Crew facts

• Is Michael Docherty South 100% South African ? Well, yes because he's born in Johannesburg from SA parents. But, and there's a but, he moved to Lilongwe, just a couple of weeks after he opened his eyes on planet earth. As a member of the tobacco industry, Michael's dad, Billy, got a professionnal opportunity in Malawi's capital and moved with the whole family.
• As a kid, Michael did grow up in Malawi until 7 years old. He moved back afterwards to South Africa, in Joburg, and that's where it all started: motocross became a love at first sight. Why? Billy used to ride bikes. Michael started racing motorcycles and won the South African National 65cc3 Championship at the tender age of 8.
• At 13, in 2007, Michael flew to Danville, a Virginia town, in the US, on the East Coast. Why ? Because of his passion for motocross. He got there without his parents -they stayed in SA- but with his uncle Derrek and his 3 years older brother Sean, a former rider : "Derrek was driving us to all the races, remembers Michael. I was doing school from home. The first year was quite hard, I did miss my parents a lot. But, afterwards, you kind of get over a little bit and realize you are there for racing and riding."
• Michael came back to SA in 2010 for a year so he could finish high school. As time went on, his dad felt more scary than his mum Mel seeing him riding a bike. Through the years, Mike's idol got to be Ryan Villopoto. In 2014, Docherty participated in the SA motocross championship and, in 2016, went to race in profesionnal motocross and supercross.
• At the end of 2016, he moved to Dubai as he got offered a job as a mechanic in a bike shop and never left til now. Amongst Michael's hobbies are golf - he recently played 15 over par on a 18 holes course - and video games such as Call of Duty.
• In 2023, with the help of SRG Motorsports in Dubai and HT Rally Raid he finally got himself to the Dakar. On day 3 he dislocated his wrist but still went on to win 4 stages in Rally 2, finished third of the category and won the Best Rookie award.
• The next year, Michael ended up in the helicopter on Day 2, after one big crash. He was back for the Abu Dhabi Challenge and won Day 1 before taking another helicopter ride 24h later, this time with a fractured hip! And, in 2025, Mike finished his Dakar in the top 15, at an honorable 14th position.
• When we ask Bart Van der Velden, his team manager, how would he describe Michael, the answer comes right away: "A man of few words, very friendly, fast, motivated, focused and unstoppable." All is said !