BHOPAL: More than hundred motorcyclists from all over India will flex their muscles to exhibit their skills in the Gulf Cup Dirt Track Racing scheduled here in Bhopal on Sunday.

After scrutiny of vehicles carried out on Saturday here at the BHEL Dussehra ground, Govindpura, nearly 120 riders have qualified for the finals to be held from 10 a.m. on Sunday at the same venue.

In the Gulf Cup Dirt Track Racing, dubbed as “Gulf Clash of Titans”, the best motorcycle riders in India will battle it out for top honors. It is the final leg of the event and the biggest of them all. Prior to this Jaipur, Hyderabad and Nashik witnessed the best motorcycle riders in the country who battled it out over the last year for a place in the elite field i.e. in the Gulf Cup Dirt Track Racing in Bhopal. Dirt Track is spectacular in-stadia and quite thrilling event, with a mass start. This could be done on any ground (surface) there are no jumps etc. The participation level is very high.

According to Shrikant Karani, Chairman Organizing Committee and founder member of Sportscraft, the Gulf Clash of Titans pits only the best riders from the three previously-held legs and thus one can rest assured of a top class competition.

Gulf Cup Dirt Track Racing – Clash Of Titans is sponsored by Gulf Oil Corporation Ltd and Organized by Sportscraft, Mumbai, in association with Bhopal Automobile Sports Club, the Bhopal event promises a feast of top drawer action for motorsport enthusiasts.

Karani said all form and showing over the last three legs will matter little, as the Class of Titans is a straight fight between only the best in the business of motorcycle racing. A rider may have finished on top in the points standings over the last three legs but all that will not count as in Bhopal there will one just one race in each of the seven categories to decide who is the best in the country.

Besides much will depend on the course Sportscraft prepares. The underfoot conditions and weather in Bhopal at the time of the race are sure to play an important part in the outcome.

Karani said the glamour categories — the Indian Expert Class foreign motorcycles up to 260cc and Private Expert classes for foreign motorcycles up to 260cc – should see top class action with the likes of Pramod Joshua, H K Pradeep, Arvind K P and R Natraj heading the starting line-up. All performed admirably in the first three legs with only a wafer-thin margin separating them at the finish and are certain to all out to wrest top honors.

In the Private Expert Class Group too a battle royal is in store. Maninder Singh, Fabio Chindy and Badal Doshi are the favorites, while in Group B Bhopal Muzzaffar Ali, who finished on top of the qualifiers for the Clash of Titans, can expect a stiff fight from Alibag’s  Abhinay Virkud and Coimbatore’s R Prakash.

In the Novice class too all eyes will be on Bhopal riders Shujaat Khan and Mujeeb. Both did well in the previous rounds and should give home fans much to cheer about. There will be three classes for local riders one for scooter and two for bikes.