Indian cricketers chill out on race track with 'superbikes'

Some Indian cricketers let their hair down after their historic whitewash of Australia by zooming and careening around the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) here Monday morning.

Here, too, the leader of the pack was bike enthusiast and India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who rode down from the national capital on his fancy roadbike, Hellcat, to see what it feels like riding on a Formula 1 track.

MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, and Virat Kohli visited the Buddh International Circuit Monday (Photos: IANS)

The Indian players took some time out after whitewashing Australia 4-0 Sunday afternoon. The cricketers, including Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma and Prgayan Ojha turned up at the track early morning, taking BIC officials by surprise.

Dhoni, owner of several superbikes, spent a lot of time on the track, according to a BIC official. Delhi-based Sharma came in an Audi RS5 and giving him company were Ojha and Rahane.

Tendulkar, well-known for his love for F1 and fancy cars, and Kohli took to the track in instructor-driven sportscars.

"They took us all by surprise," the BIC official said.

"But it was nice to see them spending so much time at the circuit. Most of them had come here during the Indian Grand Prix, but it was the first time they got the feel of the track. They not only drove, they stopped at every turn and understood the track. They also spent time in the race control room."

Dhoni, however, got it slightly wrong by getting a bulky bike.

Dhoni, owner of several superbikes, spent a lot of time on the track

"Dhoni said to me he could not manoeuvre it as well as he could have with a sportsbike. Next time, he said he would get one of his many sportsbikes and keep it here. His passion for bikes was very much evident," the official added.

The official added that Dhoni expressed his desire to be at BIC during the inaugural India-round of the Superbike World Championship (WSBK) in November.
The skipper owns a team called Mahi Racing which competes in the World Supersport Championship, a support series to WSBK. - IANS