N° 051 - TEAM SOLDADOS.COM
 - PUERTAS HERRERA
- Miguel
- ESP
- 08/11/1968
|
His four Dakar participations have seen him progress each time out. Miguel is a fighter pilot in the Spanish Air Force, he is one of the pillars of the Aguila squad, which is the equal to top squads around the world. He believes his presence in a race as famous as the Dakar is good for the image of his profession, which has become, for this year, his only sponsor. Miguel Puertas is placing the bar very high in the name of the institution he represents and for himself. «I am expecting a lot from this Dakar because it will be the first time I head to the start without having a pre-event problem. I am aiming for the top 20. It is an ambitious goal, for sure, but I think I have what it takes to do it.» During the three Dakars he completed, Miguel never finished once in the top 50, but he, all the same, rode to the Senegalese capital in 2005, 2006 and 2007 in 69th,50th and 52nd place respectively. Originally from Murcia, in south eastern Spain, he analyzed his results to take it to the next level and step up his preparation over the past few months. « As for my physical fitness and everything concerning navigation, I am ready to go. I am lacking seat time, motocross riding, to know where to improve with more speed. My results in the recent Dakar series, where I didn’t have any physical or navigation problems, prove that I have made real improvement.»