Dodging sleeping cobras and losing half a stone in weight every race due to extreme temperatures did not prevent Jules Croft returning from India with a third-placed finish in the Madras GP.

The Lincoln-based motorcycle rider (pictured right) secured his ride in the MRF International Challenge, which was spread over three weekends, thanks to his connections with former TT rider Bill Smith.

And, with sponsors paying for the entire event – including stays in five-star hotels in Chennai – Croft, who was riding a 600 Yamaha R6 machine, could concentrate on his racing in extreme conditions.

"The heat is the main thing, as a rider, that you notice when out there, I don't think I have ever ridden in temperatures that high," said Croft, 40, who finished behind winner David Jones, a British Supersport rider riding a triumph, and British Superstock rider Gain Hunt.

"I shed half a stone in a race which is basically fluids going out of your body. The air temperature was 46 degrees and the tarmac temperature was 58 degrees. It's very different to riding in the UK and you have to be pretty fit to compete.

"Each race is about 25 minutes which doesn't seem like a long time but when you finish the race you are totally drained.

"Not only did I have to contend with the heat, but I was told there were sleeping cobras in the tyre walls, too. Fortunately I didn't crash into a tyre wall but I was warned by other riders."