“I needed a new bike, in proper condition”
Crew facts
- Murun Purevdorj will be making his second Dakar appearance in the bikes in 2026, having finished 76th on a mechanical-marred debut in 2025.
- He has previously described the Dakar as his "dream competition" and "the Olympics of motorsport", and he's targeting a place inside the Top 40 overall.
- The 28-year-old from Ulaanbaatar followed in the footsteps of his father, who also used to race motorcycles. He grew up surrounded by bikes and began riding at the age of six, going on to partake in his first competitions as a teenager.
- After several years starring on the domestic scene in enduro and motocross, he took a break between 2016 and 2020 to study at university in Australia. Upon his return he developed a taste for marathon rallies and began working towards the Dakar.
- A seven-time Mongolian champion, Murun has also posted stellar results at the Silk Way Rally, including first place overall in 2025.
- He is one of a handful of Mongolians to have completed the Dakar on a bike and will be competing alongside compatriot Khaliunbold Erdenebileg in 2026.
Ambition
M.P.: “My worst moment at Dakar 2025 was my bike breaking down due to a gearbox problem. I felt like I wasn't going to finish. But after all the problems I faced, completing the rally was one of the best feelings. I would say what sets the Dakar apart is the difficulty. It's one of the world's hardest races, in some of the hardest conditions. The ups and downs and the emotions you feel when you finish… it really is different from other races. One of the biggest lessons from last year was that I needed a new bike, in proper condition. Last year I used an old bike, which is why I got penalties and had issues throughout the rally. I also need to be better prepared for the Dakar, both physically and emotionally. I want to do what I couldn't do last year, because of all my problems. I'm trying to push myself towards the top and we'll see what the final result is. I know Khaliunbold Erdenebileg very well. I was a fan of his when he used to race motocross. We were actually supposed to ride in the same team but there were some financial issues, so we're racing separately but still chasing our dreams. Having another Mongolian at the Dakar is great. Last year I did some videos during the rally, saying it would be amazing to share the experience with another Mongolian and talk about the stages in our native language. I'm really looking forward to having him there.”
