N° 039 - TEAM P.K.L
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| Vehicle |
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| MODEL | MAKE |
| 450 | KTM |
Rodolpho and motorcycling, was a fast developing story, which began five years ago. In 2003 he started riding in the great outdoors with his father Andreas. To add some adrenaline to his newfound passion he pushed his limits each time out. « We sometimes rode as much as 1000kms over a weekend between Petropolis and Campos do Jordao. Little by little we began to push it in saying we’ll meet up in 500kms. »
It was on these tracks that he met Jean de Azevedo and decided to ride in the Dos Sertoes Rally. An incredible experience that didn’t bring glory, but a certitude following a night of struggles in the desert. “I knew that I wanted to become a professional rider.” A little bit more than three years later, Rodolpho entered his first Dakar after joining the Petrobas Lubrax team in 2006.
His rate of ascension may appear staggering, but it must be remembered that Rodolpho has spent nearly his entire life on a motorcycle. “I always dreamed of one day becoming a professional athlete. I got my start as a semi-pro in BMX, which accorded me the opportunity to live in the United States for five years when I competed in the American championship.”
Today, Rodolpho views the Dakar like something akin to a personal “Everest”, but he comes into the rally with a certain confidence. “I know the routes that we will race on in Argentina and Chile and those I rode on in the Las Pampas Rally. As I did in this rally I’d like to win the marathon class on this Dakar.” To do this, Rodolpho will be able to rely on, amongst others, his Brazilian countrymen of which there will be a large number at the start in Buenos Aires. “We are all friends, many of us train together, and we can all count on one another.” His mental approach to the rally is summed up in his two word tattoo: “Never retire”.
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