of work and
a hell lot on my stunt career to be able to
compete in international competitions. But
now, since my focus is on the Cross-Country
Rally Racing, I am still figuring out my
strengths and weaknesses, and I just have
one riding experience that is Desert Storm last
year. But the most considerable power that I
have for any field related to motorcycling is
my skill on the bike. I understand motorcycles
in and out, which makes me an extreme rider.
But there's a lot to figure out in racing like I
need to work on my navigation training since
it is an entirely different segment for me.
BC: You have a rebellious aura and a
passionate career, what do you mean by
following your passion and living it?
AH: To be able to do what you love. For me
riding motorcycles, stunting on it or racing,
while still having the cash flow to take care of
my bills and racing that's called following
your passion and living it. I am quite
struggling since I have switched from stunts
to racing, but again I believe in myself, and I
know that I will make it.
BIKERS CLUB ® | MAGAZINE | PAGE 18
BC: This career requires constant
practice and funding? What do you
have to say about getting sponsorships
in this field? What are your experiences
until now?
AH: For stunt riding career, I have
earned everything myself and put it
back for stunt competition on my bike
parts and everything. But in
motorsports racing, some brands are
working mainly on racing, signing
athletes, taking care of the training,
funding travel, and transportation,
everything.
Since I'm very new to racing, but with
my stunt riding experience, few brands
gave me some products in exchange for
some marketing, but that's not full-
fledged support, but it was an excellent
help to start.
So in Desert Storm, I put in all the
money that I had earned to race, and it
got tough for me to take care of my
daily living expenses. But now I am
working on doing more events and
eventually prove myself as an athlete in
racing to be able to get bigger brands
on board for my Dakar journey. Still,
meanwhile I guess I'll have to continue
putting my own money into it. But
things get tough without family support
or any back up in general.
BC: I can understand...!
BC: Which are your dream bikes and or
the next bike?
AH: It's hard to mention one bike
because I love many motorcycles. And
for the next buy, I think you guys will
have to wait, I don't want to disclose it
right now, but yes my next bike is
coming soon.
BC: What advice you wish you knew
when you first started out riding? And is
there are anyone who helped you
initially?
AH: I think when I first started, I wish
someone would have advised me not to
stunt in a group that wasted a lot of my
time because I couldn't concentrate
because of negativity, which usually
goes in the group. And there have been
a few friends who supported me
initially, and they still do. When I
stopped taking my family support and
decided to stay back in Pune, I
randomly made a facebook friend, who
was a friend of friend and sheltered me
for a month at her house without paying
rent and was very supportive and ready to
help and now we are best friends. Her
name is "SHRADDHA." Since I didn't have
a family to take care of me after injuries,
she was the one who kept me like a family
member, and later when things started
moving ahead with me, we started living
together in Pune.
BC: Regarding those who don't practice
ATGATT (ALL THE GEARS ALL THE
TIME), how do you feel about them? Do
you encourage it?
AH: I don't support people riding without
a full riding kit, honestly because I don't
feel confident enough to do things on a
motorcycle when I'm not suited up.