“Like being 20 years old and falling in love with a girl”
CREW FACTS
G.B.
- A former mechanics, Giuliano Bergo sold his business to do what pleases him. He first participated in the Dakar Classic in 2024… And he left the event with “unfinished business” after a spectacular crash on day 4.
- In January 2025, Bergo puts his skills - he even operated in WRC events in the 1990s - at the service of R Team and TH Trucks, teaming up with another Italian mechanic with a solid experience on the Dakar, Luca Macrini, and the much younger Rocco Sbaraglia.
- Bergo still wants to finish a Dakar Classic with the same car he used in 2024… He thought he would only participate once but the Saudi desert is calling him again and again.
L.M.
- Heading to his fourth participation in the Dakar Classic, Luca Macrini has grown to be an essential member of the R Team - TH Trucks association, making the best of his mechanic skills months ahead of the race to prepare the vehicles that will face the Saudi desert.
- His role also evolved inside the truck, that he got to drive for a couple of days during the Dakar Classic 2024.
R.S.
- Rocco Sbaraglia shares with his father Gianluca a consuming passion for motors, especially Pontiacs, and especially the iconic Firebird. Together, they run a website dedicated to the Pontiac cars in Italy.
- Rocco follows the track of Gianluca, a seasoned competitor, with a maiden participation in the Dakar. Next goal: tackling the most iconic rally-raid together in the same car.
AMBITIONS 2025
G.B.: “My idea was to do one Dakar and that’s it. So, I have unfinished business since we didn’t finish it last year after we destroyed the car on stage 4. It was still working, we managed to make it to the end, but the roll bar was broken so we couldn’t start again.
When I came back from the Dakar, I told everyone it was one of the most beautiful experiences in my life. It gave me emotions I hadn’t felt for at least 30 years, emotions I didn’t even remember I could feel. It was really that deep, with the landscape, the friendships, the energy you feel all over the Dakar and the bivouac… It was like being 20 years old and falling in love with a girl… And she left me when I broke the car.
I still want to finish the Dakar with my own car, so this is sort of a transition year, on the truck. It brings me a different experience while we get the car ready for next year. Being a mechanic, I’ll be able to provide assistance for the vehicles of R Team and TH Trucks. And I have to say this works well with my vision of the Dakar, all the adventures that may arise when there’s an issue and you try fixing it. Also, we’ll be much slower so we’ll have more time to focus on the landscape, on everything that surrounds us, and I’m delighted with that.”
L.M.: “For me, the Dakar already means a lot of work to get all the vehicles, our truck as well as our client’s cars, ready to go to Barcelona ahead of the race. I’ve been working non-stop for a couple months but once everything is ready, I can realize I’m getting to my fourth Dakar, which for me is a great achievement and honor.
Last year was a difficult one, with some days of struggle after the truck left us stranded on stage 2 with a blown head gasket. I was able to disassemble everything and we started off again with a spare. And I got to drive two days. We won a navigation test on the second day and the dunes were a natural amusement park.
Human relationships are most beautiful and fragile thing there can be in the Dakar. At the start, everyone is elated. After a week, the real character comes out, for better or worse. I am fortunate to be part of a fantastic team, growing every year with significant results.”
R.S.: “My father has been racing all his life and he passed the virus on to me. And once it gets inside you, it never goes away… It definitely is a source of pride for me to do the Dakar like him, and I have to thank him first of all. And then I also have to thank Renato Rickler for giving me this opportunity at such a young age.
I hope this will be the first of many participations. I take my role with great responsibility and I want to understand how everything works. Hopefully, first and foremost, I will finish the race and hang that medal around my neck. And I hope that in the next few years I will be able to team up with my father.”
