Five college graduates in Dehradun, Uttarakhand are leaving onlookers in awe with their jaw-dropping and thrilling stunts on non-gear scooters. Part of Team Evolution, an action sport group, these motorsport lovers have been performing gravity defying antics.
The first ever team to do such cutting-edge stunts in the country, these riders believe in going to extreme lengths to entertain their audience. Their stunts include wheelies, stoppies, and standing up on the scooter while it is still moving. They even perform dangerous manoeuvres like climbing around on the bike with their hands off the handlebars.
For the team's founder Lakshya Khanduri, 25, these death-defying tricks are simply his passion. A filmmaker by profession, he says: "While there is no dearth of motorbike stunt riders in the country, it was my dream to carve a niche for passionate riders like us so we decided to perform stunts on scooters instead."
"It was not easy since unlike motorbikes, scooters do not have clutch and gear, but with our utmost passion and dedication, we succeeded in showing the world our talent."
Hailing from the small hill town of northern India, Lakshya and his pack of riders - all in their early 20s - started practicing these stunts a decade ago. They have performed at over 10 major motorsport events across India.
A proud Lakshya says: "At every event we try unveil new tricks. You should see the reaction on the faces of the audience as they are left amazed to see us doing wheelies and stoppies. It is not an easy deal. It is very challenging and involves risks. We have suffered injuries but thankfully, with practice, we always perform these stunts with flair. I have no words to express the pleasure we get from performing these stunts."