N° 038 - TEAM P.K.L
 - CASANOVA
- Arturo
- ESP
- 28/11/1964
|
| MODEL |
MAKE |
| 525 |
TOT CURSES |
In 2007 he put in his best of four Dakars, finishing 37th overall in the bike class. Arturo is as proud of this result as well as the thrill of being the highest ranked Spaniard for two consecutive days following the crash and retirement of Marc Coma. His 16th place time on the 13th stage and 23rd on the 14th riding the prototype of friend Fernando Prades demonstrated all the savoir-faire of this amateur. «It caught the attention of the media and it was great to be able to be in the battle.» But it did not help him that much in finding sponsors for the 2009 Dakar. “In my region, there are some problems in the building sector and major real estate projects have been delayed. It is harder and harder. My results have not really changed anything.” As in 2003, he knows he may have to take out a loan to live out his passion. “We appear sporadically on television and in Spain it is all about football”. Arturo, who has worked as a mechanic, painter and farmer, and now a fireman in Oropesa, regrets not being able to further his competition ambitions. «It is the lot of the privateers.» He will not be 100% when he lines up for his fifth Dakar following a crash on the Pharaons Rally. «I only got back on the bike at the end of November due to a separated shoulder.» But he confesses that improving his personal best in the standings is not excluded. « Fernando Prades’ new prototype is a 525cc. With this bike, I can see myself moving up the leader board, but I will remain careful.»