“It reminds me of when I was 7 years old watching the Dakar on the Nationale 7”

Dakar 2019 | Stage 2 | Pisco > San Juan de Marcona
January 9 ^th 2019 - 00:02 [GMT -5]

Ten kilometres from the finishing line, with the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean, the journalists and cameramen are packing away their equipment in the interview zone. Even if some competitors are still struggling on the special, most of them are on the last link route towards the bivouac. With the stage at last completed, Frédéric Barlerin has decided to take his time. Covered in sand and dust, the man from Burgundy brings his KTM to a halt in front of a bunch of spectators. After shaking a few hands and striking a pose for some photos, he takes a drink and has a bite to eat. He has decided to savour his first Dakar. “It’s important to recharge your batteries before this long link route,” he explains. The rally is only just starting, yet this sturdy chap has already had a feast for the eyes. “There was a magnificent decent down towards the Pacific Ocean,” he says. “Before I came here, I was dreaming of a fabulous off-road terrain with impossible climbs and incredible sections… I’ve not been disappointed”. In addition to the landscapes, there are the people as well. “The spectators’ enthusiasm is unbelievable, they are everywhere. Even the women are crazy about the race. It’s great, really great. It reminds me of when I was 7 years old watching the Dakar pass by on the Nationale 7 trunk road”. Frédéric is taking part in the Original by Motul category because “the atmosphere and the experience are just fabulous,” and his only ambition is to reach the finish of the rally. At present, his only problems have been a headlight that came loose and a feed problem between the rear and forward fuel tanks, but he will sort out these difficulties as soon as he arrives at the bivouac.