Aras Gibieza’s Indian Summer

17:30

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Motorbike Stuntriding

European stunt biking champion Aras Gibieza’s love affair with India continues

Aras Gibieza India Tour 2015 (Image credit: Neville Sukhia / Red Bull Content Pool)

When you think of a fast bowler, you imagine him to be tall, athletic and fiery eyes. When you think of a Rugby player, you imagine him to big, burly and rough around the edges. But it’s difficult to fit a stunt biker into a mould. Maybe, given the unique nature of this sport, you can’t really outline this individuality into a blue print. Who knows? But one thing is for certain, blueprint or not, Aras Gibieza is the yardstick all stunt bikers are compared against.

When we say, stunt biking, we don’t mean the ‘accelerate-hard-in-a-residential-area-and-attract-attention’ kind of stunts most of us are familiar with. Gibieza’s stunts requires special skill and a thorough knowledge of the physics. Every time he lifts his wheel off the ground or props his leg around, he’s playing with the laws of physics.

Aras Gibieza recently went on a three-city India Tour after wowing the audience at Hyderabad during the Red Bull F1 Showrun. Prior to that, he did an eight-city tour while performing for IBW on Tour. Suffice to say, the young Lithuanian has been to more Indian cities (current count is 12) in last 4 months than most of us visit in a year.

When the dust settled and Gibieza got off his saddle, we caught up with him to know why he does what he does; and more importantly, how he does it. Here’s what he had to say:

How was your experience of the three-city India Tour?

It was really great to ride there. The three cities – Kolkata, Guwahati and Shillong – are completely different. At first, I didn’t think that they would be so different because all three cities are pretty close distance-wise. But, while travelling, after every 5 km. the scenery would change. All of a sudden you start feeling cold, the hill climbs are sudden, people’s facial features changes and everything is totally different from place to place. Kolkata is also a nice place. It’s a bit of old school. It’s still stuck in the fifties, it seems. But it’s cool.

It was nice to see the local guys performing. BMX riders, B-boyers. It was a great event, overall.

Shillong also was great. B boys and local guys performed. We had a really great place and beautiful weather. So it was nice.

Popping a wheeling in front of the Shillong crowd (Image credit: Neville Sukhia / Red Bull Content Pool)

What do you think about the level of stunt biking in India?

Some of them are really good riders. Some were beginners while others looked like they might have been riding since years.

Biggest problem [in India] is underpowered bikes. It’s completely different. Things like drifts and burnouts can’t be done with these bikes. Unless you have bike bikes, stunt biking will be stuck at the same level.

How did you started riding?

I started riding when I was 10 years old on scooters. I started doing wheelies just one week after I started riding. I used to do wheelies all over my locality.

Which scooter was it?

It was Suzuki FZ50. It’s a small scooter.

In 2006, I got my first bike. But it was for racing. I used to make fast stoppies and fast wheelies.

In 2008, I got my first stunt bike. I started preparing for stunt biking competitions. I used to do slow wheelies and big angle stoppies, 180 stoppies, tank stands, etc. All these are beginner’s tricks.

In 2009, I won Baltic States Competition in my country.

In 2010, I won in Russia.

In 2011, I won Eastern European Championship.

In 2012, I won the European Stuntriding competition and every other competition I participated in.

Which was your first bike?

Suzuki GSXR 600.

Which is your current bike?

Kawasaki Ninja 636.

Aras Gibieza and his customized Kawasaki Ninja 636 (Image credit: Neville Sukhia / Red Bull Content Pool)

How different it is from a road bike?

It’s completely different. If you compare the same model of Ninja, the only common stock parts I have are the engine, wheels, swingarm and radiator. But even that [the radiator] has two fans for cooling now. I have changed a lot of parts on my bike, like handlebars and triple tree. I got bigger sprocket and bigger disc brakes in the front and rear. I’ve even customized the frame to take the loads, all the foot rests are customized and even the tank is customized to allow tank stand and other stunts. You need to do these modifications to prepare the bike for stunting.

Which bike would you suggest to a beginner who wants to try his hand at stunt biking?

Ninja 636. Kawasaki has made this really nice bike for stunt riding.

But we have a problem. Original parts are not too strong for stunt riding so you have to change some parts.

How was your experience riding in Hyderabad opening for the F1 car?

It was amazing! It’s something out of this world. It saw an F1 car so close for the very first time. Great place, beautiful weather, so many people, 650 mt. straight line – it was just great. I was going full throttle in 6^th gear on the straight. Even got an opportunity to meet David Coulthard and chat with him. It was amazing. One of the best memories of my life!

At the Red Bull F1 Showrun, Hyderabad (Image credit: Pedrag Vuckovic / Red Bull Content Pool)

What did you discuss with David Coulthard?

We discussed about our countries, culture, my sport, his sports, other sports, etc.

Is it correct that you saw so many people for the first time at one of your events?

Yes, it was the biggest crowd I ever performed in front of. 650 meters and people on both sides, packed to the rafters. It was great. You look around and everywhere it’s full of people.

They scream a lot. THE BEST CROWD EVER!

How different was IBW on Tour compared to North East Tour?

At IBW we had competitions all the time with local teams performing. Weather was too distinct from city to city.

I enjoyed both the tours.

But definitely, Showrun was my favourite.

Favourite trick?

I have few ones. There is one trick I call unicycle.

Guys from flatland call it time machine. It’s more or less similar.

True or fake??? Streetbike unicycle no hand ;D

A photo posted by Aras Freestyle Stunt rider (@aras_freestyle) on Mar 16, 2015 at 8:14am PDT

After this trick I created another trick – Supertower.

You make wheelie circles and you’re sitting on the handle bar and your leg is on the front fender.

Also, 360 kangaroo stop is my favouite.

Is the Supertower similar to Watchtower?

A bit. In Watchtower, you’re standing while here you’re sitting. And also, it’s one-handed.

SuperTower !!!!

A photo posted by Aras Freestyle Stunt rider (@aras_freestyle) on Mar 19, 2015 at 12:02am PDT

Which has been the most difficult trick to learn or to execute?

360 is the most difficult, according to me. Also, switchback wheelie.

Today, not many guys can do these tricks. 360, nobody is doing. Even supertower, nobody is doing. Another trick, unicycle. All these are really tough. It also depends on which one you’re practicing. If you’re practicing switchback wheelie every single day then suddenly you’ll start finding that one easy. If you train for another trick, then that becomes easy for you.

What are you training for right now?

Right now, I am training for 360 and those new tricks.

First trick you learnt?

Wheelie. Fast wheelie is the easiest one.

When are you planning to come back to India next?

As soon as possible!

At Guwahati during the India Tour 2015 (Image credit: Neville Sukhia / Red Bull Content Pool)

Who’s your experience been overall?

Beautiful. All cities are so different. Different culture and different people. I’m really happy to have got this opportunity twice to visit so many different cities in India.

India is a multifaceted nation. And it’s easy for an outsider to get overawed by its complexity. But Gibieza is not one of them. He loves the cultural diversity and throughout his Indian trip, he was ever ready to try out new experiences. Never once losing that amusing smile. That’s Aras for you: Agile, 100-watt smile, calm demeanor and the ability to activate his inner Ninja once he gets on that Kawasaki of his. And perhaps, that’s the mould for stunt bikers. That of a ninja! 

Disclaimer: This article first appeared on RedBull.com

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Don't crucify Top Gear

20:23

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Top Gear

Enough has already been said about the Top Gear vs. Jezza's saga. Despite that, I wish to add my two bits about the topic in this vast ocean of opinions and comments.

Image credit: http://momofukuu.deviantart.com/

Let me get the obvious out of the way: I'm a huge Top Gear fan - the show as well as the magazine. To the extent that I have paid subscriptions to both Top Gear India and Top Gear UK. I have several seasons of TG downloaded on my hard drive. And I have recorded several seasons on my set top box while they were being telecasted in India. I have watched them over and over again. I also have three action figures of 'The Stig' which I ordered via eBay from Thailand.

And while it did hurt me when I learnt that Clarkson was being fired from the show, I wasn't surprised. But let's not crucify Top Gear or BBC for this decision. 

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The Indian who tamed Dakar: CS Santosh

04:34

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Rally Raid

One in a billion CS Santosh unfurls tiranga at Dakar’s finish line. First Indian to do so.

Image Credit: Cristiano Barni

CS Santosh recently eclipsed the epitome of endurance racing – the Dakar. And if you’re unaware of that then you’ve either been living under a rock or a mountain. Over the years, Santosh has unquestionably been India’s best rider. His humble demeanor might not state it, but the trophy cabinet at this home speaks volumes about his accomplishments. There is barely a title or an accolade in the Indian motorsport scene that he hasn’t won. And to add to that glittering cabinet he will now have the shiniest piece of metal that he’s ever won – the finisher’s medallion no. 436/550 of Dakar 2015. But this crown jewel didn’t come easy. It took him a broken toe, a hand protector, a drenched airbox, multiple cuts and bruises, several swollen limbs and some real nerves of steel; for this dream to be realized.

We decided to catch up with the strong guy to know more about those nerves of steel that became a big deal of the Red Bull Kini paddock during Dakar. As we began our conversation, we could guess that the 31-year-old was highly jetlagged and exhausted after his superhuman feat. But as soon as we asked him “So was it like?” his tonality changed. Though he is not at his 100%, you could feel the passion, the exuberance and the adrenaline of the Dakar in his voice. Ever since he landed in India 24 hours back, several journalists has asked him several things about the trip. It almost seems like each and every time he tells his story, he relives his entire trip once again.

This is what the athletic-built Bangalore lad had to say about his little voyage across South America:

Santosh, when you unfurled the flag at the provisional start, what was going through your head?

I couldn’t believe it at first. Only at the start I realized that I was representing the entire nation. It was only at that moment the feeling sunk it that I was representing such a huge population on my own.

It was about 4:30-5 AM during one my transports when I thought that I could actually finish this. At that time, I cried inside my helmet. I thought of all the sacrifices that I had to make and that hardwork that I had to do to reach where I am. It was a very emotional moment for me.

CS Santosh with the Tiranga (Image Credit: Cristiano Barni)

So what was the first thing that came to your mind after finishing it?  

I didn’t feel anything at that time; I was too exhausted. In fact, I had thought crossed my mind few days before I actually finished it. It was about 4:30-5 AM during one my transports when I thought that I could actually finish this. At that time, I cried inside my helmet. I thought of all the sacrifices that I had to make and that hardwork that I had to do to reach where I am. It was a very emotional moment for me.
Check out his stage-wise results here.

Can you describe the atmosphere there?

It’s larger than life. There’s so much of madness, one just can’t imagine; it really hits you in Argentina. There, people are lined up for hundreds of kilometers. Even during the transport, the people are lined up at the side of the track – hundreds of thousands of them. The scale and the magnitude of this event is simply unbelievable.
In fact, I miss it a lot. I miss all the enthusiasm and that adrenaline rush.

Kicking up some dirt (Image Credit: Edoardo Bauer)

 You gave your tyres to Marc Coma. How did that happen?

During the second marathon stage, Marc only had a small margin of lead over his closest competitor. Marc decided to go for aggressive strategy and go all out. In the process, his tyres were worn out by the end of the stage. He was fighting for the victory and hence I decided to give him my tyres. This team has done a lot for me. The least I can do is be a team player and help the team.

So, how was it riding next to Marc? Was there any extra pressure on you?

To borrow the clichéd phrase: It was a dream come true for me. You’ve seen this rider on the screen and now when suddenly you’re there with him, you can’t imagine that you’re in that same circle as one of them. It felt surreal!
And no, there was no pressure on me. Alex – head of KTM – told me that I need to come back every night. So that’s what I did, I listened to his advice and I brought the bike back at the end of each stage.

Enroute Iquique (Image Credit: Cristiano Barni)

How is it working with the Red Bull Kini team?
 
It’s fantastic! Mr. Kini was there at the Dakar. I believe, it was the 7th Day when he arrived. And that was the first time that I got a chance to meet him. He was happy for me. He sat down and chatted with me for quite a while. Despite being such a big personality, he is a very genuine and humble person. Working with his team has absolutely amazing.

Which was the toughest stage for you?
 
The Bolivia stage was the toughest one. It was raining and freezing. I almost got wiped out by a raging river. I was fine but the bike took the entire brunt. It took me 30 minutes to start it back up. On top of that, all my clothes were drenched. I had to rely on the local authorities who lent me local clothes while my riding gear dried. At the end of that stage, I couldn’t even walk, I had to be carried off. 

It was pouring in Bolivia (Image Credit: Cristiano Barni)

How did you manage to break your toe?
 
I was riding behind couple of other riders. Since I was riding in the dust clouds, I decided to get ahead of them so I could get a clear track. The roads on that segment were washed away; and in the road book, they had mentioned that section as “Triple Caution.” I missed reading it and went too fast; I ended up on the floor with my toe getting crushed under the bike. This happened fairly early in the stage around 15 km. mark, and hence, I had to ride the next 300 km. with a broken toe.

While your toe was broken and you were in pain, did you at any point thought of giving it up and retiring from the race?
 
I had gone there with a fighting attitude. I’ve have had few really bad accidents in the past and hence, now I know what it takes to survive. I had decided that I would keep going till my body lasted. 

Entering Argentina (Image Credit: Cristiano Barni)

What was your mental state during the last stage of the race when you were on the home stretch?
 
I really enjoyed myself during the last three stages. I love riding fast and in the second last stage, I managed to finish as high as 31. I had a great flow in the last 3-4 stages. In fact, at that time I had already started to think, “What will I do after Dakar? How will I spend my time? I would really miss it.”

So, what’s next?
 
A lot of things were riding on this (Dakar). Now that it’s over, I’m already looking forward to the next year. This year I finished in 30s. Next time I’ll try to finish it in 20s. I will try to progress each year. 

The Finisher's Medal!

If you had to describe the entire Dakar journey in one sentence, how would you do it?
 
It’d take two statements to describe it: Adventure of a lifetime. Stories for a lifetime. 

Disclaimer: This article first appeared on RedBull.com

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