Luc Pagnon: “The best level in the world!”
The love story between Luc Pagnon and the Dakar is tumultuous. At 45-years of age, this ‘Provencal’ is one of the Dakar’s “glorious veterans”. He first discovered the rally in 1990. The encounter with the African Continent and all its wonderment; it was love at first sight. A motorbike is another thing; it was like a hit in the head and an encounter with all the difficulties the rally presents. Luc Pagnon retired without making it to Dakar. After the love affair came the break up. Nine years passed, but Dakar was still there in the back of his mind. In 1999, Luc Pagnon retried his luck and again he retired. Then in 2001 more disappointment. Three retirements from three attempts: the rally was looking too tough to tame for Pagnon, but patience is a virtue. In 2003, Luc Pagnon finished the Dakar for the first time. Something clicked, especially with a very honourable 56th place result. The following year he improved ten positions finishing 46th, a personal record that he nearly matched last year in finishing 47th.
But the ‘Provencal’ explains with a lilting accent “ this isn’t what’s important”. Two words summarize what he believes: ‘adventure and fraternity’. Because the Dakar is also about being reunited with a second family.