“Fun is the main goal”
RIDER FACTS
- Zhang Min is preparing for his eighth outing in the bikes at Dakar 2024. The 47-year-old from China was forced to abandon with mechanical issues on his first two appearances in 2017 and 2018, but since then he has always reached the finish line, only missing out in 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions.
- Zhang discovered motorsport as a teenager, when he skipped school one day and came across a motocross race, promptly joining in and sparking a lifelong passion. He grew up competing with his teammates Zhao Hongyi and Zakeer Yakefu, who are now part of his Dakar 'family' on the Da Hai Dao Zero Mileage Lubricant team.
- The man from the Yunnan Province -who runs a hotel back home- took his best Dakar result in 2019, finishing 46th. He has also been a runner-up at China's biggest offroad event, the Taklimakan Rally, on multiple occasions.
2025 AMBITIONS
Z.M.: “I really enjoyed Dakar 2024 together with my friends. It's a shame that Hongyi got injured, but he was always there waiting for me back at the bivouac when I returned from the stages, right up until the last day. I did a few events in China in 2024, but the main goal is Dakar, no doubt about that. My motivation is still the same as ever. I've had the same teammates since my first attempt in 2017, so we're like a little family sharing good times! I'm looking forward to enjoying this event again with my friends. Of course, I'll be fighting for a good result, but fun is the main goal. We've decided to keep riding with the same bike as last year. The latest KTM is still quite raw, so we prefer to stick with our current model for reliability purposes. It's tried and tested!”
