Giovanni Sala: “Experience is on my side” Sala stepped on to the podium’s 3rd place last year, in his 9th participation in the Dakar. However, Giovanni Sala does not seem to be among the contenders for the final victory. The rider from Bergamo, Italy, is a bit less enthusiastic this year because KTM clearly wants to defend the titleholder. Moreover, Sala could not able to specifically train for the Dakar during the season. “I worked a lot in Enduro for KTM this year, but not at all in a rally set-up. So it will be a little complex for me. I have only done a few tests with my new bike and I ridden a little with my two team mates the week before Christmas at Marc’s (Coma)”. However, in spite of this minimum preparation, Sala still likes to announce that “experience is on my side and I hope to do a good race”.
For the select elite of the Dakar such words and modesty are all but surprising. Giovanni Sala combines the roles of “nice buddy” and “old timer”. And the best riders on the Dakar are not afraid of the Italian because he has never managed to take to the dunes, the talent and the hegemony he has shown on the motocross circuits. The 5-time World Enduro Champion always remains in the outsiders’ group. Still, his regularity since his first participation in 1998 places him in the club of competitors one should keep an eye on.
Sala won his first special on the most famous rally raid on his second race day in Almeria, Spain. In 1999, Sala set his scratch time of the year in Nouakchott before finishing 7th in the overall standing. In 2000, his adventure on the Dakar ended with a fall during the 5th stage, but since then, “Gio”’ has always reached the Top 10 (6th in 2002, 8th in 2005) or two stage wins. 2004 was the exception when Sala left the race with two broken ribs and did not add any new line on his glorious record of achievements. Sala became an official KTM – Repsol rider in 2005 and will share the leadership of the team with Marc Coma and Jordi Viladoms on this Dakar.