UK to India record attempt on a Suzuki Hayabusa

Sushanth Shetty is an avid motorcyclist who has set out to register his name in the history books by riding a Suzuki GSX-R1300 (or popularly recognized as Hayabusa) from the UK to India. This will be a new record attempt as Sushanth and his motorcycle will hold the fastest overland journey attempt between two countries. Sushanth is a resident of the UK but still retains his Indian citizenship. He set off from his place on the 25th October 2014 riding his Hayabusa to France, through Europe to Turkey and then Iran. From there on the route will be either Pakistan, if his visa application is accepted in time, or Dubai, before he arrives in India. The journey christened ‘the East India Express’ is expected to be a 15 day ride if permission is granted to travel through Pakistan, however, a police escort would be required. The alternative is slightly longer if a deviation through Dubai is necessary, but the man is looking forward to the challenge.

Sushanth, who already has past travel experience through Asia and Europe commented, "I'd always fancied riding a bike from the UK to India and came up with the plan in Bangkok while travelling through Asia. I've also done a bit of riding across Europe before. But I didn't think I was cut out for six months or so of riding and 'finding myself'; I wanted to do it as fast as possible. So I tried and thought about a few different bikes, but it had to be the Hayabusa. It should be a good journey and I'm looking forward to setting off. I'm looking forward to going to Sofia in Bulgaria, Ljubljana in Slovenia and Istanbul in Turkey. I'm also a bit apprehensive of Eastern Iran and Pakistan, but I'm also really looking forward to riding through Iran as a whole, and hoping I can do the whole thing to set the fastest overland journey time between the two countries, and that's sticking to speed limits too."