BARRIERE VARJU Christophe AUS 23/05/1970 176 cm 81 kg

Vehicle

MODEL	MAKE
690	KTM

RANKING

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Scratch	62	93	78	109	93	125	101	89	-	-	-	-	-	-
Stage	62	93	78	105	93	125	98	89	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Overall	62	72	66	69	73	87	86	88	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Christophe Barrière-Varju : «I reset my shoulder by myself»

Christophe Barrière-Varju didn’t take part in the 2005 Dakar, but did get an idea of what awaited him when visiting the evening bivouacs. “In preparing for my first Dakar (in 2006), I wanted to see how everything works. So I went to speak to other riders and watch them up close: how they sleep, how they drink, how they read the road book…” This clever form of preparation paid immediate dividends to this citizen of the world (born in Marseille, raised in Abidjan, Australian citizenship after ten years in the United States). After dropping out in 2006, the Franco-Australian fulfilled a dream, finishing in 64th place. Following this success, the former Ivory Coast and Arizona motocross champion drew a conclusion. “During the race, you have to be sure not to think about anything else; it is the only way to go forward”.

The South American edition of the Dakar has everything to please him. “It will remind everyone that the Dakar is the hardest rally of them all”, he predicts. Bu the challenge suits him to a tee. Christophe Barrière-Varju is an avid rough and ready customer when it comes to extreme situations, ready to sacrifice everything to attain his goal. “During the 2006 Dakar, I rode 200 kilometres with three broken ribs, after having reset my dislocated shoulder earlier. In that same year, on the Brazilian round of the world championship, I continued in the race for 96 hours without eating or drinking, after throwing up with food poisoning. I lost eight kilograms in four days but I finished!”

Dakar start photos on line: www.maindruphoto.com

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