India's leading riders, including Mumbai's Rustom Patel and Vijay Kumar of Karnataka, will be seen in action in the first leg of the Gulf Dirt Track Championship, to be held at the National Sports Club of India (NSCI), in Mumbai, on April 19 and 20.

Shrikanth Karani of event organisers Sportscraft told newsmen on Wednesday the championship would comprise five legs.

"After the Mumbai leg the focus will shift to Mangalore, the coastal city of Karnataka, on May 17 and 18, followed by events in Udaipur, Gurgaon and Bhopal," he added.

To be held under the aegis of the Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India (FMSCI), the championship is open to scooters and motorcycles.

The winner will pocket Rs 75,000.

Fierce competition is expected from Team TVS and Yamaha Team.

Among those likely to participate are former national rally and dirt track champion Zubin Patel, who has been out of action for almost two years following an accident two years ago during a rally in Shimla, Manjit Singh Bassan, Ilyas Bham, Shailesh Gala, Freddy Elavia, Kaizad Patel and other riders from Pune and Nashik.

The last date for entries is April 16, 2003.

More details can be had from Sportscraft, Chitrakut, 3^rd floor, Siri Road, Chowpatty Bandstand, Mumbai 400 006. Tel: 23677631 and sportscraft@hotmail.com or one can visit www.cybersteering.com/sportscraft for entry forms.