“I still have a lot of endurance”

A genuine Dakar legend in the Czech Republic, David Pabiska is lining up for his 15th appearance in 2024. David has been racing for over 30 years and was just 14 when he set himself the target of doing the Dakar. He made that dream a reality in 2007, having already starred in motocross and enduro on the domestic and international scene. After making his Dakar debut in Africa, David rode all but one of the South American editions, coming as high as 12th in the trucks in 2012 and 18th in the bikes in 2014. A skilled mechanic with three silver medals at the FIM International Six-Days Enduro, he then did Dakar 2020 as part of Martin Macik’s service crew, which prompted him to return to the bikes in the gruelling Original by Motul class in 2021. David managed to finish fourth in the category that year. It was a case of unlucky number 13 in 2022, as he suffered a nasty crash and failed to finish the rally for the very first time. The Hustopece native, who is also an ambassador for Harley-Davidson, got his revenge a year ago, finishing 36th and just off the podium again in the Original by Motul. He will line up for his own outfit in 2023 (SP Moto Bohemia Racing), just as he did on his 2007 debut. Will he finally stand on the OBM podium? He’s been preparing hard for this 46th edition, even sleeping at simulated altitude in a hypoxic tent. “A bit of help because I'm old", he jokes. He may be a veteran, but he’s still very fast. And with a Dakar 2024 billed as the most difficult of the Saudi era, his experience could be very, very useful.

D.P.: “The Dakar 23 was very wet for me! But I was injured during the 2022 edition and my comeback from injury was very good. I’m happy to have finished 36th overall, 4th in the Original by Motul class and 2nd in the veterans’ classification. I’m expecting the 2024 edition to be very tough, so I’m going into it with a lot of respect and humility and I'm going to do my best. I’m not such a fast rider anymore, but I still have a lot of endurance. I’ve always felt better when it’s been long. I’ve never been one to declare my goals in advance, but I’d like to fight for the best possible result. I’m going to try to do well in the Original by Motul rankings, but above all in the overall classification!”