“Finish the race and keep on working electric bikes”

World Rally Raid Champion in 2008 and winner of the 2012 Africa Eco Race, Oscar Polli has competed in a wide range of rallies, including the Tunisia Rally, the Pharaons Rally and the Dakar. He began his off-road career in 1982 in the Lombardy 125cc Motocross Championship and moved up to the 250cc class. He then took part in the Italian Motocross Championship, finishing in the Top 10 overall in the 125/250 class. He raced in the Italian Sand Cross Championship (Supermarecross) for three years. In 1992, he took part in his first international rallies, the “Rally di Sardegna”, the “Transitalia” and the “Rally dell’Elba”, and took part in the Italian Motorally Championship, which he won in 1995 with Team Freeracing. In 1995, he took part in the Senior Enduro Championship, finishing fourth in 500cc, before switching to the Tunisia Rally, the Pharaons Rally and the Dakar, where he was one of the protagonists in 1998, 1999 and 2006. In 2019, he tried the adventure on four wheels as codriver on the Tuareg Rally, the Italian Baja and then the Dakar, in the Classic category in 2022. Coach of Lorenzo Fanattoli and Lorenzo Piolini on last year’s Dakar, Oscar Polli has decided to add a new entry to his already impressive resume by returning to the Dakar as a rider in the new Mission 1000 category on a Tacita Discanto. Tacita is coming back to the Dakar with a bike that will be launched in 2025. This electric bike has an an autonomy of 300 km and the team led by Nicolas Chaix, is planning to bring their T-Station to recharge the Discanto with solar power.

OP: “I started in Dakar on a bike, and I raced there in 1997, 1998, 2004 and 2008. In 2022, I did it as a codriver in Classic. In 2023, I was coach manager. I’m heading to the 2024 Dakar with green powered bike. I clinched the word rally raid title in 2008 and I did many other races as a motorcycle and car racer, motocross, enduro, rally raid… Of course, riding/driving and racing with new vehicles are in my DNA, but my experience on bikes and cars is the key to face new challenges. In this case we are also the first team and riders to step into the future of rally races. I run a motocross and enduro school that let me train all year round, especially when I go to Tunisia twice a year to train customers and professional riders. Winning is not an option, it’s a choice and a commitment, but this time our goal is also to finish the race and keep on working electric bikes and sustainability. My teammate is Sylvain Espinasse, with the same targets.”