“I want to race with humility”
CREW FACTS
O.M.
- Like many competitors, Ondrej's passion for the Dakar comes from his father. They watched the race together when he was a child. He now lives it from the inside as a member of the family's Czech Samurais squad. The team is competing since 2018, but can also provide support and help new riders.
- Finisher of the 2023 Dakar Classic, Ondrej should have taken part with his wife Ollie Rouckova last year, but was unable to do so due to a health problem. This year, it's Ollie who can't make it. The Czech rider, who made her first Dakar in 2018 (3rd place among women in quads), is pregnant. And she will give birth to a “little racer” during the 2025 edition!
J.K.
- Jiri Kopriva was Ollie Rouckova's navigator for the 2023 Dakar Classic. He did a superb job in the Suzuki Samurai, helping the team to achieve third place in its category. This year, he is switching to a more powerful vehicle, the Toyota Land Cruiser 90.
- The Czech Samurais team, of which Jiri is a member, is working on the Mechanic Academy project, in cooperation with the Novy Bydzov technical secondary school. Each year, the director and the school team select one of the best students, who is given the opportunity to join the educational project and take part in the Dakar. This will be the case for the third consecutive year in 2025.
2025 AMBITIONS
O.M.: “I had to race in 2024 but I couldn't start due to heart surgery. I got a second chance. I want to race with humility, but I also want to aim for the best possible result within the Dakar Classic Czech teams. Our team is racing with heart. An important point is also the development of the Mechanic Academy project, which we have in collaboration with Dakar. Young mechanics will have the opportunity to participate in the Dakar Rally as full-fledged team mechanics. Thanks to this, they will gain very valuable experience.”
J.K.: “It looks like the Dakar Classic route will be very challenging, with a lot of kilometres to cover. With Ondrej, we want to show what we've got and I will give my best. We have been working on the Toyota for almost a full year, with a big development, and I'm glad to be there."
