EASY RIDER:

Tucked away among

keekar

bushes is this top-grade racing track. Rahul Gandhi and his friends hit the course every weekend with power bikes and go-karts

NEW DELHI: Guess what Rahul Gandhi does to burn that extra energy? He drives about 25 km out of town, straddles a Yamaha R1 and roars off with a clutch of friends on a specially created — and carefully camouflaged — racing track.The young man, who is billed to lead the country some day, appears to be a chip off the old block — like his dad Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul loves fast machines.TOI stumbled upon his passion quite accidentally. Investigations and a visit to the race track confirmed Rahul’s biking mania.It transpires that every Saturday evening, a group of like-minded speed devils get together at this racing track to enjoy the thrills of power biking and go-karting.The secret is well kept — a ground rule is that if you get to burn octane with India’s most eligible bachelor you got to keep your trap shut about it.Rahul’s love for speed is apparently well-known and shared by a circle of close friends, which includes some young MPs, a few old classmates and his brother-in-law Robert Vadra.Their choice of machines, it’s learnt, is eclectic — ranging from power bikes like Kawasaki Ninjas and Yamaha R1s to dirt bikes and even karts.An unsuspecting private guard at the race track revealed that even mom Sonia Gandhi occasionally accompanies Rahul. TOI repeatedly tried to get Rahul’s comments, faxed him some questions, but the young MP didn’t respond.Sources close to the family said the usually shy Rahul was unlikely to respond. The riding session is a regular recreation activity for Rahul, say family friends.“It’s just a matter of few young friends getting together in the evenings and...... having some fun. He (Rahul) is also human and deserves his share of recreation,” said a source close to the family.The track, it’s learnt, was specially created in the wilderness to ensure that the races could be held away from the prying eyes of the media and even the local junta in view of security concerns.The track has tyre boundaries and markings. Said the private guard: “Yeh pura area policewale and security wale bandh kar dete hain and hum log bhi baahar khade hote hain. Aam aadmi idhar allowed nahin hota hai, sirf Rahul aur Soniaji ke jaankaar hi aate hain (The entire area is cordoned off by cops and security personnel. It’s not open to the general public and only people known to Rahul and Sonia Gandhi are allowed inside).”Sources said the track has been created and is maintained by professional go-karters and bike enthusiasts. “It is not about the youth taking to high speeds and cheap thrills,” said a source.“Proper safety nets are in place every time an event is held, all necessary precautions are taken and people genuinely enjoy the ride.” Precautions, one can be sure of, as the planners have taken pains to ensure that the track remains hidden from public view.