Date: 2nd November 2025
Location: BigRock Dirt Park, Kolar, Karnataka

India finally got its own off-road endurance race – the Ultra6. A six-hour marathon of dust, sweat, and throttle at BigRock Dirt Park, where teams took turns riding through everything the terrain could throw at them. I wasn’t racing. I went because a friend was. But somewhere between the roaring engines and flying dirt, I found myself doing what I do best – pointing a camera at chaos.

This was my first foray into motorsport photography, and what a crash course it turned out to be. Since the riders were flying, I thought I might as well click. Shooting wildlife had already trained me for fast reflexes, unpredictable subjects, and questionable lighting. Turns out, all of that applies equally well when your “wildlife” comes with knobby tyres and race numbers.

The Scene

By 9 AM, Kolar had transformed into a cloud of adrenaline. Riders throttled out of the start gate, vanishing into a trail of brown haze. The crowd, caked in the same shade of dust, didn’t seem to mind. Every lap felt like a wrestling match between endurance and exhaustion.

The format itself is brutal and brilliant – six continuous hours, where teams switch riders but never stop moving. It’s not just about speed; it’s about surviving your own limits. Watching from the sidelines, you realise how thin the line is between control and chaos.

From Behind the Lens

Capturing this event was like photographing an explosion in slow motion. The trick was timing, not just the shutter, but my own breathing. I found beauty in the blur, rhythm in the roost, and stories in the pit stops. At one point, my lens was so coated with dust that my camera almost declared early retirement.

But there’s something addictive about it, that intersection of power, precision, and madness. Each rider became a moving composition: the tilt of a helmet, the lean into a berm, the dust arc behind a rear wheel. For six hours, I didn’t just shoot motorsport. I felt it.

Why Ultra6 Matters

India’s motorcycling scene has always been driven by passion. What it lacked was structure for endurance. Ultra6 changes that. It rewards consistency, teamwork, and preparation, not just flair. It’s a format that can build smarter, fitter, safer riders, and a new breed of motorsport storytelling along the way.

Field Notes (for fellow spectators or shooters)

• Bring a mask, earplugs, and a sense of humility.
• Don’t chase the action – wait for it to come to you.
• Golden hour + dust = cinematic heaven.
• Wipe your lens often; your face never.

Closing Frame

Tiring. Dusty. Loud.
And every bit as exhilarating as it sounds.